Despite reports indicating that Dwight Howard was eager to participate in at least some of the Lakers preseason games the All-Star center says he will skip the entire preseason with an eye to being completely healthy for the regular season and playoffs. As the Lakers opened their schedule with a loss to the Warriors last night, Howard was in street clothes on the bench but managed to speak with the local commentary team to tell them of his plans for the season.
“I’m on track (to return), but my goal wasn’t to play (in) a preseason game,” said Howard, who continues to recover from offseason back surgery. “My goal is to win a championship. That’s what we’re shooting for.
“I’m a hard worker, my back just has to get stronger and I have to get everything that surrounds it stronger too so I can play at a high level. That’s my goal. That’s my focus. Like I said, I want to give these guys everything and give the game of basketball everything because at the end of the year I want to hold up the trophy, so I want to make sure I’m 100 percent.”
