Well, Dwight, the choice is yours; you can test out free agency and sign elsewhere, or you can remain with the greatest franchise in basketball and write your own chapter of greatness, alongside legends past and present.
Despite the franchise being highly esteemed and full of all-time greats, in the history books, that actually works to your advantage and won’t necessarily overshadow your accomplishments; it’ll actually enhance them.
I won’t even get into the extra money you can earn, but that’s definitely a bonus too.
Let’s get right into it and take a look at a few selling points that I feel are of great value:
Kobe Bryant’s Respect
This doesn’t come easy, but you have Kobe’s respect. He respects you to the fullest level when it comes to your defensive abilities and your commitment to conditioning. You may not have been 100 percent last season due to your back injury, but Kobe understands that. What he also understands is that you’re not Shaquille O’Neal, and you take your physical preparation very seriously–which is something you and the Black Mamba certainly have in common.
Also, after you visited him numerous times in the hospital and his home in Newport following his Achilles injury, he developed a respect level for you on a personal level that not many teammates have experienced.
At the same time, he’s going to hold you to the highest standard on the offensive end when on the court. Where you lack in post moves, handling the ball, and/or free throws, he’s going to let you know about it and won’t accept anything but your best. He’s going to only defer to you when he feels that you are at an elite level offensively, and even then, you’ll have to demand the ball–but you will become a focal point of the offense.
Additionally, Kobe has said on multiple occasions that he wants you to stay, which is saying a lot. He’s going to continue to push you until you truly have reached your full potential (and you still have a lot left), but you’ve certainly earned his respect both on and off the court; which is no small feat.
—- See Dwight Howard through the years in photos! —-
The Fans’ Respect
As you know, Lakers fans and media can be extremely critical and highly demanding. However, the worst is likely over. You were nowhere close to the Superman we all saw in Orlando, but we understand numerous factors influenced that.
The majority of us were quite disappointed, but we were understanding at the same time, and we definitely applauded your effort once we realized exactly how serious your back injury/recovery was.
However, as mentioned, we are a highly demanding bunch, and, like your hyper-competitive teammate, we expect the best. We are not satisfied with anything less than greatness–especially from our big men.
Subsequently, this could be a positive thing for you. We know you’re an individual who sets high goals and sets out to achieve them. We will have goals for you as well, and keep you motivated to be the best. In other words, we won’t be satisfied with a mediocre season from you individually or as a team; as many other fanbases unequivocally will.
Once you do succeed and become a true Hall-of-Fame player whose jersey will undoubtedly be hung from the Staples Center rafters one day, you’ll be forever revered as a legend. This could take upwards of five years to accomplish, or you could come back better than ever next season and La La Land will shower you with love instantaneously once we see the dominant center we all anticipated you being since last summer.
Essentially, it’s up to you. Once fans truly accept you and have confidence in you as the face of the franchise going forward, you will be loved unconditionally. You’ll make mistakes, and we’ll defend you; you’ll make a horrible play, and we’ll still support you; and then, when you succeed and you help raise another championship banner, we’ll crown you as the King of L.A. and all the doubters will have to eat their words and doubt will never be spoken of again.
Notice how I said “when” another championship banner is raised and not “if;” that’s because the Lakers always find ways to win championships. It’s a historic tradition, and it never fails. It may take longer than we had hoped sometimes (the 1990s), but it eventually happens. I can’t say that for the other teams you may be looking into.
Next Page: The Bright Lights And The Roster
Bright Lights, Big City
Your first season was a bit overwhelming, even for you. Most everyone thought you’d fit right in with your big smile and dominant style of play, but it didn’t exactly go according to plan.
However, you’ve had a taste of it, you’ve likely grown thick skin because of it, and now it’s time to come back as a bigger star than ever and more powerful than ever–both on and off the court.
The sky isn’t even the limit here in Los Angeles–it’s light years past that–and I’m sure you’ve witnessed some of that.
In your first season, you weren’t even the biggest star on your team not to mention the whole city.
However, if you’ve learned anything about the Lakers’ tradition, once you do become “The Man” of the Lakers, you truly are a star among stars.
Magic Johnson took this level of stardom to another level back in the 80s, and now he’s one of the most beloved figures in all of Los Angeles from the sports world to the entertainment world and especially now in the business world. He’s dominating everything off the court, and bringing joy and happiness to the community in a multitude of ways.
Shaquille O’Neal was the next player to reach a similar amount of stardom, and he was the King of Los Angeles for a short period of time until he was eventually traded.
Now, it’s your current teammate Kobe Bryant who holds the throne and rules supreme over Los Angeles. However, he has one year left on his contract and probably won’t play past 2015. After that, the city is yours to take over. Maybe you think you don’t want that kind of pressure or level of stardom, but deep down, you do.
Kobe is as private as they come, and he’s managed to be as low key of a celebrity as possible given his immense following in L.A.
However, you’re built for this. Shoot, you were born for this. You’re a natural entertainer who’s extremely extroverted–a la Magic Johnson. You surely have goals and dreams outside of basketball as well, and there is no better platform than the Hollywood stage to launch such a career.
The Team
You may be looking at the roster and/or the coaching staff as the most important factor(s), and it is. We understand you want to be successful, as we want you (and the team) to be as well. Mike D’Antoni probably wasn’t the best fit for your game, but he did adjust his philosophy to try and utilize your strengths.
As for your teammates, they are old and were hampered by injuries all season; which is yet another concern. However, you and the Lakers managed to go 28-12 towards the end of a “nightmare” season; all while injuries were still occurring and a fluid rhythm never truly developed. Imagine the possibilities of a healthy team with a full training camp.
Sure the team needs to get younger, and you’re looking not at just next season but the future as well, but the Lakers have a track record of putting the absolute best talent on the floor and finding a way to win championships.
There’s a huge 2014 free agent class coming up, and you’d better believe that once the team has shifted to being built around you, Mitch Kupchak and the Buss family are going to bring in the best talent to complement yours. Mitch isn’t going to leave you hanging, and he’s going to make sure you’re put in a position to contend every single year; the Lakers have missed the playoffs just twice since Dr. Buss bought the team in 1980.
—- Check out this wallpaper of Dwight Howard, Laker big man and embracing the legacy! —-
The Close
The choice is yours, Dwight. Maybe you want all of the pressure, expectations, and fame, or, maybe you don’t. Maybe you don’t see it as being the best fit for you or maybe you don’t want to be a star on that kind of stage. But, we see it. We see you dominating for years to come; we see you winning us championships; and we see you becoming a megastar in the juggernaut of all markets.
We see the potential in you, and we want to see you fully reach it. We’re not just here to say it and demand it, but we’re here to help you reach it as well. We’re here to motivate you daily to make sure you meet all of your goals and ours. We’re here to keep you in line and make sure you’re at your absolute best, and we’re also here to listen to you vent when you’re simply not.
Most importantly, we’re here to see you develop into the Hall-of-Fame legend that we all know you can be; the one who will win multiple titles and one day be immortalized not only with the likes of Lakers centers such as George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O’Neal, but also amongst the greatest Lakers to ever put on a purple and gold jersey: Jerry West, Magic Johnson, and Kobe Bryant.
We see it in you. Maybe you don’t see it right now, but if you re-sign with the Lakers, one day you will.