On Tuesday night, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers open the 2014-15 NBA regular season against Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets.
This matchup was no accident.
Bryant and Howard have not shared a court since "#StayD12" posters had to be ripped down from all over Los Angeles posthaste. The Lakers and Rockets met twice at Staples Center following Howard's move to Houston, but the big man only took part in one of the two contests. Bryant missed both due to the fracture in his knee.
Howard's lone appearance on the Lakers' Staples Center court was a rowdy affair. The raucous crowd showered Howard with insults and loud chants. Memorably, the 26-point Lakers' loss featured Houston's center jokingly joining the crowd in screaming "Howard Sucks." If anything, the center's behavior incited even louder jeers. After the game, Howard joined his Rockets' teammates--including new Laker Jeremy Lin holding a plate full of food--to film a video of the Rockets' team chanting "Howard Sucks" and ridiculing the Lakers' fans at Staples Center.
A full season may have passed since Howard opted not to return to LA, but fans wearing purple and gold still have not cooled on their dislike for Howard. Without a doubt, he is the most hated visitor to Staples Center, and the 28-year-old even heard an abnormal level of jeering when playing against the LA Clippers.
When asked why he thought the Bryant and Howard combination failed, Lakers' coach Byron Scott offered his opinion on Monday: "Kobe's a real serious guy, wants to win championships. I don't know if Dwight's that serious about it. I know No. 24 is. I think that probably was the clash."
Whether or not it was reality, Howard's image in Los Angeles was forever tarnished in that lone season in the Southland. Fair or not, he continues to be perceived as the clown who failed to get serious when Bryant attempted to instill championship values.
Howard wasn't a champion, Lakers' fans continue to contend. Bryant is a champion, five times--that is a fact.
On Tuesday night, the Lakers will start the season by exercising the demons of the "Dwightmare." A 36-year-old Bryant probably won't be dunking on the fully healthy Howard, but every minor encounter involving the former teammates will draw as much attention as the first time Shaq and Kobe hugged it out following the feud.
Howard and Bryant, however, did not share any championships or memorable moments of glory. As such, there is no need to reconcile what could have been because it never was. The duo never even played a single playoff game together.
Still, fans of the purple and gold display hatred for Houston's big man with greater zest than any other player in the NBA. Without a doubt, Howard will continue forward in the role of supreme villain, and Tuesday night will feature the return of the Lakers' long lost hero.
Sports
Get today's sports news out of Los Angeles. Here's the latest on the Dodgers, Lakers, Angels, Kings, Galaxy, LAFC, USC, UCLA and more LA teams.
"To see (Bryant) playing again and feeling good and healthy, and excited to play, I think that's going to be great," Scott said at the Lakers' final practice before the regular season. "I'm looking forward to it."
Scott isn't the only one.
