Dwight Howard says he obtained a name from NBA commissioner Adam Silver nearly instantly after he tweeted “Free Palestine” greater than a decade in the past — a declare the league denies.
The controversy occurred in July of 2014, when Howard was a member of the Houston Rockets.
“Less than 10 minutes after I tweet that, I get a call from the commissioner of the NBA,” Howard stated on Monday’s episode of “The GAUDs Show” podcast. “Agents, people working with my foundation at the time, Texas. ‘You’ve got to erase this tweet. You’ve got to take this down.’ I’m like, ‘What did I do that was so bad?’”
Howard, 39, stated, “I dang near got kicked out [of] the league for it.”
In 2014, Howard deleted the tweet shortly after he printed it, then apologized in subsequent posts for commenting on “international politics,” in response to The Atlantic’s protection on the time. Howard’s tweet got here amid battle between Israel and Hamas.
On this week’s podcast episode, Howard stated he felt compelled to share the tweet after assembly Palestinian followers whereas attending a film in Houston.
“They asked me to just bring some awareness to what’s going on in their country,” Howard stated. “Me having a big heart, I’m like, ‘You know what? I want people to know the struggles y’all [are] having.’”
However the alleged response shocked Howard, he stated.
“When you’re in the league, you be in that place where, ‘If I say too much or if I say something, I may not get a job no more.’ I’ve got to hold my tongue, and that’s so hard to do when you are faced with so many situations.”
Howard performed 18 NBA seasons from 2004-2022, together with three with the Rockets from 2013-16. He additionally suited up for the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers.
The previous No. 1 total decide averaged 15.7 factors, 11.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per recreation in his profession; earned NBA Defensive Participant of the Yr honors thrice; and gained a championship with the Lakers in 2020.
