Looks like to me he worked out with him during the NBA finals. Whats that two weeks?
Dwight Howard Consults With Hakeem, Not Having Any Heat Talk
by
Glenn Davis | 8:09 am, August 3rd, 2010
Dwight Howard talked to reporters yesterday ? well,
about some things. Other topics (specifically the new-look
Miami Heat), he wasn?t as willing to discuss. But for Magic fans, something else he talked about might be a lot more important, anyway.
First, his refusal to get into the Heat:
Howard deflected almost every reference to the Heat at the start of his annual basketball camp Monday after telling reporters he wouldn?t discuss his Florida foes.
?The Big Two is in Orlando: Stan and Patrick,? Howard said, chuckling, referring to Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and assistant Patrick Ewing. ?I?m not talking about the Miami Heat.?
We understand why he might be tired of hearing about the Heat, but also give the assembled reporters some credit for apparently trying everything they could. But here?s what they
did get out of him that?s good news to anyone who cares about Howard as a player or the Magic: he?s been working out with legendary center
Hakeem Olajuwon.
?Howard?s biggest trip came when he worked out with Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon in Texas during the NBA finals. Olajuwon invited Howard to his home after they talked in the playoffs.
Often criticized for a lack of post moves and a mid-range jumper, Howard said he made big strides through his workouts with Olajuwon, who also has helped Lakers star Kobe Bryant among other NBA players recently. Howard plans to spend another week with Olajuwon before next season begins.
This is great news for Howard?s development if he?s made as big strides as he says, and the ?spending another week? part is even better news. The fact that Kobe
went to Hakeem to develop his low-post game says it all ? namely, that this is a great guy to consult with.
And it?s great to see Howard showing this kind of dedication to expanding his game, to being more than a physical specimen.
Bill Simmons lamented that Howard might be ?too nice? to reach his potential, and Olajuwon seemed to echo those concerns:
?Basically, what he was saying was I have to become a person that is not afraid to do anything on the floor,? Howard said. ?He said right now there?s only certain parts of my game that I?m not afraid to do, but other parts I am. I have to be able to do all of those things, basically. That?s the biggest thing I took from him.
?I just think he was watching and seeing me play for a while,? Howard added. ?All the things we worked on, he was just wondering why I never used those things in a game. He saw all the things that I could do, and he was very impressed. He said that I cannot be afraid to do all these things.?
If he really takes this to heart and asserts himself more on the court (i.e. take
more than 10 shots a game), it could be very fun to watch. And either way, he deserves credit for making the effort ? it has to warm the hearts of NBA fans to see a superstar hungry to get better.