In a recent episode of the “Above the Rim” podcast, former Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard did not hold back his frustration with Lakers’ general manager Rob Pelinka. Howard, a key member of the Lakers’ 2020 championship team, expressed his disappointment over Pelinka’s decision to dismantle the roster that brought the franchise its 17th NBA title.
Howard believes that the 2020 Lakers had the potential to achieve even more success if the core group had been kept intact.
“Rob Pelinka, man. God, Rob, why did you do that to us, man? We had the squad, bro. Even if we ran it back, we could have run it back. We would have been healthier for the next year,” Howard lamented.
Dwight Howard disses Rob Pelinka for splitting up the Lakers’ 2020 championship team 😳
“Rob Pelinka, man. God, Rob, why did you do that to us, man?… We could’ve run it back. We would’ve been healthier for the next year.”
(via @DH12abovetherim)pic.twitter.com/k3GFDEVOPu
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 26, 2024
The 2020 Lakers, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, were a dominant force, overcoming the challenges of the NBA bubble to secure the championship.
After the championship win, Pelinka made significant roster changes, a move that many fans and analysts questioned. Despite the team’s success, Pelinka believed that upgrades were necessary, leading to a reshuffling of the roster. Howard’s criticism highlights a sentiment shared by many who felt that the team should have been given a chance to defend their title with minimal changes.
The subsequent seasons saw the Lakers struggling with injuries and inconsistency. Key players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis faced significant time off the court, which hindered the team’s performance. The Lakers finished the 2020-21 season as the seventh seed and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Phoenix Suns.
Howard’s comments have reignited discussions about what might have been if the 2020 championship team had stayed together. Since their title win, the Lakers have not been able to replicate their success, leading to questions about the impact of Pelinka’s decisions. While Pelinka has admitted that some risks did not work out as planned, the debate over the breakup of the 2020 team continues to be a topic of interest among fans and former players alike.
