The 2011-12 NBA season marked a significant change for Dwight Howard’s career as he was traded from the Orlando Magic to the Los Angeles Lakers. With the Lakers, he looked to lead the team to a championship alongside Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.
In the regular season, Howard’s play was solid, but not as dominant as in previous years due to injuries. He averaged 17.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 57.8% from the field.
Despite the mediocre regular season, Howard was named to the All-NBA Third Team and the All-Defensive Second Team for the first time since 2007.
In the playoffs, the Lakers faced the Denver Nuggets in the first round. Howard’s play improved, averaging 17.0 points, 12.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game in the seven-game series. The Lakers won the series, advancing to the second round.
In the second round, the Lakers faced the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, Howard’s play declined due to a back injury, averaging just 12.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in the five-game series. The Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs, ending their season earlier than expected.
Despite the early playoff exit, Howard’s play did earn him a spot on the United States National Team at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where he helped the team win the gold medal.
Off the court, Howard made headlines once again with reports of discord between Kobe Bryant and the Lakers organization, leading to speculation that he might leave the team after just one season.
In conclusion, while the 2011-12 NBA season was not one of Dwight Howard’s best in terms of numbers, it marked a major change in his career as he joined the Lakers. His play in the regular season was solid, but injuries limited his effectiveness. In the playoffs, although he played well in the first round, his injury became a significant factor in the team’s eventual elimination in the second round. Despite the early playoff exit, Howard’s talent earned him spots on the All-NBA Third Team and the All-Defensive Second Team, along with a gold medal at the Olympics. However, rumors of discord with the team would eventually lead to his departure after the season.
