A chat with new Rockets center Dwight Howard

The Houston Rockets arrived in Manila in the morning of 07 October 2013. They are scheduled to play a preseason game against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, 10 October 2013. In the meantime, both teams have several obligations, having to attend certain events, both basketball and non-basketball, and also to put in some practice at the Mall of Asia Arena. Just after noon today, 08 October 2013, the Rockets stepped out to the court for some drills. Media people crowded many players, but the biggest crowd gathered around the last Rocket to appear, newly-acquired center Dwight Howard. After those in the big crowd asked Howard a bunch of questions, NBA representative Sheila Walsh invited me over for a short chat with the big man.

READ ALSO: Horry talks about his big shots, Hakeem vs Shaq, etc.

I asked Howard how his back, which he injured in 2011 and which bothered him throughout last season, felt, and he said it was feeling much better. He said rehab therapy was going very well. I then asked him how the weather was in Houston, as compared to Los Angeles, and he smiled, as if he knew my question had a double meaning. He replied that Houston is a bit warmer than LA, but that he was alright with that and he was ready to get down to playing some basketball.

Since Howard plays in the post, I asked him about the impact of having one of the fifty greatest NBA players, Hall of Famer Kevin McHale, as his coach. He said that McHale has such a huge influence and helps out in so many ways. According to Howard, “He’s been great!” I asked if McHale sometimes plays some ball with the team or work out with them and Dwight immediately shook his head and said that McHale does not. I was interested to know if McHale has tried to teach him any of those up and under moves that he was so famous for, but, again, Dwight said that McHale had not. I mentioned that McHale was so effective doing his moves because of his long arms, and Dwight replied that his arms were probably longer than McHale’s. I didn’t get a chance to verify, but I doubt there are many arms longer than McHale’s!

SLIDESHOW: The Houston Rockets practice at the MOA Arena

While not being able to work out with his coach, Dwight did relate how working out with Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon has helped him with his game. It was not only this offseason that he worked with Hakeem, but apparently, Dwight has trained with the former Rocket center the past three or four off-seasons. The knock on Dwight has been that he does not have enough post moves and training more often with Hakeem, who is one of the best ever to operate on the post, should only make him better. In a preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans the other day, I saw Dwight make some nifty moves in the paint, perhaps Olajuwon-influenced.

Dwight also talked about James Harden, the Rockets’ shooting guard, whom he acknowledged as his co-leader on the team. He stressed that being a leader does not necessarily mean having to talk all the time, but more so to lead by example, and he and Harden make it a point to always work hard and show the rest of the guys that they are focused and prepared. As for Jeremy Lin, whom he acknowledged is very popular in Asia for obvious reasons, he thinks Lin is an exciting young player who can contribute very much to the team’s cause. He expects Lin to have a very good year.

READ ALSO: After going to the mall, Jeremy Lin asks Pinoy fans for dinner suggestions

As far as the toughest opponents for the Rockets in the West, Dwight mentioned the LA Clippers, a team he thinks improved tremendously in the offseason with some good pick-ups, and said the Oklahoma City Thunder “are always there”. He said the West is very, very tough and there are lots of possible contenders.

On the possibility of playing on Team USA again, he expressed his disappointment on not being able to play for the team in the London 2012 Olympics due to injury and that he was very much open to playing for his country in the future. He hopes that if he’s injury free, he’ll get another chance to don the national colors.

Dwight remembers the Philippines fondly from his last trip here in 2005, and is very much aware of the passion and love that fans here have for the game of basketball and the NBA. He was looking very forward to this trip as he missed the warmth and energy that he experienced when he last came over. (After I chatted with Dwight, I learned from veteran sports commentator/reporter Chiqui Roa-Puno that she was on Dwight’s team in 2005 for a celebrity basketball game, and that Chiqui was chosen as MVP. Way to go, Chiqui!)

As my time with Dwight was about to expire, I asked him if he would go all out during the game against the Pacers. He said he expects both teams to play hard and with a lot of energy and that despite it being a preseason game where some players’ minutes will be less than usual, the fans should be able to see what they want.

I thanked Dwight and he brandished a big smile. I wished him luck and he thanked me back. Being a Laker fan, I had mixed emotions about meeting Dwight after he left LA a few months ago, but I sense he likes where he is now and realizes he has much to prove. Now more than ever in his career, he has to show his worth on the court and forget what goes on outside of it.

You can follow Charlie on Twitter @CharlieC.