Dwight Howard will understand if Rockets fans boo him
Given all that transpired during last season's tumultuous campaign, Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard wouldn't be shocked if he received his fair share of boos in his return to Houston.
"There was never any love lost for this city," Howard told ESPN's Calvin Watkins. "It's just the business of basketball. I'm in a great place; this team is in a great place, but if I do get a couple of boos, I will respect it and I understand it and you got to move forward."
While Howard admits last season could've gone better for both him and the ball club, he feels the Rockets still achieved plenty of success during his time in Houston.
"I thought, besides the last season, I thought we had some successful seasons," Howard said. "Went to the West finals, which hasn't been done since Hakeem Olajuwon. I thought we had some success. I know it didn't end the way we all wanted it to end - that's the NBA and you have to move forward. Houston is having a great year, this year and our team is also having a great season, and it will be great if both teams ended up in the finals."
Even if fans may think otherwise, the 6-foot-11 center says he did plenty of good during his three seasons in Houston, serving as one of the team's more active players in the community.
"I did some good." Howard said. "I've never disrespected any fan here in Houston. I think I treated everybody here in Houston with the same respect that I would want in the community at games no matter where it might be. There were never any bad moments I had with any of the fans here. When there was flooding, I stayed with the fans. I was always in the community. I did the best I could for this city and this team on and off the floor. If I get a couple of boos, that's fine with me. I learned to live with it. I've been getting booed my whole life - that's not something new. I will always have a lot of love and respect for Houston."
Howard will make his return to Toyota Center on Thursday night, goi up against a Rockets team that has lost just five home games all season.