Lakers say Dwight Howard was snubbed from NBA’s 75th anniversary team

LOS ANGELES — Of the thousands of players who person suited up successful the NBA implicit the past 75 seasons, this year’s Lakers person 4 of the champion 76 ever.

They’d similar to person five.

While LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony were excited to beryllium named to the NBA’s 75th day team, which was revealed this week, Howard was 1 of the astir commonly cited “snubs.” At 35, the 6-foot-10, 265-pound halfway is simply a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, an eight-time All-Star, the 12th-leading rebounder and the 15th-leading shot-blocker successful league history. Every different subordinate with astatine slightest 14,000 rebounds and 2,000 blocks made the team.

“He should for definite beryllium connected the list,” Lakers manager Frank Vogel said. “For sure.”

Howard isn’t the lone 1 feeling near off. Golden State defender Klay Thompson posted aft not being included: “Maybe I’m conscionable naive successful my quality to play basketball, but successful my caput I’m TOP 75 each time.”

Vogel agreed, portion acknowledging that the decisions were difficult. A sheet of erstwhile players, executives, coaches and journalists voted, and a necktie for the last spot meant that the squad coiled up with 76 players alternatively of 75. All 50 members of the 50th day squad remained.

“Like Klay Thompson’s not connected there, seriously?,” Vogel said. “There’s gonna beryllium immoderate large players that don’t get successful there. If you don’t enactment those 2 guys in, there’s gonna beryllium immoderate guys from the apical 75 that didn’t get in, and those guys deserved it, too.”

NUNN LEAVES A HOLE

With the quality that defender Kendrick Nunn volition miss 2 to 3 weeks with a bony bruise successful his close knee, the Lakers are tied up connected their rotations for the foreseeable future. Wayne Ellington besides didn’t play Friday nighttime with a hamstring strain, but helium took shots during warmups and Vogel indicated that helium could marque a instrumentality soon.

The Lakers signed the 6-2 Nunn arsenic a escaped cause aft his stint successful Miami, wherever helium impressed the Lakers successful portion with his hard-nosed play against them during the 2020 NBA Finals.

“Kendrick’s a hellhole of a player,” Vogel said. “We did person him penciled successful arsenic a rotational feline earlier campy started. Obviously, you consciousness it retired erstwhile campy gets going, but helium tin truly people the ball, helium tin play disconnected the ball. I emotion the thought of him playing disconnected of Russ and LeBron and what he’s capable to bash connected the 2nd side.”

Along with Talen Horton-Tucker and Trevor Ariza, Nunn’s wounded temporarily robs them of 1 of the players they were counting connected during these aboriginal days of the season. But Vogel inactive indicated that helium thought the Lakers would beryllium capable to marque headway with their steadfast players.

“The bully happening is, we person plentifulness of guys that I spot connected this team,” Vogel said. “The guys who were successful the rotation opening nighttime and contiguous are guys I judge successful and consciousness similar we person capable to get the occupation done for sure.”

SUNS BRACING FOR FALLOUT

After a study of a forthcoming ESPN study targeted astatine Phoenix Suns proprietor Robert Sarver leaked connected societal media, the Suns rushed to support themselves against allegations that are not yet wide – but which intelligibly person important stakes involved.

In a squad statement, Sarver voraciously defended himself.

“I don’t statesman to cognize however to beryllium that thing DIDN’T happen, and it is hard to erase oregon hide disfigured accusations erstwhile they are made. Even hints of racism oregon sexism successful our civilization contiguous are toxic and damaging and should not beryllium lightly raised,” helium said, “I categorically contradict immoderate and each suggestions that I utilized disparaging connection related to contention oregon gender. I would similar to deliberation that my actions and nationalist grounds regarding race, gender, oregon favoritism of immoderate kind, implicit a beingness successful concern and assemblage service, volition adequately reply immoderate questions anyone mightiness rise astir my committedness to equality and fairness.”

Suns wide manager James Jones and squad president Jason Rowley besides raised defenses of Sarver for the forthcoming report, which has nary publically known timeline.

Suns manager Monty Williams said helium wouldn’t remark connected the issue, but said helium did not expect it to impact his team.

“Nothing volition invade oregon erode our culture,” helium said. “That’s thing that we’ve said from Day 1. Wins, losses. We get to play basketball, we get to hoop. And that’s not going to change.”