The year 2024 ended with Dwight Howard involved in a beef with former partner Royce Reed and forever nemesis Shaquille O’Neal. However, in what could be his HOF year, the former champion wants no such issues and back and forth moving forward. He even resolved his issues with Jeanie Buss for splitting the Lakers team after they won the trophy. The 39-year-old continues his mending way, this time with a company with whom he was involved since his young hooping days.

“Adidas what’s up 👀 Ion think the lakers fans hate me anymore 🤷🏾‍♂️.” The 3x DPOY added a tweet with clips explaining his issues with the athleisure brand. Dwight Howard wore Adidas dating back to his AAU days and as a high school star. In his podcast, he even claimed he wasn’t paid during those days, yet wore them with pride. But the brand dropped the partnership once his stint with the Lakers was over.

“When I left the Lakers when I played with Kobe and them they said ‘We can’t keep you on Adidas because the Lakers fans are mad at you.” It was the 2012-13 season, and the reports emerged that he would sign with Peak. At the time, he followed the suits to Tony Parker on the Chinese brand’s sponsorship roster. Dwight Howard was one of Adidas’ longest-tenured shoe endorsers until that time.

The Georgia native repped the brand as the best player during the 2003 Adidas ABCD Camp. Later, when he led Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy to the 2004 state title as a senior, he was still with the same shoe company. Once he was the number one overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, the German athletic and footwear manufacturer officially signed him. As per the company’s latest financial report, the current earnings stand at $24.64 billion.

Dwight Howard’s signature shoe lasted six designs before the partnership ended. The beef during his first stint with the Lakers coincided with them failing miserably that year. Some reports emerged on him clashing with Kobe, but it was a mere difference of opinion. But at the time, the fan base chose Black Mamba over D12. However, the situation has changed and now Howard is a fan favorite.

Why Dwight Howard feels the Purple and Gold fanbase loves him now

The Lakers’ need for a center has been going on for far too long. Last season, during the Playoffs round 1, the Denver Nuggets put on a clinic against LeBron James and co. Thanks to Nikola Jokic and his performance, Dwight Howard stated how he could be fit to stop the Joker. The fans backed that thought process. Even this year, after the failed trade of Mark Williams, the Lakers supporters wanted D12 to return.

One fan recently urged Rob Pelinka to sign the six-foot-ten player. “Cmon Rob .. it’s time.” However, it seems the former champion is not keen to return to the hardwood as a player. Previously too, he hinted at spending time with his kids as he has already missed a big chunk of their lives.

Even though an NBA return is not likely, he wants to return to Adidas. It would make perfect sense for the brand as well; he is a potential HOFer candidate this year. Plus, the previous reason for the Lakers fanbase not liking him doesn’t stand anymore. The brand is already doing so many things with recently retired play Derrick Rose. It will be interesting to see if they add the 3x DPOY also to that list soon.