“Fed Lies” – Dwight Howard Exposes Reality Behind Stan Van Gundy Beef, Names Culprit

For Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy was the best coach. DH12 and the Orlando Magic crew stood right behind the former coach when he was struggling with the sudden passing of his wife, Kimberly. However, Van Gundy getting fired by Orlando Magic in 2012 always baffled the fans. Twelve years later, Howard shared the truth with the fans and listeners.

Speaking on his YouTube channel Above The Rim with DH 12, Howard praised Van Gundy’s contribution to his life and career, “Stan Van Gundy, he was my best coach. We had our best success together, so I can’t say there was any other coach who was better than him.”

Talking further about his rumored beef with Van Gundy and the media trial he had to face, Howard said both parties were fed lies. “It’s very unfortunate you know, you never know in this, in this game who to believe and who to trust, so I’m pretty sure both of us was getting told and fed lies on both sides. But at the end of the day, you can’t take away the eight great years that we had, it might have you know, both of us might have been mad at each other but at the end of the day man we had some awesome years together,” Howard added.

After Van Gundy’s sacking, the media reported that it was Howard’s request to the franchise to fire the coach. However, there was more to it that remained hidden. The report was not completely untrue, but it wasn’t accurate either. It affected both Van Gundy and Howard. The Magic star even had to rest his arm around the coach to convey that he had no issues with him. In an interview with ESPN’s The Jump in 2018, the father of five revealed the exact truth.

Dwight Howard’s relationship with Stan Van Gundy

Well, the truth was while Howard did ask the organization to fire Van Gundy, the timeline was wrong. He admitted to making that request but it was made weeks before the news came out. And when he proposed his idea to the franchise, Howard’s request was refused initially.

“I think he (Van Gundy) has lost his voice. And I think it’s time that you guys get a new voice. I said, ‘I love him as a coach, but I think we need a new voice…. Six weeks [later], they finally respond [and say], ‘We’re gonna keep Stan’. I’m like: ‘OK. That lets me know how you guys feel about your leader expressing how to make the team better,” Howard said.

However, this incident didn’t harm the duo’s relationship. Writing a heartwarming message on social media, Howard extended his condolences after Mrs. Kimberly’s passing. The former Orlando Magic star ensured to be present for Van Gundy when he needed him.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.