Orlando Magic superstar Dwight Howard gave Orlando fans some words of encouragement Monday, indicating that he would like to stay with the team when his contract expires.
"I'm not trying to run behind nobody like Shaq or be behind someone else," Howard said, referencing Shaquille O'Neal's decision to leave Orlando after the 1995-96 season and join with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. "I want to start my own path and I want people to follow my path and not just follow somebody else's path."
Howard's current contract finishes after the 2012-13 season, but the All-Star can void the deal one year early and become a free agent next summer. Speculation increased that Howard would bolt for a bigger market with big-name teammates (moves recently seen by the likes of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony) after Orlando was bounced in the first round of the NBA Playoffs by the Atlanta Hawks.
While Howard admits that the loss was disappointing and he needs a better supporting cast to contend for a title, he believes that can happen in Orlando.
"Not only do I need the right teammates, but I need the city behind me," Howard said. "That's the only way it's going to get done. We can change this small city that we have - this small market that we have - and we can make it a big market."
The 25-year-old Howard, the first-overall pick in 2004, spent a few days working with Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon to develop better footwork and low-post skills last summer and he saw the results this season, as he posted a career-best 22.9 points per game, while adding 14.1 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per contest. This summer he said he wants to work more extensively with Olajuwon, while also hiring a shooting coach to improve his midrange game and well-publicized poor free-throw shooting.
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