There were numerous reports floating around last week that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich lit into and cursed Dwight Howard out during the All Star Game for not paying attention in the huddle.
Howard now is denying and disputing that claim, and according to the L.A. Times, says Popovich simply asked him why he wasn’t in the game.
“Pop was diagramming a play for me, and then as he showed us what to do he kept saying, ‘Blake.’ So Blake and I are confused, but he keeps saying Blake, so Blake takes off his jersey and goes into the game.
“Pop sees me and wants to know why I’m not in the game running the play, so I tell him he kept saying Blake so Blake went in. He wasn’t swearing at me.”
Howard insist the report by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has left him extremely disappointed.
“It hurts me, but what can I do about it?” said Howard, who has averaged 19 points and 12.6 rebounds the last five games. “I can’t fight ESPN.”
None of the other parties reportedly involved in the incident or the reporting have spoken about the claims made by Stephen A. Smith.
This is another example of everything involved with Dwight Howard being blown up and scrutinized to the fullest.