“Very disrespectful” – Dwight Howard SLAMS team for bizarre demand

Dwight Howard unhappy with contract offer from Taiwan team.

“Very disrespectful” – Dwight Howard SLAMS team for bizarre demand

Dwight Howard of the Taoyuan Leopards of the T1 League (Via Getty Images)

Dwight Howard is not mincing words about his dissatisfaction with his current team in Taiwan. The former NBA star, who joined the Taoyuan Leopards of the T1 League last year, said he was offered a contract that would cut his pay by a staggering 65% for the upcoming season.

Howard, who won a title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and played in the NBA from 2004 to 2022, told TVBS News that he felt “very disrespected” and “very disappointed” by the team’s proposal.

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“I was offered a contract which was 65% less than what they gave me the first time I came to Taiwan,” Howard said. “And I felt that was very disrespectful. I felt like I brought value to the team… I was very disappointed, I felt like I deserved more. Everything that I did was to represent the Leopards at their best.”

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With eight All-Star selections and three Defensive Player of the Year awards under his belt, Howard was a force to be reckoned with in his season with the Leopards. He put up impressive numbers of 23.2 points, 16.2 boards, and 5.0 dimes per game while playing 33.5 minutes on average.

He also had some impressive performances, such as scoring 38 points and grabbing 25 rebounds in his debut game. However, he missed 10 games due to injury and his team finished last in the six-team league with a dismal 6-24 record.

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Dwight Howard eyes NBA return, wants to join Sacramento Kings

Dwight Howard (Via NBAE via Getty Images)
Dwight Howard (Via NBAE via Getty Images)

Despite being offered a lower salary by the Leopards, Dwight Howard is not ready to give up on his basketball career. The former NBA star, who played in Taiwan last season, said he is open to returning to the league if he gets a chance.

The Leopards’ CEO, Chang Chien-Wei, explained that the salary cut was part of a new system that rewards players based on their performance and contribution to the team’s success. He said that Howard could still make more money than he did last year if he played well and led the team to victory.

Howard earned more than $1.0 million in Taiwan, according to cna.com.tw. But he has his eyes on a bigger prize: an NBA championship. He told Mark Haynes from The Sacramento Observer that he would love to join the Sacramento Kings, his preferred destination.

“I’m not retired from the NBA just yet,” the 37-year-old said. “I’d love to help the Sacramento Kings contend for a title. Even though I believe their team is pretty much set.”

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