Fitzgerald Cecilio

El Segundo, CA

Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard expressed his willingness to play for the US Olympic team in 2016.

He won Olympic gold with the U.S. in the 2008 Beijing Games but had to miss last summer's London Games while recovering from back surgery.

He expressed disappointment in not being able to go for back-to-back gold medals this summer, much like Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant was able to do.

The U.S. team that competed in London had just one true center on the roster in Tyson Chandler. Kevin Love was relied upon for his inside play, with LeBron James sometimes shifting to center. Anthony Davis, a 6-foot-10 rookie, was on the team but barely played.

Howard began playing with Team USA all in 2006 as the starting pivot for a team that settled for a bronze medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championships.

He helped the "Redeem Team" of the 2008 Beijing Olympics make up for those shortcomings by winning the gold medal, his first and only gold in a worldwide competition.

Team USA would need big players like Howard in 2016 when it faces teams like Spain, which will have a huge front line of Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol and Serge Ibaka figure.

 

 

 

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Lakers Center Dwight Howard Eyes 2016 Olympics