The Los Angeles Lakers will be all packed and ready as the team travels to Orlando on July 9. The team sports a well-balanced and mighty roster ahead of their participation in the revised regular-season and the subsequent playoffs. Furthermore, the Lakers received a massive boost as Dwight Howard confirmed that he will be a part of the team as well.

After a few weeks of speculation and disapproval about the restart, Howard recently confirmed his availability. The 8x NBA All-Star will be competing in the bubble to try and earn the Lakers a long-awaited championship. In addition to that, Howard will be donating his match checks to charity, a noble act by the 34-year-old. 

And naturally, the news of Howard coming back to the team has sent a stroke of confidence among a few Lakers players. Kyle Kuzma connected with a group of reporters on Tuesday where he mentioned the importance of having Howard in the team. 

“I think everybody knows what kind of presence he’s been for us,” Kuzma said, as per Christian Rivas of SB Nation.  “He’s been obviously a key piece. Everyone is a key piece on this team. We took a blow, took a hit when Avery opted out, but we had a lot of good pieces, a lot of good experience and Dwight has been a good spark from us off the bench as a paint protector, and he actually changed a lot of games for us.”

“I’m glad he’s with us, glad he’s on board and I’ve excited to have my guys back in the bubble,” Kuzma added. Besides getting the pat on the back from a young Kuzma, Howard also received praise from an experienced Lakers player. 

Dwight Howard returning to the Lakers is a positive sign ahead of the season’s restart

A great player has a lot of influence on the team. If you look at LeBron James, you can certainly get inspired by his on-court performances. Besides that, the four-time MVP is a great leader. His off-court motivation helps teammates remain confident and stay focused. 

Howard, being a veteran like James, is a similar figure according to Danny Green. His off-court presence is as important as his on-court duties. “Dwight has been a great teammate all year, been a teammate that’s always been there for people on and off the floor,” Green said. “Playing with no ego, having one common goal, and we’re just happy to have him come back and be able to join our team for Orlando. I think it’s great for us.”

Moreover, Howard has absolutely been a dominating presence on the court for the Lakers this season. Though he has not started every game he’s played, the 6’10” center certainly knows his role. Looking at his consistent 73.2% field goal percentage might give himself and the Lakers a major confidence boost. The Los Angeles Lakers take on city rivals LA Clippers in their opener on July 30, 9 p.m. ET. 

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