Dwight Howard hosts an exhibition game in Orlando – NBA Update
Orlando Magic super star Dwight Howard on Sunday, November 13, took part in an exhibition game he organized as a way to say thanks to the fans.
With the NBA lockout dragging on, fans in Orlando have become increasingly disgruntled and Howard hosted the event to reduce some of that frustration.
The game was played in the University of Central Florida, where around 10,000 fans turned up to watch their favourite super stars go head to head. Tickets were between $25 and $100 for the Old School vs. New School game, in which
various current and former Orlando players showed up.
Among those who put on a jersey were Dwight’s teammates Gilbert Arenas, Brandon Bass, Quentin Richardson, Jameer Nelson and Ryan Anderson. Players who are now retired or no longer playing for the Magic were represented by Penny
Hardaway, Courtney Lee, Matt Barnes, Rashard Lewis, Trevor Ariza and Marcin Gortat.
Howard said he wanted to host the game to keep the community of Orlando interested in basketball and stressed importance of such events as a means of helping the people. Proceeds from the game will go to Howards charitable D12
Foundation.
"I think that this is the best way that, for me, you can express how you feel about a group of people," Howard said. "Doing an event like that was actually something that me and a couple of guys thought about. We sat down with
guys like Gilbert (Arenas) and Chris Duhon and other Magic players and also my staff and just talked about ways we could really better our city."
The reason Howard and other NBA players have had to resort to exhibition games is the current NBA labour dispute. NBA owners and players cannot find common ground over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement since the old one expired.
The Magic centre was asked to comment on the lockout and a recent proposal by NBA Commissioner David Stern to bring it to an end, but he chose to rather keep the focus on the game. He said Sunday was about the fans and the game
in Orlando and he didn’t want to discuss anything else.
"We want to keep this about the game and about this event," Howard said. "Right now that's the only thing that I'm focused on is this event and giving back to our city...It's not about free agency or whatever. There is no basketball
right now. This is basketball — something like this."
The super star has been linked with a move away from Orlando in the past. Analysts believe if the season is indeed wiped out Howard, who will be a free agent next summer, could have already played his last game for the franchise.
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