Speaking with T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times, Howard admitted that his time with the Los Angeles Lakers has forced him to understand he can't make everyone happy.
"I can't do it anymore," he said. "I can't please everybody."
For Howard, this is a newfangled revelation. He spent the better part of a decade attempting to appease the NBA sphere with the Orlando Magic. In the end, it left him ringless and hated.
Upon leaving the shelter of a smaller market to explore the big city of Los Angeles, nothing changed. Howard still had an inherent need to satisfy everyone.
Quicker than he could have ever imagined, his morphed sense of reality came crashing down.
He told Simers:
When I came back from my shoulder injury, some didn't think I was giving my all. And nobody wanted to hear what I said about coming off back surgery. It wasn't fair to me. I was on a walker and four months later playing basketball. I played hurt.
Playing through pain wasn't enough; Howard still wasn't doing enough. From his poor free-throw shooting—which prompted Howard to seek the help of a Lakers psychiatrist—to his seemingly carefree attitude that was often depicted as debilitating complacency, the world wanted more.
That same world is always going to want more. No matter what Howard decides to do, someone will always question his morals and criticize his choices. That's just how it is.
Has Howard made his decision?
Not at all. He hasn't committed to the Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks or the Dallas Mavericks. Howard hasn't committed to anyone. He wants to see what's out there.
"I want to see what each opportunity offers," Howard said. "I want to see how people plan on winning."
Wherever he decides to play, wherever he decides to try and win, the world will be wait...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
