Sixers’ Dwight Howard on technical fouls: ‘I will do better’
Howard: "I can’t get no more techs. You know, it might seem like I’m being selfish or not thinking about the team. But my first thought, my second thought, my third thought is about this team."
DENVER — Asked his biggest takeaway from the 76ers’ last two games, Dwight Howard put his hands over his face before answering the question.
“You know what mine is. I can’t get no more techs,” the reserve center said Monday after practice at Colorado Christian University. He received two technical fouls in each of the Sixers’ last two games, leading to ejections.
“You know, it might seem like I’m being selfish or not thinking about the team,” Howard added. “But my first thought, my second thought, my third thought is about this team. I want us to win. ... I will be better.”
» READ MORE: Dwight Howard’s trip to Los Angeles plagued with technicals, ejections
The 17-year veteran gives the Sixers (32-14) their best chance to win by being available to play, especially since their other center, Joel Embiid, is sidelined with a bone bruise in his left knee.
But things didn’t end well for him in Los Angeles.
On Thursday, he was tossed after the first quarter of the Sixers’ 109-101 victory over the Lakers. Then Howard was ejected with 10 minutes, 35 seconds remaining in Saturday’s 122-112 loss to the Clippers.
Howard leads the NBA with 13 technical fouls after compiling four in the last two games. Any player who is assessed with 16 unsportsmanlike technical fouls in the regular season is suspended for one game.
“I love this team and I won’t do anything to personally hurt this team,” he said. “I want to see it succeed in the best way possible. So for me personally, I’ve just got to make sure I keep my head in the game.”
Dwight said he’s not going to allow an opponent, or anyone, prevent him from his goal of helping the Sixers win.
Reed full of energy
Years ago, while Howard was an Orlando Magic standout, Paul Reed attended his basketball camp. Fast-forward to this season, when the two are Sixers teammates.
Howard, 35, recalls Reed, 21, as being that same way as he is today.
Reed was and still is “full of energy, having fun, no care in the world, wants to score on everybody, just believes in himself,” Howard said. “You know I love that about Paul Reed.”
Howard recalled the first day of training camp with the Sixers.
“The first thing he said was ‘Call me Alley. Throw me alley-oops,’” Howard said. “And I’m like, ‘Who in their right comes in and says call me Alley?’ You at least say your first and last name and where you are from. But he told us what he wanted and how he wanted it.
“So I love it. I’m really happy for him and, you know, I love him like he’s a little brother.”
Reading Howard’s remarks on Twitter, Reed tweeted that his teammates misunderstood him.
“I said y’all can throw me alleys,” he wrote, “but I just let them call me Alley.”