Dwight Howard on Golden State: 'I Don't Really Know Who's on Their Team'

Dwight Howard says he "doesn't really know" who is on the Warriors' roster.

Jason Getz
USA Today Sports

Image via USA Today Sports

Jason Getz

Dwight Howard has not evaluated Golden State's roster and doesn’t even know who plays for the Warriors, the new Atlanta Hawks player said in an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio.

“I haven't really had a chance to really sit down. I don't really know who's on their team,” Howard said.

This is probably just poor phrasing from Howard—whose Rockets were eliminated by the Warriors in the playoffs the past two years—but what a weird thing to say.

Clearly he knows the key pieces: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. If you were to quiz Howard right now, would he know that Phil Pressey and JaVale McGee play for Golden State? That’s anyone’s guess. But regardless of whether he has memorized the names on the end of the bench, that doesn't mean he has no idea who's on their team.

Howard did say he watched the first half of the Warriors’ preseason win over the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday, so he must at least have an idea of who’s on the roster.

“They’re going to be a really good team,” Howard said. “Hopefully, it would be great to be playing ’em in the Finals. That’d be fun. ’Cause I personally, they’ve beaten the teams I’ve been on the last couple years, and I want to beat those guys really bad.”

Howard also defended Durant, who has received significant backlash since signing with Golden State in July.

“I'm happy for KD,” Howard said. “I know a lot of people have been killing him for leaving and going to Golden State, but hey man, he looks happy out there…I saw the expressions on K.D.'s face of how happy he was. I'm happy for him.”

It’s the preseason, and Howard now plays in the Eastern Conference. It makes sense that he hasn’t done a deep dive into the Warriors. But saying he doesn't "really know who’s on their team” is puzzling.

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