Magic Johnson Rips Dwight Howard For Ejection, Poor Performance

Magic Johnson ripped Dwight Howard after the Lakers center was ejected in the team’s do-or-die Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs, saying he essentially quit on his teammates when they needed him the most.

Howard was tagged for arguing with an official just after halftime of Sunday’s game, though by then the Lakers were already being blown out and would go on to lose the game and the series.

Dwight Howard ejection’s was a somewhat fitting end to his tumultuous year with the Lakers. He was brought in during the 2012 offseason that appeared to make the Lakers the Western Conference’s answer to the Miami Heat. The busy offseason meant the Lakers would have their own Big Three in Kobe Bryant, Howard, Steve Nash (or feel free to interchange Pau Gasol for either of the last two).

But instead Howard brought turmoil, including some behind-the-scenes clashes with team management and accusations that he was nursing an injury rather than returning to the team.

After Kobe Bryant went down at the end of the season with a torn Achilles, it seemed that Dwight Howard would need to be the one who stepped up for the 7-seed Lakers. Instead Howard and the team faltered.

By the time Howard was ejected in Game 4, both the contest and the series — which at that point was 3-0 Spurs — were pretty well in hand. Still, it didn’t spare Howard from criticism.

One of the loudest voices was NBA analyst and former Lakers legend Magic Johnson, who ripped Howard for the Game 4 performance. Magic went on a rant on Twitter, calling out Howard and the Lakers for bringing him on board this season:

Laker Nation: Dwight Howard that was a big No, No. Your teammates and the fans were counting on you.

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 29, 2013

LN: Dwight, I’ve been swept before but I never let my team down by getting kicked out of the game.

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 29, 2013

Laker Nation: I’m sooooooooooo happy the season is over. With the talent on this team this could go down as one of t… say.ly/wPQ5HF2

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 29, 2013

There’s a good chance this is last L.A. fans will see of Dwight in a Lakers jersey. A free agent this offseason, Dwight is expected by many to find a new team and leave the caustic situation with the Lakers.

So the next time Magic Johnson rips Dwight Howard, it will likely be for a different team.