Josh Howard gets right to the point when he talks about a controversial period in his NBA career.

“I was young and dumb,” the Timberwolves’ new forward said Saturday, Nov. 17.

Signed by the Wolves as a free agent Friday, Howard can speak from experience about what bad judgment can do to a person.

Since a turbulent stretch in 2008 — when Howard admitted in a Dallas radio interview that he smoked marijuana, was arrested for drag racing and was captured on video making a disparaging remark about the national anthem at a charity football game — he has been diligent about “cleaning up my image” and becoming a better role model, not just for his three kids, but other young NBA players who have sought his advice.

via Ray Richardson of the Pioneer Press