Updated: February 27, 2012, 7:14 am ET

Howard: ‘It’s not just about the game’

By HOOPSWORLD
Basketball News & NBA Rumors

When the game started, (Dwight) Howard lollygagged, smiled, laughed, launched 3-pointers (he was 0-for-4) and went out on the perimeter to defend Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul and the other little people. I fully understand that the All-Star Game is a small man’s show, and Howard got out of the way and let the athletes run up and down the Amway Center court and do their dunking, lobbing and alley-ooping ’til their hearts’ content.

“I just wanted to have fun, get out there and make the game interesting,” Howard said. “You know, for me, this is what I wanted to do. I didn’t really care about getting the ball. I get the ball with my team. That’s what matters.”

And which team will that be? Howard wouldn’t say. For a third straight day, he shut down all questions about his future, his trade demand and whether this was his official good-bye to Orlando. Maybe that’s for the best, and a credit to his desire now to overshadow the weekend with his nonsense. But in a way, Howard ended up doing that anyway by making himself so conspicuous by his absence. Howard wanted to host the parties, do the meet-and-greets and fake-eyeglass press conferences and celebrity grip-and-grins.

The game? What game?

“The show was the whole weekend,” Howard said. “It’s not just about the game.”

via Ken Berger of CBS Sports

Your comments are important to us, so please share your thoughts. We will be rolling out prizes and giveaways for our active Commenters. Please keep the comments above board and respectful to everyone and you could win some great stuff from us at HOOPSWORLD.