Dwight Howard had to learn the hard way not to bad-mouth LeBron James.

Dwight Howard recalls what happened when he called LeBron James a b**ch: "I said that man, and I got kicked off the Lakers" - Basketball Network - Your daily dose of basketball

Throughout the history of the NBA, certain players have built reputations so strong that they are almost untouchable when it comes to criticism, whether from opponents or teammates. Michael Jordan held that status in the 1990s, and in today’s era, LeBron James commands the same respect.

However, Dwight Howard once found himself on the wrong side of that line when he called ‘The King’ a b**ch – a moment that he believes contributed to his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers.

“I said that man, and I got kicked off the Lakers… That’s the year after we won the championship, man. It happened on defense, and I was like, ‘Yo, you gotta get back’. And he got mad because I said something and I was like, ‘Yo, stop acting like a b**ch, man, goddamn,’” Howard recalled on his show. “All we doing is talking.”

Mario Chalmers had a similar instance like Dwight

The three-time DPOY took immense pride in improving his teams defensively and holding teammates accountable. However, he explained that his heated words toward LeBron were never meant to challenge his manhood, skills, or passion for the game.

Interestingly, Dwight’s story isn’t unique. Former Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers shared a similar experiment, recalling an intense moment during a game against the Indiana Pacers in the regular season. Frustrated by “The King’s” defense of Paul George, Chalmers called the 6’9” forward a ‘bi**h’ in the heat of the moment. Eventually, that decision led ‘Super Mario’ to get benched. But he justified his actions by pointing out that the team still won the game.

Both Howard and Chalmers found some solace in knowing they weren’t alone in their experience. But their stories serve as a cautionary tale: calling out LeBron, regardless of intention, rarely ends well.

LeBron takes pride in his efforts on both ends of the court

That being said, despite occasional criticism from teammates, the four-time Finals MVP has always been a player who takes immense pride in his game-winning impact on both ends of the floor. His defensive rating of 112.3 (his best in the last three years) proves that, and his name is once again in the conversation for First Team All-NBA in the 2024-25 campaign.

For younger players in the league, the takeaway should be clear: Learning from past mistakes is crucial, and challenging LBJ is a battle few ever win.