Dwight Howard Had First Workout With the Lakers

Not too long ago, GM Mitch Kupchak said that his newest superstar center was on track to make a full recovery from back surgery. And wouldn’t you know it, but Dwight Howard had his first official workout as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers this week. Reports the OC Register: “The Lakers don’t know either, but they’re starting to get a better idea. Details are scarce and Lakers spokesman John Black declined to comment, but Howard on Monday had his first hands-on session with Lakers athletic trainer Gary Vitti and head physical therapist Judy Seto at the team’s training facility in El Segundo. Howard is rehabilitating after April 20 spinal surgery, and no one has been ready to commit to a day, week or even month when Howard will make his Lakers debut. But the level of mobility and strength Howard is already showing has to be encouraging for anyone hopeful he’ll be jumping for that opening tip-off Oct. 30 against Dallas. Howard insisted at his introductory Lakers news conference that he will not play until he is truly 100 percent. He also said this: ‘Anybody who knows me and knows what I’m about: I would never quit anything and I would never fake an injury. I’ve never been a quitter. I’ve always been somebody who pushed through the end. I’ve had injuries before but I’ve never said anything about them. I’ve played through a lot of things.’”