Dwight Howard’s ‘Free Palestine’ Tweet Delete Claim False, NBA Says

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Dwight Howard isn’t telling the truth, at least according to the NBA.

The eight-time NBA All Star recently said he was told to delete a 2014 tweet supporting Palestine after he was called by league commissioner Adam Silver. That claim is “categorically false” and Silver did not contact the former Orlando Magic star, NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in an email on Wednesday. Howard, who was a member of Houston Rockets at the time, said the tweet jeopardized his playing career.

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“I tweeted Free Palestine,” Howard said during a recent podcast appearance on The Gauds Show podcast. “Less than 10 minutes (later), I get a call from the commissioner of the NBA, agents, people working with my foundation at the time … [telling me] ‘you have to erase this tweet, you have to take it down’.”

Howard and his media rep didn’t immediately respond for comment when contacted on Wednesday.

The former NBA champion, who last played in the NBA during the 2021-2022 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, took his career overseas in 2022 and most recently played for the Taiwan Mustangs, teaming up with ex-NBA star DeMarcus Cousins and former Lakers teammate Quinn Cook. His deal with the Mustangs also reportedly made him part owner of The Asian Tournament (TNT) team. The 39-year-old, who won the Defensive Player of the Year award three times and has Hall of Fame worthy career numbers, has previously said that he still wants to return to the NBA despite his age.

“It’s because I went against the grain and said something that people didn’t like,” Howard told Gauds host Ray Daniels. “When you’re in the league, you’re in a place where if (you) say too much, (you) may not get a job anymore. I got to hold my tongue which is so hard to do.”

Dwight Howard tweet from 2014: “previous tweet was a mistake. I have never commented on international politics and never will”

Howard’s claim that the NBA tried to suppress his attempt to raise awareness around the plight of Palestinians has drawn wide attention on social media and online with multiple Middle East publications reporting on his statement….

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/dwight-howard-free-palestine-tweet-220127772.html

Author : Sportico

Publish date : 2025-01-08 22:01:00

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