Dwight Howard credits Kobe Bryant for driving "Dancing With the Stars" success

In a conversation with Page Six, Dwight Howard expressed his belief that his former teammate, Kobe Bryant, would enthusiastically support his participation in the popular TV show "Dancing With the Stars." Howard, who debuted on the show on Tuesday, was certain that Bryant would be proud of his achievements on the dance floor.

Kobe Bryant, who tragically died in January 2020 at 41, was Howard's teammate on the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2012-2013 season.

Together, they won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Although their relationship on the court was occasionally strained, they were on good terms before Bryant's death. ESPN reported they planned to participate in the dunk contest during the NBA All-Star Weekend in February 2020.

Howard admitted that he still follows the advice that Bryant gave him over the years.

He always said: "Well.. maybe there are more important things," Howard recalls. "And right now, ‘Dancing With the Stars’ is the main thing. So with that being said, every day that we’re on the dance floor, we treat it as such. And we’re having fun doing it."

Although Bryant never competed on "Dancing With the Stars," he always showed interest in the show. In 2010, along with then-Lakers coach Phil Jackson, he made an appearance in the 11th season to support Rick Fox and his partner Cheryl Burke.

Burke remembers him as "very nice" and emphasised how much of an inspiration he was to other competitors. Bryant also supported his teammates, such as Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom, when they competed on the show.

In the current 33rd season of "Dancing With the Stars," Howard is dancing with professional dancer Daniella Karagach. The pair debuted with a performance to the song "This Is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan, earning 22 out of 30 points from the judges. Howard highlighted the support he received from Karagach, who previously won season 30 with Iman Shumpert.