What Dwight Howard has accomplished over his nine-year career — an NBA Finals appearance, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, the reputation as the most dominant center since Shaquille O’Neal — he wants to count as equity now that he has been injured the past two years.

Howard appears insulted when he is asked about his desire to play despite a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder, his desire to play with the Lakers, and his understanding of the sense of urgency in Los Angeles.