NBA Rumors: Dwight Howard Would Destroy All Credibility by Sitting out Playoffs

Dwight Howard hasn’t done himself any favors during the 2011-12 season.

The superstar has managed to destroy his public image, alienate his fanbase and go from one of the more likeable NBA players to the most controversial in less than five months.

Now it’s being rumored that the Orlando Magic’s big man may sit the postseason out to “rehab” his back.

According to Sean Deveny of The Sporting News, embattled coach Stan Van Gundy is preparing for the playoffs without the marquee attraction.

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“I would be surprised,” coach Stan Van Gundy said when asked if Howard might return. “Very surprised. What we’re saying right now, what our approach is, that this is our team, not only in the regular season but in the playoffs. If we get him back, it is a huge bonus, but we’re not expecting it at this point.”

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David Pingalore of WKMG dug deeper and found some sources that say the “rehab” is actually a protest against SVG for publicly confirming rumors that he wanted his coach fired.

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The NBA sources believe not playing for Van Gundy is more at issue than anything else and the circus-like atmosphere is being orchestrated by Howard. The sources confirm it all started with Howard's trade demands prior to the season and that Howard was offered too much control.

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It’s absolutely ridiculous that a reigning three-time Defensive Player of the Year, four-time All-NBA First Team and six-time All-Star would be behaving this way and voluntarily sitting out of the postseason by playing up an injury.

All of that just to get back at his coach; who had every right to finally confirm reports that had been swirling for weeks, ever since Howard initially backstabbed him.

This media circus has gotten out of hand and DH12 is no longer the same player he used to be.

He’s already killed any chance of being a sympathetic character in this drama and if it comes out that he is faking an injury for the playoffs, Howard will have done irreparable damage to his credibility.