Dwight Howard filled in for Shaquille O'Neal on TNT's Inside the NBA on Tuesday night, and his guest appearance didn’t disappoint. True to form, Howard delivered several memorable moments during the broadcast.
As the panel broke down the second round of the NBA playoffs, Howard shared a bold prediction about a familiar powerhouse — the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors, who have won four NBA titles since 2015, are on the brink of elimination as they head into a crucial Game 5 on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Trailing in the best-of-seven series, Golden State needs a win to stay alive.
Howard didn’t mince words when asked about their chances.
“Warriors got about the same amount of a chance as Boston do. Zero,” he said, sparking laughs and reactions across the set and online.
It’s been a rough stretch for the Warriors since losing Steph Curry in the middle of Game 1. They held on to win that game 99-88 but have dropped the last three. Their two most recent losses at home were 102-97 and 117-110. When the series returned to Minnesota on May 8, the Timberwolves dominated in a 117-93 win.
Both teams are fighting for a spot in the Western Conference Finals, where they would face either the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder or the defending champion Denver Nuggets. The Thunder took a 3-2 lead in that series after winning Game 5.
Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry
Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry
David Gonzales-Imagn Images
On the Eastern Conference side, Howard’s comment referenced the Boston Celtics, the reigning NBA champions. Boston suffered a major blow after Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles earlier in the series. He’s been ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs.
The Celtics trail 3-1 as they prepare to host Game 5 against the New York Knicks. The Indiana Pacers await the winner in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Howard last played in the NBA in 2022 with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was the top overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. He won an NBA title with the Lakers in 2020 and was named an All-Star eight times during his career.