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Dwight Howard returned to Lakers for third stint because he loves the city, feels they left ‘rings on the table’

Eight years ago, Dwight Howard left the court in what appeared to be his final game as a Laker after being ejected in the third quarter of Game 4 of the first round of the 2013 playoffs against the Spurs. His unceremonious exit saw the Lakers swept in similar style as Howard was shown on the national TV broadcast yelling at then-general manager Mitch Kupchak on his way down the tunnel.

A handful of months later, Howard left the franchise entirely, opting to sign with the Rockets in free agency. It tore up a wound that took some time to heal as his departure was the first domino sending the Lakers into a multi-year rebuild.