Lakers News: Dwight Howard Slams Rob Pelinka for Breaking Up Lakers’ 2020 Title Core

Former Lakers center Dwight Howard has criticized general manager Rob Pelinka for breaking up the team that won the NBA championship in 2020. After the Lakers secured the title, they made significant roster changes instead of keeping the championship core intact.

Despite being one of the top teams before the league's shutdown, Pelinka believed the team needed upgrades. This decision led to a reshuffling of the roster, which many fans and analysts questioned.

Howard, who was part of the 2020 championship team, expressed disappointment over the changes, suggesting that the team could have successfully defended their title if they had remained together. Although he returned to the Lakers for the 2021-22 season, the team had already been altered significantly by that time.

“After we won, they started tweaking the roster," Howard said. "I’mma tell you who it was— Rob Pelinka, man. God, Rob, why did you do that to us, man? Rob, come on, man. I still love you, Rob, but dang, man. We had the squad, bro. Even if we ran it back, we could have run it back. We would have been healthier for the next year.”

Many supporters felt the Lakers should have retained most of the championship squad. While Pelinka's adjustments did lead to a competitive 2020-21 season, injuries to key players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis ultimately derailed their playoff run. The Lakers finished as the seventh seed and faced the Phoenix Suns in the first round, where an injury to Davis hindered their chances of advancing.

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The aftermath of those decisions has left some players and fans wondering what might have been if the 2020 championship team had stayed intact. Since then, the Lakers have not won another title, raising questions about the impact of Pelinka's choices.