The Los Angeles Lakers are suddenly limping toward the postseason, and a familiar face is offering an unlikely solution.
The 17-time NBA champs suffered two massive blows in less than 24 hours. Both Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić have been ruled out for the rest of the regular season, and LeBron James is left alone to lead the Lakers to the postseason.
Dwight Howard Hilariously Offers to Suit Up Again
Dwight Howard posted an image of himself in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey on social media with the caption ‘Lmk if I need to come out retirement’ after devastating injuries to Reaves and Dončić.
Lmk if I need to come out retirement 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/OrLVsY4QTe
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) April 4, 2026
The social media post provided a brief moment of levity for a fanbase currently operating in full panic mode. Howard officially announced his retirement from all basketball activities just weeks ago in early March. The legendary big man stepped away to focus on his family and philanthropic efforts, bringing to a close a career spanning two decades.
His timing could not be better for a viral joke. The Lakers are reeling from a catastrophic wave of bad health right before the most important stretch of the year. The roster is suddenly depleted, and the mood around the practice facility is incredibly tense.
Dončić suffered a left hamstring injury during a Thursday night matchup. Representatives for the superstar confirmed he will miss the remainder of the regular season. His status for the opening round of the playoffs is currently unknown, leaving Los Angeles without its primary offensive engine and unquestioned leader.
The situation worsened significantly when Reaves also landed on the injury report. The Lakers lost their starting backcourt in a matter of days, stripping the roster of its two most reliable playmakers and perimeter defenders.
Before these medical setbacks, Los Angeles looked like a legitimate title contender. The team recently rattled off an eight-game winning streak to climb the Western Conference standings. They currently hold the critical third seed, but holding off the rest of the conference without their star guards will require a massive collective effort.
Dončić has been playing the best basketball of his career since arriving in Los Angeles. He is averaging well over 30 points and eight assists per game this season. The blockbuster trade that brought him from Dallas transformed the Lakers into an instant powerhouse, and he was carrying a massive workload before his hamstring finally gave out.
Reaves has been equally crucial to the franchise’s overall success. The former undrafted guard took another massive leap in his development this season. He is averaging over 20 points and five assists per game, providing critical secondary scoring alongside Dončić.
He routinely takes on the toughest perimeter defensive assignments, allowing the other stars to conserve their energy for the offensive end of the floor.
Losing both starting guards simultaneously creates a massive void that no single player can effectively fill. It also makes Howard’s playful offer highly amusing. The Lakers desperately need reliable ball handlers and consistent perimeter shooting right now.
A retired center, even one destined for basketball immortality, solves exactly zero of their current tactical problems on the court.
READ MORE: LeBron James Issues Clear Reality Check to Lakers Teammates After Luka Dončić’s Injury
Howard is well aware of this dynamic. He has always embraced his role as an entertainer, and this latest post is just another chapter in his long, complicated history with the Lakers organization.
That 2020 title secured Howard’s legacy in Los Angeles forever. He accepted a heavily reduced role, played stellar defense, and helped deliver a banner to the rafters. He transitioned from a ball-dominant superstar into a gritty role player willing to do the dirty work in the paint. He was rightfully inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025, cementing his status as one of the greatest defensive players of his generation.
The next few weeks will test the depth and resilience of the entire organization. The front office aggressively assembled this roster to win a championship this summer. Role players will be forced to take on massive offensive responsibilities against desperate opponents fighting for their own postseason lives.
Los Angeles must survive the final days of the regular season and hope their medical staff can perform miracles before the playoffs begin. The third seed is extremely precarious, and slipping down the standings could mean a brutal first-round matchup without home-court advantage.
Howard will be cheering them on from afar, uniform ready in his closet, strictly for the laughs.
