Dwight Howard posts pointed tweet after reported Warriors rejection

NBA big man Dwight Howard posted a not-so-cryptic tweet after the Golden State Warriors reportedly decided against signing him earlier this week. 

About a week ago, news broke that the Warriors were inviting Howard for an exploratory meeting. The three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year is 19 years removed from his professional debut with the Orlando Magic in 2004. Since last year, he’s been playing for the Taoyuan Leopards in Taiwan.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was reportedly “most interested in Dwight’s mindset.” However the interview went, it apparently ended in both parties walking away without a deal. On Friday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Howard and the Warriors had two days of meetings and workouts that ended in Golden State opting not to sign him. Charania cited the Warriors’ desire to “maintain flexibility” going into training camp as one of the reasons for the decision.

The next day, Howard posted a tweet that seems like it could only be in direct response to the rejection. “Only as a WARRIOR can one withstand the path of knowledge,” Howard wrote (capitalization on the word “warrior” is his). “A WARRIOR cannot complain or regret anything. His life is an endless challenge. And challenges cannot possibly be good or bad. Challenges are simply challenges.”

The NBA preseason is fast approaching. The Warriors play their first preseason game against the Lakers at Chase Center on Oct. 7. The regular season tips off on Oct. 24 against the Suns.

“There’s an argument that [an extra big man] is what this roster is most missing,” The Athletic’s Anthony Slater wrote. “But it appears the front office is instead prioritizing extra wings for camp (and still finalizing exactly who that’ll be) with the 14th roster spot still vacant.”