Dwight Howard claims Adam Silver called him after he tweeted 'Free Palestine'; NBA says that's 'categorically false'

Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News on Jan 8, 2025

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NEW YORK — Dwight Howard says he received a call from NBA commissioner Adam Silver almost immediately after he tweeted “Free Palestine” more than a decade ago — a claim the league denies.

The controversy occurred in July of 2014, when Howard was a member of the Houston Rockets.

“Less than 10 minutes after I tweet that, I get a call from the commissioner of the NBA,” Howard said on Monday’s episode of “The GAUDs Show” podcast. “Agents, people working with my foundation at the time, Texas. ‘You’ve got to erase this tweet. You’ve got to take this down.’ I’m like, ‘What did I do that was so bad?’ ”

Howard, 39, said, “I dang near got kicked out [of] the league for it.”

In an email Wednesday to the New York Daily News, NBA spokesman Mike Bass refuted Howard’s claim as “categorically false.”

In 2014, Howard deleted the tweet shortly after he published it, then apologized in subsequent posts for commenting on “international politics,” according to The Atlantic’s coverage at the time. Howard’s tweet came amid conflict between Israel and Hamas.

On this week’s podcast episode, Howard said he felt compelled to share the tweet after meeting Palestinian fans while attending a movie in Houston.

“They asked me to just bring some awareness to what’s going on in their country,” Howard said. “Me having a big heart, I’m like, ‘You know what? I want people to know the struggles y’all [are] having.’ ”

But the alleged response surprised Howard, he said.

“When you’re in the league, you be in that place where, ‘If I say too much or if I say something, I may not get a job no more.’ I’ve got to hold my tongue, and that’s so hard to do when you are faced with so many situations.”

Howard played 18 NBA seasons from 2004-2022, including three with the Rockets from 2013-16. He also suited up for the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers.

The former No. 1 overall pick averaged 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game in his career; earned NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors three times; and won a championship with the Lakers in 2020.