Dwight Howard posts pointed tweet after reported rejection of Warriors

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

About a week ago, the news came out that the Warriors invited 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 has been playing for the Taoyuan Leopards in Taiwan.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is reportedly “most interested in Dwight’s thinking.” Although the interview continued, it apparently ended with both parties walking away without an agreement. On Friday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Howard and the Warriors had two days of meetings and workouts that ended with Golden State opting not to sign him. Quoted by Charania the Warriors’ desire to “maintain flexibility” entering the training camp as one of the reasons for the decision.

The next day, Howard posted a tweet that appeared to be a direct response to the rejection. “Only as a WARRIOR can one endure the path of knowledge,” wrote Howard (he capitalizes the word “warrior”). “A WARRIOR cannot complain or regret anything. His life is an endless challenge. And challenges cannot be good or bad. Challenges are simply challenges.”

The NBA preseason is almost here. The Warriors will play their first preseason game against the Lakers at the Chase Center on October 7. The regular season begins on October 24 against the Suns.

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