Magic center Dwight Howard has called team owner Rich DeVos to tell him that he won't play for coach Stan Van Gundy anymore, WKMG in Orlando reported.
But multiple league sources directly affiliated with the Magic and Howard disputed the television report to ESPN.com's Michael Wallace.
"It's a completely made-up, B.S. story," one of Howard's representatives told ESPN.com.
Howard missed his sixth straight game with a back injury Wednesday against the Celtics, and Van Gundy already has said that he is preparing for his big man to miss the rest of the season and the playoffs.
Howard is still upset that Van Gundy publicly said this month that Howard asked management to have him fired, sources told WKMG.
According to the report, the 86-year-old DeVos took Howard's call in his suite at Amway Center sometime during the Magic's 109-81 loss April 13 against the Atlanta Hawks.
Two sources told ESPN.com, though, that Howard did not reach out to DeVos in such a fashion.
Howard's relationship with Van Gundy has been strained for months. Sources indicate that Howard will be re-evaluated next week by team doctors to determine his playoff availability.
Howard's recovery from the injury, more so than any difficulties with Van Gundy, will factor into whether Howard is able to return to the court this season, sources told ESPN.
Uncertainty has dogged the Magic for quite some time. Howard asked management for a trade in the preseason, but after months of speculation, he signed a waiver of the opt-out clause in his contract, meaning that he would remain under contract to Orlando at least through next season.
Source: AP
But multiple league sources directly affiliated with the Magic and Howard disputed the television report to ESPN.com's Michael Wallace.
"It's a completely made-up, B.S. story," one of Howard's representatives told ESPN.com.
Howard missed his sixth straight game with a back injury Wednesday against the Celtics, and Van Gundy already has said that he is preparing for his big man to miss the rest of the season and the playoffs.
Howard is still upset that Van Gundy publicly said this month that Howard asked management to have him fired, sources told WKMG.
According to the report, the 86-year-old DeVos took Howard's call in his suite at Amway Center sometime during the Magic's 109-81 loss April 13 against the Atlanta Hawks.
Two sources told ESPN.com, though, that Howard did not reach out to DeVos in such a fashion.
Howard's relationship with Van Gundy has been strained for months. Sources indicate that Howard will be re-evaluated next week by team doctors to determine his playoff availability.
Howard's recovery from the injury, more so than any difficulties with Van Gundy, will factor into whether Howard is able to return to the court this season, sources told ESPN.
Uncertainty has dogged the Magic for quite some time. Howard asked management for a trade in the preseason, but after months of speculation, he signed a waiver of the opt-out clause in his contract, meaning that he would remain under contract to Orlando at least through next season.
Source: AP