Dwight Howard calls Louisville’s Kevin Ware to offer encouragement

Dwight Howard remembers the trauma of the broken leg he sustained after dunking in a game as a teenager.

So Howard had to call Kevin Ware after seeing the Louisville player’s gruesome injury in the NCAA tournament on Sunday.

“I know how it feels. When I broke my leg, everybody thought that my career was done when I was 15,� Howard said Friday. “Look where it got me. I’m pretty sure it’s going to push him to work even harder.�

Ware sustained a compound fracture of his right tibia in Louisville’s 85-63 victory over Duke. He had surgery Sunday night. Howard called him earlier this week.

“Steve [Nash] and Pau [Gasol] and the rest of the guys said hello to him also,� Howard said. “I’m happy that he’s out of surgery. He’s looking forward to getting back on the court. His spirits are pretty good.�

Howard and Ware were both raised in Atlanta. They played on the same youth team several years apart.

“Us Celtics stick together,� Howard said before quickly specifying something for Lakers fans. “That’s the Atlanta Celtics.�

Howard needed two screws in his left leg when he was hurt.

“When I finished, I was taller than when I started,� he said.

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