NBA All-Star Game 2012: Dwight Howard Thanks Orlando for "Great" Weekend

Dwight Howard spent the majority of All-Star Weekend avoiding questions about his future with the Orlando Magic. "If it's not about All-Star Weekend, then I don't want to talk about it," he said during a media availability session on Friday, and he held himself to that. The reigning three-time Defensive Player of the Year has had to face questions about what free agency has in store for him for over a year.

Sunday evening, after his Eastern Conference squad fell to the Western Conference, 152-149, Howard discussed the City of Orlando itself, and though he didn't make a definitive statement about his future, his comments offer a bit of hope for Magic fans.

"I haven't seen the city like this since The Finals [in 2009]," Howard said. "It was great to see."

"Orlando, thank you for what you did this weekend," he said later. "You all did a great job [....] The city was on fire from Thursday night to tonight, and it's been great."

Before the game tipped off, Howard took the microphone and addressed the fans over the public-address system, referring to Orlando as "my city, my home." Afterward, he maintained his remarks were authentic. When asked what point he was trying to make in his address, Howard said, "Exactly what I said. Nothing more, nothing less. What else do you want me to say?"

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