Los Angeles Lakers centre Dwight Howard, who reportedly was previously unsure of whether he'd participate in the resumed NBA season amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest in the United States, says he will, in fact, play when the games resume later in July.

"I have a contractual obligation to my teammates, to my fans, to the Lakers, the organization and everyone, but at the same time, I also have an obligation to my family and my community," Howard said in an interview with CNN's Don Lemon on Monday night. "Yes, I will be joining my team in Orlando, but during that time, we will be getting a lot of work done here in Atlanta and around the nation, as far as making sure people don't forget about us and what's going on in our communities."

In doing his part to help support the movement against ending social inequality against Black people in the United States, Howard told Lemon that he will donate his remaining pay cheques to his non-profit campaign, Breathe Again.

Howard, a 15-year veteran, joined this Lakers after signing a one-year deal with the team in the off-season. The 34-year-old averaged 7.5 points and 7.4 rebounds over 62 games prior to the season being shut down in March because of the pandemic.

The Lakers are scheduled to play in one of the NBA's two opening night games for the resumed season when they take on Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers on July 30. The Lakers second game is against the defending champion Toronto Raptors on Aug. 1.