Magic center Dwight Howard wants to see Knicks guard Nate Robinson out on the floor.

Robinson was reportedly benched by New York coach Mike D'Antoni for joking with Howard before the Knicks played the Magic on Dec. 2.

"We were just having fun. It shouldn't matter what you do before the game; it should matter what you do during the game," Howard said. "I want Nate to play."

He added that he tried to encourage Robinson via text message.

"I just told him to keep going and not let anything affect him, whether he gets five minutes or 25 minutes, just do it to the best of his ability," Howard said.