Notice who’s missing from this cover?

Get used to seeing less of Kobe Bryant and more of the Los Angeles Lakers’ two newest stars in Steve Nash and Dwight Howard.

Nash and Howard are on the cover of the Sports Illustrated NBA preview issue, which hits newsstands on Wednesday.

In the issue, Howard tells Lee Jenkins about the first time he had an alcoholic beverage:

On the night of Aug. 10, when Howard was dealt to the Lakers, he went to dinner at Mastro’s in Beverly Hills, and a large group of strangers invited him to their private room. “They said, ‘Dwight, we want to welcome you to L.A. and make a toast to you and your new journey here,’ ” Howard recalls. “I told them, ‘Thank you, but I don’t drink, I’ve never had a drink before.’ And then I thought about it, and I was like, You know what, I think this deserves a drink.” He clinked glasses and lifted one to his lips.

That is likely the first of many toasts in honor of Howard if the Lakers can bring home another NBA championship.

And in other Sports Illustrated news, Magic Johnson and Matt Kemp are on this week’s cover.

The actual article (by Lee Jenkins) is about the 78-hour sports whirlwind the city of Los Angeles experienced last weekend.

A very good (but lengthy) read that won’t result in any lawsuits.