{"id":2526324,"date":"2025-12-29T16:57:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T21:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-nba-champ-dwight-howard-calls-on-trump-to-make-military-service-mandatory-to-teach-young-americans-discipline\/"},"modified":"2025-12-29T16:59:53","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T21:59:53","slug":"former-nba-champ-dwight-howard-calls-on-trump-to-make-military-service-mandatory-to-teach-young-americans-discipline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-nba-champ-dwight-howard-calls-on-trump-to-make-military-service-mandatory-to-teach-young-americans-discipline\/","title":{"rendered":"Former NBA Champ Dwight Howard Calls on Trump to Make Military Service Mandatory to Teach Young Americans &#8216;Discipline&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">36<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fformer-nba-champ-dwight-howard-calls-on-trump-to-make-military-service-mandatory-to-teach-young-americans-discipline%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2526324&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Dwight Howard &#8211; a dominant defensive NBA star who won three straight Defensive Player of the Year awards, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-says-it-does-not-have-the-assets-to-prevent-taliban-from-reportedly-grounding-planes-trying-to-leave-afghanistan\/\" title=\"Biden Admin Says It Does Not Have The \u2018Assets\u2019 To Prevent Taliban From Reportedly Grounding Planes Trying To Leave Afghanistan\">earned multiple<\/a> All-NBA and All-Star nods, and later won a 2020 title with the Lakers &#8211; sparked debate by arguing on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-this-average-american-is-voting-for-donald-trump\/\" title=\"Why This Average American Is Voting for Donald Trump\">social media<\/a> that the U.S. president should require one year of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rep-waltz-to-newsmax-vets-willing-to-die-for-the-flag-make-better-politicians\/\" title=\"Rep. Waltz to Newsmax: Vets Willing to Die for the Flag Make Better Politicians\">national service<\/a> for everyone born in America. Howard said such a program would instill discipline and structure, insisted it should be a full year, and suggested <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/repulsive-illinois-nevertrumper-adam-kinzinger-continues-to-attack-president-trump-while-claiming-his-military-service-allows-him-to-act-as-insubordinate\/\" title=\"Repulsive Illinois #NeverTrumper Adam Kinzinger Continues to Attack ... Trump While Claiming His Military Service Allows Him To Act as Insubordinate\">military service<\/a> would teach self-defense and camaraderie. reactions were mixed online; Howard pushed back on critics and cited the examples of Hall of Famers like David Robinson and Dirk Nowitzki, whose mandatory service obligations preceded successful NBA careers. He specifically urged President Donald Trump to consider implementing the idea.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Playing defense in the offense-oriented NBA is all about thankless grit and hard work.<\/p>\n<p>And there are few defensive stars that have as prolific a career as Dwight Howard, who eventually won a title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 as a backup after years of being a franchise cornerstone for the Orlando Magic.<\/p>\n<p>During his tenure with the Magic, Howard won three straight Defensive Player of the Year awards. To go along with that rare feat, Howard earned five All-NBA First Team nominations, eight All Star nods (including in his first stint with the Lakers and the Houston Rockets), and one memorable performance in the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk competition:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Dwight Howard in the dunk contest &#127871; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KFUBkiu5yV\">pic.twitter.com\/KFUBkiu5yV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OrlandoMagic\/status\/1949633763442381109?\">July 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>You don&rsquo;t achieve those sorts career accolades as a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >fresh-faced child straight<\/a> out of high school without some serious discipline behind the goofy, fun-loving facade &mdash; and Howard has a novel idea of how to instill those values into his fellow Americans:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Random. I honestly feel like the president should make one year of service mandatory for everyone born in America. A lot of other countries do it. And I think it would help with discipline and structure. I&rsquo;m curious what yall think would this help America or nah.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DwightHoward\/status\/2005488197703459167?\">December 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Random. I honestly feel like the president should make one year of service mandatory for everyone born in America,&rdquo; Howard posted to social media platform X on Monday. &ldquo;A lot of other countries do it. And I think it would help with discipline and structure. I&rsquo;m curious what yall think would this help America or nah.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The responses under Howard&rsquo;s post were decidedly mixed, with a number of people thinking it would be a good idea, and just as many decrying it.<\/p>\n<p>One respondent said that retail customer service would be better at helping Americans, which Howard swiftly shut down:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">I think military service would be better. Learn how to defend yourself. Shoot and handle guns properly. The bond and respect for each other would go up<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DwightHoward\/status\/2005490449692176547?\">December 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Howard also directly called out those who disagreed with his premise:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">U probably lazy that&rsquo;s y u saying no<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DwightHoward\/status\/2005490001505874207?\">December 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The longtime NBA center also seemed dead-set on this commitment being a full year, as opposed to being any sort of a half-measure:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Everyone should do a year<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DwightHoward\/status\/2005492452527050816?\">December 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Interestingly enough, two of Dwight&rsquo;s fellow NBA big man alumni might actually have some interesting takes on this.<\/p>\n<p>Both retired San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson and Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki had Hall of Fame careers delayed by military service requirements.<\/p>\n<p>Robinson graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1987 and was required to fulfill an obligation for two years of active service before he could begin playing for the Spurs. And whatever discipline Robinson learned during his time there helped turn him into one of the most physically imposing centers in NBA history:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">10x NBA All-Star<br \/> 8x All-NBA Team<br \/> 8x All-Defensive Team<br \/> 2x NBA Champion<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Hoophall?\">@Hoophall<\/a> inductee<\/p>\n<p>Happy Birthday to The Admiral, David Robinson! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XKCwIPtoBr\">pic.twitter.com\/XKCwIPtoBr<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NBA History (@NBAHistory) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBAHistory\/status\/1953179278310555980?\">August 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Nowitzki, meanwhile, was from Germany and had to fulfill a similar bit of military service before he could be drafted in 1998. From that moment on, Nowitzki went on to effectively completely redefine what it meant to be an NBA big man for the Mavericks:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Congrats to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/23HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#23HoopClass<\/a> inductee, Dirk Nowitzki! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/t8lvYKxcCo\">pic.twitter.com\/t8lvYKxcCo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBA\/status\/1690551984271585280?\">August 13, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Did that prior military service help propel Robinson and Nowitzki to their Hall of Fame heights?<\/p>\n<p>Howard appears to be in the camp that certainly thinks it at least played a role in it &mdash; and he thinks Americans would be better off if President Donald Trump implemented something similar.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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