"I had PTSD after that" - Dwight Howard shares the tougher challenge between Special Forces & Dancing With the Stars
Dwight Howard has ventured into several activities beyond basketball. He participated in FOX's "Special Forces," which premiered in 2023, and he also competes in the 33rd season of "Dancing With The Stars," partnered with Daniella Karagach.
Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas asked Howard about these experiences on his "Gil's Arena" show, wondering which was more challenging. Howard gave a clear response.
“The Special Forces was so mentally and physically draining. It was only 10 days. And it wasn't 10 days for everybody, because some people, they left the first day,” Howard said.
“I was able to withstand being kidnapped, set on fire, all that stuff. And it's a whole different type thing that we're dealing with on the dance floor. That was hard. I had PTSD after that. Like, I felt like I was really in the Army.”
Howard also recounted a moment from the show where he and other contestants had to remove their masks in a room and converse while being exposed to tear gas.
The concept of FOX's "Special Forces" is to offer a unique reality TV experience by putting celebrities through demanding, quasi-military exercises, simulating the rigorous U.S. Special Forces selection process. The show tests participants' physical, mental and emotional resilience under extreme conditions.
Dwight Howard describes his ‘Special Forces’ experience as the best of his life
In a 2023 interview with PEOPLE, Dwight Howard called his time on the show his greatest experience.
"It was the greatest experience of my life. I learned that I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. That's the message that I've had since I was young, but now it resonates even more because of the things we had to go through," he said.
In addition to being tear-gassed, Howard and the other 15 participants were set on fire and wrote farewell letters to their families. Despite being an athlete, Howard explained that his physical abilities didn’t give him an edge during filming.
"Emotionally, you had to be able to take your emotions out because you need your energy physically and mentally to really do all the courses," he said. "So all three combined was something that we needed to be on this show, and really for me, all three of those areas got lifted up during the show. I grew so much in those areas."
Dwight Howard last played in the NBA during the 2021-22 season with the Lakers, averaging 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
In his prime with the Orlando Magic, Howard was a dominant force, averaging 18.4 ppg, 13.0 rpg and 2.2 blocks per game, leading them to the 2009 NBA Finals, where they were defeated by the Lakers.
During the latter part of his career, Dwight Howard played for six different teams over 10 years, with his biggest achievement being the 2020 Lakers championship, where he contributed crucial defense and rebounding alongside Anthony Davis.