Well, let me tell ya, there ain’t many folks in the NBA who openly talk ’bout their faith, but there’s a few, y’know? And I ain’t talkin’ ’bout just any faith, I mean the Jehovah’s Witness way. Some of these basketball fellas, they ain’t just known for dribblin’ and shootin’, but they got a whole lotta faith too. You might be surprised to learn that a few of ’em, after they finish their big fancy careers, they still hold on to that faith real tight. Now, let me tell you about a few of these fellas who’ve walked that path—Dwayne Dedmon, Danny Granger, and Darren Collison. They all used to play in the NBA, and now they follow Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Now, ya might be wonderin’, how’d they end up with Jehovah’s Witness? Well, for some folks, it’s a mighty personal journey. Like Danny Granger, for example. He used to be a big star in the NBA, playin’ for teams like the Indiana Pacers. But after his career started slowin’ down, he started thinkin’ about life outside of basketball. And guess what? He found Jehovah’s Witnesses. It was a big change for him, but one he says was for the better. He talks ’bout how his faith gives him strength, helps him keep grounded. And let me tell ya, he’s proud of it.
Then there’s Darren Collison. Now, Darren was a guard in the NBA, playin’ for teams like the New Orleans Hornets and the Indiana Pacers. He had a decent career, y’know? But after bein’ in the league for a while, he decided to hang up his shoes. Why? Because his faith in Jehovah was pullin’ him in a different direction. He didn’t just wanna be known for basketball, he wanted to live a life that reflected his beliefs. So he walked away from the game in 2019. That took some guts, let me tell ya. It ain’t easy to walk away from somethin’ like that, but Darren says his faith gave him the strength to do it.
And then there’s Dewayne Dedmon. Now, Dewayne might not have been as famous as Danny or Darren, but he still made a name for himself in the NBA. Playin’ for teams like the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks, he made a real impact. But just like the other two, his faith is what kept him grounded. Dewayne came to the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith while still playin’ basketball, and it’s clear to see how it influenced his life both on and off the court. He’s a quiet fella, but his faith speaks loud and clear.
So what does all this tell us? Well, these fellas, they show us that the game of basketball ain’t the only thing that matters. There’s more to life, more to a person than just how many points they score or how many games they win. For these ex-NBA players, their faith in Jehovah’s Witnesses gave ’em a sense of purpose, a reason to keep goin’ even after the crowds stopped cheerin’. And ain’t that somethin’ to think about?
Now, don’t get me wrong, these fella’s still love their basketball. They’re proud of what they did on the court. But it seems like when the lights go down and the game’s over, it’s their faith that helps ’em keep goin’, helps ’em stay strong in a world that ain’t always kind.
And this ain’t just somethin’ special to these few fellas. There’s more ex-NBA players out there who’ve found Jehovah’s Witnesses too. Some of ’em, like Michael Adams and A.C. Green, have been open about their faith for a long time. It shows that the game ain’t the only thing that gives you identity—your beliefs can shape your life too. That’s somethin’ these fellas seem to believe down deep in their hearts. The transition from a fast-paced life on the court to a more spiritual one off it, it ain’t easy, but it sure can be fulfilling.
So, next time you watch a game and see an ex-NBA player, just remember, they’re more than just athletes. They got their own journey, their own faith, and it’s somethin’ that shapes ’em as much as any game or championship ever did. Ain’t that a lesson for all of us?
Tags：[ex-NBA players, Jehovah’s Witnesses, basketball, Danny Granger, Darren Collison, Dewayne Dedmon, NBA faith stories, spiritual journey, former athletes]
