Exploring The Faith: A Look At Former NBA Players Who Embrace Jehovah’s Witness
By Ankita Tripathy
30 August, 2023
Sports
Last Updated on: July 30th, 2024
If you have been searching for the answer to how many current or ex NBA players are Jehovah’s Witnesses, then this is the blog that you need to read!
The NBA consists of a varied group of athletes with diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. A portion of the players are Jehovah’s Witnesses, while the majority of the league’s athletes identify as believers or agnostics.
Keep reading this article to learn about how many ex NBA players are Jehovah’s Witnesses and more…
Jehovah’s Witness: What Is That?
The Jehovah’s Witnesses represent a Christian denomination recognized for their unique convictions and customs, such as engaging in door-to-door evangelism, abstaining from saluting the flag, and declining military service. They emphasize the use of the divine appellation “Jehovah” to refer to God and place a strong emphasis on adhering closely to biblical doctrines.
Originating in the 1870s, Jehovah’s Witnesses have grown into a Christian denomination boasting more than 100,000 congregations as of 2022, with several members achieving fame as world-class athletes.
Over time, numerous NBA members have identified with this faith, and one player even retired to prioritize his well-being. In this piece, I will explore the stories of three NBA athletes who align with the Jehovah’s Witnesses denomination.
So keep on reading to know more…
Jehovah’s Witnesses within the NBA are not an uncommon sight, drawn to this faith due to personal or familial reasons. This religious choice is inviting and encourages followers, with NBA players openly discussing the influence of their beliefs on their lives.
These athletes wholeheartedly embody their principles, adhering to modest dress, refraining from body art, and favoring unassuming attire. They abstain from observing holidays and tend to avoid extensive political involvement.
Embracing this faith demands a lifestyle shift that could potentially affect their professional prospects. For instance, refusing blood transfusions is a strict requirement, prompting athletes to make challenging decisions about their medical treatment. An illustrative case is that of Derrick Gervin, a former NBA player who departed the league entirely to prioritize his religion over basketball.
While no NBA teams are directly affiliated with this belief system, it has brought solace to figures like Horace Grant, once a teammate of Michael Jordan. Grant openly shares how his faith guides him towards wiser choices and emotional stability. This faith’s impact resonates throughout the lives of numerous NBA players, contributing to their personal growth both on and off the court.
Pros of being Born in Jehovah’s Witnesses?
If you don’t know about the benefits of belonging to the religion, let me share with you, some! In the religion, you cannot smoke, drink alcohol, or do drugs! Which is ultimately a good thing, keeps you fit and healthy.
Furthermore, you gain confidence in different activities such as speaking to strangers and public speaking, because these are part of the religious practices along with it, you stay in a busy lifestyle which keeps you fit. They also have a rule of not swearing in everyday speech, which also establishes good communication skills for you.
Cons of being Born in Jehovah’s Witnesses?
There are of course some disadvantages of belonging to this religion, such as no time to rest! You will have a life filled with activities such as assemblies, service, meetings, and studying. Your social skills and development can be impacted because in many cases!
It is because religion does not encourage having worldly friends. Instead, they focus on having interests that are diverse about helping people in general.
There is also a practice of shunning family along with encouraging rushed marriages, not allowing one to express oneself, leading to depression, and no celebration of self-worth such as birthdays.
Things NBA Players Need to Consider!
Factors that NBA players need to consider when becoming Jehovah’s Witness are as follows:
Beliefs: There are unique beliefs in this religion such as belief towards a future earthly paradise and rejection of the Trinity, so it is important to understand and accept those.
Practises: Refusal of blood, transfusions, and door-to-door ministry are some of the actions that anyone who is planning to become a Jehovah’s Witness should be comfortable with these practices.
Community: individuals who are planning to join Jehovah’s Witnesses should have significant interest and support from community members.
Values: if you want to join Jehovah’s Witnesses, you need to emphasize on pacifism, personal responsibility, and family values.
Purpose: Considering the life of the NBA, players is quite challenging, joining the religion of the Jehovah’s Witness will demand some serious commitment from them. So they need to learn how to balance their basketball commitments with religious obligations.
Challenges: balancing their NBA career and practicing religious obligations can be a challenge for NBA players.
Relevance: even though becoming a part of any religion is a very personal choice. We are discussing the personal choice of the NBA players because it is not just about themselves. Their fans and followers do get influenced by actions and commitments like this.
How Many NBA Players Are Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Well, there are a total of three NBA players who are Jehovah’s Witnesses. If you want to know who they are, then you have reached the right place. Take a look at these three names when it comes to people practicing and belonging to this ritual group:
1. Dewayne Dedmon
Dewayne Dedmon stands out as one of the NBA’s premier role players. Surprisingly, this 7-foot center might never have entered the NBA had he adhered to his mother’s counsel. Growing up in a Jehovah’s Witnesses household, basketball was off-limits due to his mother’s decree.
In his teenage years, Dedmon was lean and lacked coaching due to his family’s religious beliefs. Despite these obstacles, he relentlessly honed his skills, ultimately catching the attention of the NBA.
While a championship title eludes him thus far, Dedmon finds himself in the twilight years of his career. His journey serves as a testament to the power of hard work and commitment, highlighting that remarkable achievements can spring from dedication and persistence.
Read Also: NBArank 2023: Players Who Will Define The NBA 2023-24 Season, From 100 To 51
2. Danny Granger
Danny Granger, a notable small forward, had a prominent NBA career spanning from 2005 to 2015. The majority of his professional tenure was dedicated to the Indiana Pacers, and he achieved the honor of being named an All-Star in 2009. Apart from his on-court achievements, Granger gained recognition for his charitable initiatives in Haiti and his active support for mental health awareness.
Having grown up in a household adhering to the Jehovah’s Witness faith, Granger’s early years were spent attending Kingdom Halls. Allegedly, his Jehovah’s Witness beliefs played a role in his ability to manage the demands of being a top-tier athlete. Despite being raised in a Jehovah’s Witness family, Granger wasn’t baptized until 2017, which was two years after concluding his NBA career.
3. Darren Collison
From 2009 to 2019, Darren Collison showcased his skills in the NBA. His journey encompassed four years with the Indiana Pacers and a three-year stint in Sacramento. Additionally, the point guard graced the courts of Dallas, New Orleans, and both Los Angeles franchises.
In 2019, at the age of 31, Collison took a pivotal step in his career, opting to retire and channel his energies toward his faith. This decision followed a season where he averaged an impressive 11.2 points and 6 assists per game while with the Pacers.
During a conversation with Marc J. Spears, Collison underscored the profound significance of his faith, revealing his desire to shift his focus toward family and charitable pursuits. He carried the upbringing of a Jehovah’s Witnesses family.
However, the point guard’s narrative took an unexpected turn when he reentered the NBA arena. In December 2021, he rekindled his association with the game, inking a 10-day contract with the Lakers. His reappearance saw him take part in a mere three games before the Lakers opted not to renew his contract as it expired.
How Many Ex-NBA Players Are Jehovah’s Witnesses?
When discussing former NBA players affiliated with Jehovah’s Witnesses, two prominent names stand out: Danny Granger and Darren Collison.
Danny Granger, primarily a small forward but also adept at power forward, was known for initiating his team’s offense, often taking on the role of a point forward.
His NBA career concluded in 2015, with his final season at the Miami Heat seeing him average 6.3 points over 30 games. After retiring, he mostly faded from the public eye until recent reports suggested his involvement in a threesome.
Darren Michael Collison, an American basketball professional, was a key player for the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). His collegiate basketball years were spent entirely with the UCLA Bruins.
During the 2006-07 season, he achieved notable averages of 5.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game, showcasing a 44.7 percent accuracy from beyond the arc. Notably, he earned the MVP title at the Maui Invitational Tournament in 2009.
On December 24, 2021, Collison made a surprising return from retirement, signing a brief 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
How Many Current NBA Players Are Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Dewayne Dedmon, born on August 12, 1989, in Lancaster, California, is a current NBA player who practices the Jehovah’s Witness faith. He stands at 7 feet tall and weighs 245 pounds, making him a dominant presence on the basketball court.
Dedmon is known for his defensive skills and has played for teams like the Golden State Warriors, Santa Cruz Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, and Sacramento Kings throughout his professional career.
He initially played at Antelope Valley College and then transferred to the University of Southern California (USC) for his senior year.
Wrapping It Up!
In case you have been caching about how many ex-NBA players are Jehovah’s witnesses, I hope that this blog has been of help to you. If there are any other queries related to the same, feel free to let me know. All that you need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the page. Then leave our comments and queries in the box below. And I will be there to answer them all for you!
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