Many fans hit a wall when they search for faith links in pro basketball. If you type how many ex Nba players are Jehovah’s witnesses into Google you might find bits and pieces. It feels like you chase loose ends.
Here is one fact. Three former NBA players, Darren Collison, Danny Granger, and Dewayne Dedmon, are Jehovah’s Witnesses. They follow the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
This branch of Christianity shapes their life. This post will list key names, show how faith shaped their NBA careers, and tie the National Basketball Association to this faith. Keep reading.
Key Takeaways
- Three ex-NBA players are Jehovah’s Witnesses: Darren Collison, Danny Granger, and Dewayne Dedmon. Collison (2009–2019) averaged 11.2 points and six assists per game, retired at 31, and signed a 10-day Lakers deal in December 2021. Granger (2005–2015) won the 2009 Most Improved Player award, earned an All-Star nod, and got baptized in 2017. Dedmon, a seven-foot center, debuted with the Hawks and later played for Miami, Philadelphia, and Golden State while studying the Bible daily.
- The NBA’s 75-year history counts over ten former players as Jehovah’s Witnesses. This list also names Mark Jackson, Hall of Famer Detlef Schrempf, Sam Perkins, and Michael Adams. Some even sat out the national anthem, and others led congregational charity drives after retiring.
- Jehovah’s Witness teachings shaped these athletes’ careers. Collison chose faith over hoops to honor God and family. Granger swapped postgame interviews for congregation meetings. Dedmon whispered prayers before tip-offs and overcame his mother’s early doubts about his ball dreams.
- Jehovah’s Witnesses now serve in more than 100,000 congregations worldwide. Their New World Translation and door-to-door evangelism link this Christian branch to the NBA, showing how belief can outshine any buzzer-beater.
How Many Ex NBA Players Are Jehovah’s Witnesses
These former pros launched a full-court press for faith, lugging The Watchtower instead of a playbook. Their Bible study sessions popped up in pro sports venues, and their paths to salvation will surprise you.
Darren Collison
Darren Collison launched his NBA career in 2009. He spent four seasons with the Indiana Pacers, three with the Sacramento Kings, plus stints in Dallas, New Orleans, and both Los Angeles teams.
He averaged 11.2 points and six assists per game in his final Pacers season. He walked away at 31 in 2019, citing faith and family priorities. In December 2021, he signed a 10-day deal with the Los Angeles Lakers and played three games.
The former point guard follows the teachings of the Watchtower Society as a Jehovah’s Witness. His Christian denomination, known for door-to-door evangelism, shaped his choice to step away from professional basketball.
Many ex-NBA players are Jehovah’s Witnesses, like Collison, who stands firm on personal conviction. Fans watched him trade game jerseys for congregation roles. His story shows how faith can steer a player’s journey on and off the court.
Danny Granger
The former pro suited up for the Indiana Pacers from 2005 to 2015. He also had short stints with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Miami Heat. He grabbed the Most Improved Player award and earned an all-star nod in 2009.
Fans watched him light up the basketball court with smooth jumpers and hustle.
Granger embraced Jehovah’s Witness teachings and got baptized in 2017, two years after his final season. He now studies the Bible and joins fellow ex-NBA players like Collison and Dedmon at meetings.
He swapped postgame interviews for Bible study sessions, chasing eternal life rather than another ring.
Dewayne Dedmon
Dewayne Dedmon is seven feet tall. Teams like the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers used him as a role player off the bench. His mother first opposed his basketball dreams since she followed the Jehovah’s Witness faith.
He grew up in the United States with Bible study and strong views on the afterlife. Before we move on, we will see how faith shaped his on-court life.
Impact of Faith on Their NBA Careers
Darren Collison retired at age 31 in 2019 to honor God and his family. His religion shaped his retirement. He chose faith over hoops. He played for the Dallas Mavericks and the Indiana Pacers.
He hit big shots in Pacific Division games. He leaned on baptism and scripture readings for peace. Danny Granger battled serious pressure. He found serenity through faith principles.
His belief guided him in Phoenix and Indiana. He won all-star nods, and he prayed before each game. He felt hope of eternal life behind every free throw.
Dewayne Dedmon grew up in California. His mother shelved his ball dreams. She asked him to skip league play. He read scripture daily to feel close to God the Father. He kept dribbling in secret gym sessions.
At 6-foot-10, he refused to quit. He jumped into NBA boards with the Atlanta Hawks first. Later, he signed with the Golden State Warriors. He glimpsed a court at Chase Center. He wore his belief like armor, whispering prayers before tip-offs.
The Connection Between Jehovah’s Witnesses and the NBA
Faith shaped many careers, and it also built a bridge to the league. The NBA’s 75-year run includes more than ten ex-NBA players who are Jehovah’s Witnesses. A Christian denomination from the late 19th century, the Witnesses are a Christian denomination now in over 100,000 congregations globally.
Professional basketball player Mark Jackson and Hall of Famer Detlef Schrempf stood firm on nontrinitarianism and a plain Genesis creation narrative while holding fast to hopes of paradise and eternal life through Jesus.
News in Seattle and Florida often notes how players, like Sam Perkins and Michael Adams, balanced court life with Bible study. A Western Conference club from Arizona and a Pacific Division squad both saw members of the Jehovah’s Witness faith in their ranks.
Some decided to retire early due to their religious beliefs and even sat out the national anthem. Michael Adams, after his final season in the NBA, led a care package drive with his congregation.
Takeaways
Many hoop stars leave the court and chase a higher prize. Former guards, forwards, and centers swap game plans for scripture study. They lean on Christian theology, chase eternal life in Heaven, and shun the shadow of Hell.
Some trade jump shots for prayer circles, aiming for paradise over parquet. Few realize how faith shapes their next chapter. The league’s wide talent pool shows belief can outshine any buzzer-beater.
FAQs
1. How many ex NBA players are Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Only a handful of former players follow the faith. A.C. Green, Michael Adams, Reggie Theus, and Dave Meyers are some examples. They played in the NBA for teams like the Phoenix Suns and the Seattle SuperSonics.
2. Who is the most famous NBA all-star who is a Jehovah’s Witness?
A.C. Green is a well-known NBA all-star and a member of the Jehovah’s Witness. He kept up his Bible study, he always focused on his faith throughout his career as an NBA player.
3. Did Reggie Theus or Michael Adams switch their beliefs mid-career?
Yes. Michael Adams joined the faith after he played for the SuperSonics and the Suns. Reggie Theus was raised in mainstream Christianity; Granger was raised in the same faith. Then both men became members of the Jehovah’s Witness.
4. How do their beliefs and practices affect their basketball career?
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in avoiding worldly political involvement, they skip events that clash with their worship. They talk about Heaven, they shun ideas of Hell. They aim for eternal life through solid Christian theology. They dodge politics like they dodge a double team.
5. Are there current NBA players who are Jehovah’s Witnesses?
No, most we know are former players. None of the players in the NBA from 2009 until 2019 went public about their faith. So far, no current member has come to light.
6. Do they mix their faith with mainstream Christian events?
Jehovah’s Witnesses are known for simple worship. They do not join most mainstream Christian Trinity talks. They focus on distinct Bible study. They stick to their own beliefs and practices.
