Several NBA players, past and present, are known to be Jehovah's Witnesses. Notably:
- Darren Collison : Played in the NBA from 2009 to 2019, including stints with the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings. He retired early to focus on his faith and family, citing his Jehovah's Witness beliefs as a major factor in his decision
- Danny Granger : Spent nine seasons mainly with the Indiana Pacers and was an All-Star in 2009. Raised in a Jehovah's Witness household, he was baptized in 2017, two years after retiring from the NBA
- Dewayne Dedmon : A 7-foot center who overcame his mother's initial opposition due to their religious beliefs to have a successful NBA career with teams like the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers. He credits his faith with helping him through hardships
Other ex-NBA players who have been identified as Jehovah's Witnesses include:
- Detlef Schrempf : Played in the 1980s and 1990s for teams such as the Indiana Pacers and Seattle SuperSonics. He joined the faith in the 1990s and has been vocal about his spirituality
- Reggie Theus : Former player and coach, joined the faith in the 1990s
- Michael Adams : Played in the mid-1990s, became a devoted Jehovah's Witness after retiring
- Greg Ostertag : Played mainly for the Utah Jazz and became a Jehovah's Witness during his career
In total, there are over 10 NBA players, past and present, who have followed the Jehovah's Witness faith, though the most commonly cited are Collison, Granger, and Dedmon
. These players have often spoken about how their faith has influenced their lives and careers, with some retiring early or prioritizing family and ministry over basketball
Summary of notable NBA Jehovah's Witnesses
Player| NBA Career Highlights| Notes on Faith
---|---|---
Darren Collison| 2009-2019, Pacers, Kings| Retired early to focus on faith
Danny Granger| 9 seasons, Pacers, All-Star 2009| Baptized post-retirement
Dewayne Dedmon| Multiple teams, overcame religious opposition| Credits faith
for resilience
Detlef Schrempf| 1980s-90s, Pacers, SuperSonics| Joined faith in 1990s
Reggie Theus| Player and coach, 1990s| Joined faith in 1990s
Michael Adams| Mid-1990s, Nuggets, Bullets| Devoted after retirement
Greg Ostertag| Utah Jazz| Became Jehovah's Witness during career
This list reflects players who have publicly acknowledged their faith or have been reported as Jehovah's Witnesses
