How many ex NBA players are Jehovah’s witnesse? Complete Details
Over the years, Basketball has seen huge popularity and growth in the United States of America. That is why NBA players get special attention. However, most of these players are very devoted to their faith and practice it as a part of their lives. NBA players belong to different religions and faiths but how many ex NBA players are Jehovah’s Witnesses?
So, 4 ex-NBA players practice Jehovah’s Witnesses. We will find out how spirituality and religion have embedded in the lives of these players and which players are Jehovah’s Witnesses.
How many ex NBA players are Jehovah’s witnesses?
Spirituality and religion play an important part in someone’s life. For athletes, faith instills focus, strength, and courage in them and keeps them calm and composed in high-pressure situations. That is why athletes, especially NBA Players really believe in their faith and you often see them practicing their beliefs.
However, there are 4 ex-NBA players that are devotees of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Furthermore, they have openly discussed it many times in the media. These ex-NBA players are Dave Meyers, Danny Granger, Darren Collison, and Dewayne Dedmon. In addition, they have discussed how their faith has deep impacts on their personal life and professional career as an NBA player.
Dave Meyers:
Dave Meyers was a former NBA player who played for the Milwaukee Bucks team in the NBA league. However, Dave’s career spanned only five years at the highest level. Dave Meyers debuted for the Bucks in 1975 when they picked him up in the first round of the drafts as their key forward. But only after 4 years, in 1980 he had to bid audio to this beautiful game because of his faith.
During this time period, he won two national awards. But his dedication to his belief forced him to take an early retirement from the game. However, he remained sterned to his faith until his last breath. Dave Meyers died in 2015 because he was suffering from cancer.
Danny Granger:
Danny Granger is another player who was a devotee of his Jehovah’s Witnesses belief. However, he gained great success during his time with the Indiana Pacers team. Due to multiple injuries in his knee and calf, he has to opt out of many games from 2012 to 2014. Later on, his team traded him with the Philadelphia 76ers. However, his career could not revive due to these injuries and he vanished from the league in 2015.
Danny was also true to his Jehovah’s Witness belief during his playing days. Moreover, his family was a devotee of this faith. In 2017, Brittany Schmitt admitted that his ex-boyfriend Danny Granger has been practicing Jehovah’s Witness faith. Soon, the news spread like wildfire, and people were keen to know how many ex NBA players are Jehovah’s witnesses.
Darren Collison:
Darren Collison in 2019 shocked the sports community around the globe when he said he is quitting the sports line for the sake of his faith. This shows his belief in his religion and faith in Jehovah’s witnesses. But in 2021, Darren Collison called it back and joined the LA Lakers.
Before his first retirement, he played for 9 seasons in the NBA, but to follow his spirituality, he took retirement. But now he is back and playing basketball at the highest level and also following his beliefs and faith.
Dewayne Dedmon:
Dewayne Dedmon is among the ex-NBA players who followed the spiritual path of Jehovah’s witnesses. However, his mother raised him according to this faith and he was a true devotee of his faith. However, he really loved playing basketball and even after his mother asked him not to play, he chose his career in the NBA.
Furthermore, Dewyane had to go through really tough phases in his lifetime because of his faith. If he had listened to his mother’s advice, he would have never played at the NBA level. Soon, his mother also realized his passion for basketball and even attended a few of his matches.
What is Jehovah’s Witness?
Jehovah’s Witnesses is a sect in the Christian religion that differs from normal Christian sects in certain values and ideas. However, this faith grew up in the late 19th century United States, and it strictly asks the devotees to follow biblical teachings. They identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ. Therefore, they believe in their approach to evangelism. This includes door-to-door preaching and the delivery of literature.
Additionally, Jehovah’s Witnesses regularly gather at their Kingdom Halls for meetings. In accordance with their interpretation of biblical principles, they avoid military service, voting in political elections, and observing specific holidays or birthdays. Now, if you wonder how many ex NBA players are Jehovah’s Witnesses, only 4 ex-NBA players follow this faith and one of them was Dave Meyers who died in 2015.
How Religion, Spirituality, and Faith Affects the Lives of NBA Players?
In the NBA, players from different religions and cultures play together and they are really possessive and true to their religions and beliefs. According to the players, their faith and spirituality help in making them more focused, and humble, and strengthen their beliefs in their skills. However, it does not matter which players belong to which faith, they always have a key respect for each other.
Stay Focused and persistent:
According to the NBA players, their faith has taught them so many things that keep them stay focused and persistent in their life. So, these players always cope with challenging phases of their lives with the hope of good days coming ahead. Moreover, religions never ever want the person to surrender to the challenges of life. So, more focus and consistency in your hard work can take you out of your difficult phases of life.
How to Face the Highs and Lows of a Career:
Not only NBA players, players from any sport have to go through various highs and lows in their careers. So, this is the time when there is a test of players’ mental strength and belief in their own capabilities and faith. So, your faith instills a ray of hope in your life to pass the hard phases of life without panic.
Teamwork and Discipline:
Faith not only guides you to discipline your life but also encourages you to work as a team. So, for an NBA player, these qualities matter a lot. Therefore, it is very important for players to stick to their religions and faith so that they can handle pressure situations with excellent teamwork and discipline in their lives.
FAQs
Q. What ex NBA player is a Jehovah’s Witness?
There have been 4 known ex NBA players who have a strong faith in Jehovah’s witnesses. However, the name of these players are;
- Dave Meyers
- Darren Collison
- Danny Granger
- Dawayne Doden
Q. How many ex NBA players are Jehovah’s Witnesses and have a cousin named Keith?
Darren Collison and Danny Granger are two ex NBA players who are Jehovah’s witnesses and have a cousin named Keith. However, it is Danny Granger whose incident became famous when her ex ex-girlfriend Brittney Schmitt revealed some facts about him. She said that Danny has shared a bed with her and his cousin Keith simultaneously.
Q. How many Jehovah’s Witnesses can go to heaven?
The devotees of Jehovah’s Witnesses believed that 144,000 true Christians will enter heaven to rule with Jesus Christ in the kingdom of God.
Q. What are the rules for Jehovah’s Witnesses?
In Jehovah’s Witnesses’ faith, there are certain laws and restrictions that a person has to follow. These rules are;
- No intercourse before marriage.
- They cannot donate or accept someone’s blood.
- Moreover, there is no concept of homosexuality.
- Furthermore, a person cannot change his or her gender.
- Adultery, drugs, and consumption of intoxicant substances are totally forbidden.
Short Summary:
Faith and religion play a critical role in someone’s life. So, there are 4 players that follow Jehovah’s witnesses. Further, this was a quick answer to the query, How many ex NBA players are Jehovah’s witnesses. In addition, these players have openly talked about their religion and also described what they have to face because of their faith.