ex nba players who are jehovah witnesses
There are a few well‑known former NBA players who are publicly known as Jehovah’s Witnesses, but any list will always be incomplete because many players keep their religious beliefs private. What we can talk about are those who have openly discussed their faith in interviews, articles, or public statements.
Known ex‑NBA players who are Jehovah’s Witnesses
These are among the most frequently cited former NBA players associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses, based on public disclosures:
- Darren Collison – Veteran point guard who played from 2009 to 2019 (Pacers, Kings, Clippers, etc.). He retired in 2019 at age 31 specifically to focus on his family and his activities as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, writing that his faith and ministry brought him more joy than basketball.
- Danny Granger – Former Indiana Pacers All‑Star forward. He was raised in a Jehovah’s Witness household, later got baptized after his NBA career, and has spoken about how his faith shaped his life during and after basketball.
- Dewayne Dedmon – Center who played for multiple teams including the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers. He grew up in a Jehovah’s Witness family; his mother’s beliefs initially limited sports participation, and he has been repeatedly listed among NBA players who are Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Some outlets and forum‑style articles also mention or discuss additional former players as Jehovah’s Witnesses or closely associated with the faith (for example, Detlef Schrempf being described as having adopted the faith and preaching, and names like Michael Adams, Mark Jackson, Reggie Theus, Thurl Bailey, A.C. Green, and Greg Ostertag sometimes being included). However, the level of confirmation varies from clear first‑person statements to more anecdotal or secondary claims, so you’ll see different lists depending on how strict the criteria are.
How many ex‑NBA players are Jehovah’s Witnesses?
- One widely cited sports piece states that “as of 2023, 3 ex‑NBA players are Jehovah’s Witnesses” and then names Collison, Granger, and Dedmon as the clearly documented examples.
- The same and similar articles also say there are “over 10 NBA players who follow the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ faith” when you include both former and sometimes current players, plus those who are less publicly known.
- More careful analyses point out that any numeric count is an underestimate because it relies only on public, voluntary disclosures; many players never talk about their religion in detail, so no one can produce a complete, verified roster.
So, if you’re asking “how many ex NBA players who are Jehovah’s Witnesses?” :
- You can safely say at least three clearly documented former NBA players (Collison, Granger, Dedmon) are Jehovah’s Witnesses.
- Beyond that, there are additional names frequently mentioned , but exact totals are uncertain and should be treated as “known examples” rather than a definitive full list.
Mini “Quick Scoop” style recap
- Topic: ex NBA players who are Jehovah’s Witnesses.
- Confirmed, widely cited names: Darren Collison, Danny Granger, Dewayne Dedmon.
- Other often‑mentioned names (with varying levels of confirmation): Michael Adams, Mark Jackson, Reggie Theus, Thurl Bailey, A.C. Green, Detlef Schrempf, Greg Ostertag.
- Key point: There is no official master list; only players who speak publicly about their beliefs can be counted with confidence, so any number is a minimum, not an exact total.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.