How Many Ex-NBA Players Are Jehovah’s Witnesses? A Deep Dive

When it comes to faith and professional sports, the crossover between the NBA and Jehovah’s Witnesses offers some compelling stories. While there’s no official roster of “Jehovah’s Witness” NBA players, research suggests that roughly 9-12 former NBA players publicly identified with the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith (or have been cited as such).

Below we’ll break down:

1. What “being a Jehovah’s Witness” means in this context

2. The most-notable former players linked with the faith

3. Why the exact number is hard to pin down

4. Key takeaways

1. What being a Jehovah’s Witness in the NBA context means

• The Jehovah’s Witnesses are a Christian denomination founded in the late 19th century, known for door-to-door evangelism, strong biblical emphasis, and distinctive beliefs.

• For an NBA player, affiliation may involve public or private adherence: upbringing in the faith, baptism, or active participation in the religion’s practices.

• Being “a Jehovah’s Witness” in this sense may mean the player mentions it publicly, aligns their life with core tenets (such as abstaining from certain celebrations, living according to faith principles), or has a known background linked to the faith.

2. Notable Former NBA Players Who Are Jehovah’s Witnesses

Here are some of the most cited names, along with short profiles:

• Darren Collison
  A point guard in the NBA (2009-19 and briefly in 2021). Collison publicly stated he retired (in 2019) to focus more on his family and faith, saying “I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and my faith means everything to me.”

• Danny Granger
  A forward primarily for the Indiana Pacers. Raised in a Jehovah’s Witness household; he was baptized in 2017, after his NBA career ended.

• A. C. Green
  Known as the “Iron Man” for his durability, Green is often cited as one of the more famous Witness-affiliated NBA players. Sources say he was a devout Jehovah’s Witness (or at least deeply committed to Christian faith aligned with Witness principles) during and after his career.

• Dewayne Dedmon
  A more recent NBA player whose mother is a devout Jehovah’s Witness. Dedmon has spoken about his faith and the challenges growing up in that environment. (While still active/semiactive at times, for the purposes of this topic he counts as “former/long-time player”).

• Other names often cited include: Detlef Schrempf, Mark Jackson, Reggie Theus, Michael Adams, Dave Meyers, and Greg Ostertag. Many secondary sources list them as having or having had affiliation with the faith.

3. Why the exact number is hard to pin down

• Private faith matters: Not all athletes publicly declare religious affiliations; some may belong quietly without media coverage.

• Varied definitions: Some sources count upbringing, some count formal baptism or active participation.

• Conflicting information: Different websites list different names and numbers — e.g., some say 3 former players, others say “over 10.”

• Active vs former: Some players may still be active or semiactive, which complicates “ex-NBA” status definitions.

• Rumours and less verified claims: Some names may appear in lists without strong verifiable evidence of Witness affiliation. For example, a Reddit thread expressed scepticism:

  “There are definitely some former players who are witnesses, but I couldn’t find anything to support any of these…”

Given all this, a reasonable statement is: “Around 9 to 12 former NBA players have been publicly identified or widely reported as Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

4. Key Takeaways & Why It Matters

• The cross of faith and high-profile sports careers shines light on the diversity of backgrounds in the NBA.

• These players illustrate how professional athletes may balance sporting ambitions with personal beliefs.

• Their stories can serve as inspiration or points of reflection for fans, especially those interested in the intersection of faith and sport.

• For SEO or blog usage: keywords like “ex NBA players Jehovah’s Witnesses”, “NBA and Jehovah’s Witness faith”, “which NBA players are Jehovah’s Witnesses” are likely to help visibility. Including the list, short bios, and context around the faith will support relevance for search.

Conclusion

While we can’t give a precise definitive number of ex-NBA players who are Jehovah’s Witnesses (due to private affiliations and varying definitions), the evidence points to around nine to a dozen former players who have publicly or credibly been tied to the faith. Their stories range from public declarations (like Darren Collison) to long-standing personal commitments (like A.C. Green).