How many ex-NBA players are Jehovah's Witnesses? Their stories

How many ex-NBA players are Jehovah's Witnesses? Ex-NBA players who are Jehovah’s Witnesses include Danny Granger, A.C. Green, Greg Ostertag, Dave Meyers, Reggie Theus and Detlef Schrempf. These players not only made their mark on the basketball court but also chose a path of deep faith and spirituality off the court.

Key takeaways

• Jehovah's Witnesses are a well-known Christian religion that became famous for their door-to-door evangelism.
• Unlike other Christian denominations, their faith is based on God the Father, known as Jehovah.
• Just like their name, they base their faith on the writings of the Old Testament and not the gospel of Jesus Christ.

How many ex-NBA players are Jehovah's Witnesses?

Over the years, numerous current and former NBA players opened up about their religious beliefs and used their platform to express their faith.

Like any other professional sport, the NBA has people with diverse cultural and religious beliefs. Here is a list of ex-NBA players who are Jehovah's Witnesses.

1. A.C. Green

• Full name: A.C. Green Jr.
• Date of birth: 4 October 1963
• Age: 61 years old (as of 2025)
• Place of birth: Portland, Oregon, United States

A.C. Green is a former professional National Basketball Association (NBA) basketball player. A.C. Green was the Lakers' first-round pick in the 1985 college draft, at number 23 overall. He became the first rookie to play every game since LeRoy Ellis in 1962-63.

In 1986-87, he moved into the starting lineup for the final 72 games and led the team in rebounding with 7.6 per game. A.C. was very resilient on the field till his retirement in 2001. Beyond his basketball career, A.C. Green is also known for his Christian faith and commitment to promoting abstinence and healthy lifestyles among young people.

He is among the ex-NBA Jehovah's Witness players who believed in their faith and practised it to the letter. He joined the faith in the mid-80s and remained steadfastly true to his faith. A.C. stayed celibate until 2002, something that he openly associated with his spiritual beliefs.

2. Danny Granger

• Full name: Danny Granger Jr.
• Date of birth: 20 April 1983
• Age: 42 years old (as of 2025)
• Place of birth: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Danny Granger is an example of an NBA player who has kept their faith throughout their career. Being raised in a Christian family, Danny from the NBA has strong spiritual beliefs.

He was publicly baptized after retiring from the game in 2017. At the time, he had completed nine seasons playing for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Miami Heat.

3. Detlef Schrempf

• Full name: Detlef Schrempf
• Date of birth: 21 January 1963
• Age: 62 years old (as of 2025)
• Place of birth: Leverkusen, Germany

Detlef Schrempf is a Jehovah's Witness ex-NBA player who is of light skin. He is of German American heritage and a committed Jehovah's Witness fraternity member. Detlef had a successful basketball career between the 1980s and 1990s, playing for the Indiana Pacers, Seattle Super Sonics, and Portland Trail Blazers.

Detlef is one of the ex-NBA players who openly professed his belonging to the church. He joined it in the 90s and has since stayed committed. In addition, he has been vocal about his spirituality and serving as a great international representative for the NBA.

4. Reggie Theus

• Full name: Reginald Wayne Theus
• Date of birth: 13 October 1957
• Age: 67 years old (as of 2025)
• Place of birth: Inglewood, California, United States

Reggie Theus, a former NBA player and coach, is known for his dynamic journey beyond the basketball court. He is among the Jehovah's Witness NBA players who skillfully blended the art of basketball and religion.

Theus played for notable NBA teams such as the Chicago Bulls, the Sacramento Kings, and the Atlanta Hawks. He joined the church in the 90s.

5. Michael Adams

• Full name: Michael Adams
• Date of birth: 19 January 1963
• Age: 62 years old (as of 2025)
• Place of birth: Hartford, Connecticut, United States

Michael Adams was an active NBA player from 1995 to 1996. He is well known for his time at the Denver Nuggets and the Washington Bullets. He joined the religion in the late 90s and became a devoted follower of Jehovah. After retirement, Adam devoted his life to his family and his beliefs.

6. Mark Jackson

• Full name: Mark A. Jackson
• Date of birth: 1 April 1965
• Age: 60 years old (as of 2025)
• Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Jackson is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He retired in 2004 after a successful basketball career as a point guard. He is known for his excellent passing skills on the field, especially when he led the Indiana Pacers to the Finals in 2000.

Apart from being a player, he coached the Golden State Warriors from 2011 to 2014. Jackson is known for his faith after converting to Christianity. He later became a Jehovah's Witness and is devoted to the new faith.

7. Wayman Tisdale

• Full name: Wayman Lawrence Tisdale
• Date of birth: 9 June 1964
• Died: 15 May 2009 (age 44 years)
• Place of birth: Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

Tisdale is another ex-NBA Jehovah's Witness. He was active in sports from 1985 to 1997. He was a successful basketball player who played with various teams, including the Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, and Sacramento Kings.

Aside from basketball, Tisdale was a successful musician in love with Jazz music. He released several albums before passing away in 2009 at the age of 44. He was a devoted Jehovah's Witness member, often using music to convey faith.

8. Dave Meyers

• Full name: David Charles Meyers
• Date of birth: 19 October 1972
• Age: years old (as of 2025)
• Place of birth: Berkeley, California, United States

Dave Meyers, an ex-NBA Jehovah's Witness believer, quit his career early to commit to his family and his faith. He was a legendary NBA player known for the UCLA Bruins. His skills and agility helped the UCLA Bruins team win two NCAA championships in 1973 and 1975.

Meyers was a strong Jehovah's Witness member, and his faith carried on until his last breath. He was devoted to the extent of refusing surgery after a severe back injury. He said that the operation was against his faith and Jehovah's Witness principles. Dave succumbed to cancer at the age of 62 in 2015.

9. Greg Ostertag

• Full name: Gregory Donovan Ostertag
• Date of birth: 6 March 1973
• Age: 52 years old (as of 2025)
• Place of birth: Dallas, Texas, United States

Gregory Donovan Ostertag is an ex-professional basketball player from the United States. He played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA for most of his playing time. Greg Ostertag became a Jehovah's Witness during his NBA career.

Even though he was criticized for being a devotee of his faith, Greg remained steadfast in his faith till the end. He retired in 2006 after a successful career as an NBA player.

10. Darren Collison

• Full name: Darren Michael Collison
• Date of birth: 23 August 1987
• Age: 37 years old (as of 2025)
• Place of birth: Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States

Darren's fans were surprised when he announced his retirement from his thriving NBA career in 2019. He publicly announced his retirement after nine seasons in the field. He played for five teams, including the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Sacramento Kings.

One of the main reasons for leaving basketball was to commit to his faith as a Jehovah's Witness member. However, he later found a balance and returned to the field in 2021, playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is an NBA player and a Jehovah's Witness member.

11. Dewayne Dedmon

• Full name: Dewayne Jamal Dedmon
• Date of birth: 12 August 1989
• Age: 35 years old (as of 2025)
• Place of birth: Lancaster, California, United States

Dewayne Dedmon was born in a Jehovah's Witness family on 12 August 1989 in Lancaster, California, USA. His mother forbade him from playing basketball due to their religious beliefs. However, Dedmon beat all odds and worked his way to the NBA.

Dedmon's mother later accepted his son's athletic pursuit, and he was a successful basketball player and a devoted Jehovah's Witness member. He has played for several teams: the Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, and Oklahoma City Thunder.

What is a Jehovah's Witness?

A Jehovah’s Witness is a member of a Christian denomination that believes in a single God, called Jehovah. They follow the Bible closely and view it as the ultimate guide for their faith and lifestyle.

How many ex-NBA players are Jehovah's Witnesses?

A few well-known former players who are openly Jehovah’s Witnesses include Michael Adams, A.C. Green, and Darren Collison.

Which NBA player retired for Jehovah's Witnesses?

Darren Collison, a veteran NBA point guard, famously retired in June 2019 at just 31 years old to dedicate more time to his family and his faith. He explicitly cited his commitment as a Jehovah’s Witness and the joy he found in volunteering and ministry as the main reasons for stepping away from the court.

Was Biggie Smalls a Jehovah's Witness?

Biggie Smalls, also known as The Notorious B.I.G. or Christopher Wallace, was raised by a Jehovah’s Witness mother, Voletta Wallace. His mother was a devoted Jehovah’s Witness and instilled many of her beliefs and values in him during his childhood.

Is Serena Williams an active Jehovah's Witness?

Serena Williams is an active Jehovah’s Witness. Though she was raised in the faith during her childhood, she never fully practised it until later in life. She has publicly stated:

Being a Jehovah’s Witness is important to me, but I’ve never really practised it and have been wanting to get into it.

Who are ex-NBA players who are Jehovah's Witnesses?

Some ex-NBA players who are Jehovah’s Witnesses include Darren Collison, A.C. Green, Michael Adams, and Dave Meyers.

Is Danny Granger a Jehovah's Witness?

Danny Granger is a Jehovah’s Witness. He was raised in the faith and publicly finalized his commitment by being baptized in 2017, two years after retiring from the NBA.

The NBA is one of the most challenging basketball leagues in the world. However, it is intriguing to see some players juggle the game and their beliefs, such as being a Jehovah's Witness. If you have been wondering "How many ex-NBA players are Jehovah's Witnesses?", consider going through the list above.

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