Introduction

Many fans wonder: how many NBA players are Jehovah’s Witnesses? The NBA is full of athletes from many backgrounds. Religion is one part of a person’s life. But it’s rare for players to publicly identify as Jehovah’s Witnesses. In this article, we explore known cases, special stories, and uncertainties.

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What Does It Mean to Be a Jehovah’s Witness?

Before we look at players, a short note on this faith: Jehovah’s Witnesses are a Christian denomination. They follow the Bible, believe in the name “Jehovah” for God, and often do door-to-door ministry. They also hold strong views about neutrality in politics, refusing certain celebrations, and avoiding involvement in some national symbols.

Being a Jehovah’s Witness can bring conflicts in life, including in sports, because schedules, travel, national symbols (e.g. anthems), and public exposure sometimes clash with religious principles.

Known NBA Players Who Are Jehovah’s Witnesses

Here are a few known players—past and more recent—who are or were Jehovah’s Witnesses or raised in that faith.

Danny Granger

Danny Granger is one of the more public names. He played for the Indiana Pacers, the Los Angeles Clippers, and Miami Heat. Wikipedia+2Sportskeeda+2
He was raised in a Jehovah’s Witness household. But he was baptized later (in 2017) after his NBA career ended. Legit.ng – Nigeria news.+2Wikipedia+2

Darren Collison

Darren Collison played in the NBA from about 2009 to 2019, then briefly again. Altor Solutions+3Sportskeeda+3The SportsRush+3
He publicly said he would retire early to focus on his family and faith as a Jehovah’s Witness. Sportskeeda+2Altor Solutions+2

Dewayne Dedmon

Dewayne Dedmon is another name often mentioned. Christian Pure+3Sportskeeda+3Altor Solutions+3
His mother is a devout Jehovah’s Witness, and he had restrictions when young (for example, he was not allowed to play organized basketball until adulthood). Wikipedia+2Altor Solutions+2

How Many Are There? The Uncertainty

From what reliable sources say, there are very few NBA players, past or present, who have publicly identified as Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some sources list three names (Granger, Collison, Dedmon) as the most commonly accepted. The SportsRush+4Sportskeeda+4theresourcenexus.com+4

Other sources try to make a bigger list. For example, some articles claim there are “over 10” players across history who were Jehovah’s Witnesses, including names like Michael Adams, Mark Jackson, Reggie Theus, Thurl Bailey, and others. EssentiallySports+1 But these claims are not always backed by strong evidence or public confirmations.

Because faith is often personal and private, many players may never say openly what their religion is. Thus, the true number might be higher, but from public knowledge, three is the safer, more supported count.

Why So Few? Some Challenges

Why don’t more NBA players appear as Jehovah’s Witnesses? Here are some possible reasons:

• Privacy: Some people prefer to keep religion private.
• Conflicts with practice: Some religious rules may conflict with schedules, celebrations, or national symbols (for example, refusing to salute a flag or participate in certain ceremonies).
• Public scrutiny: The media and fans focus more on performance than on personal faith.
• Conversion later: Some may adopt or deepen their faith after their careers, or outside the spotlight, so their identity as a Jehovah’s Witness may not appear during their time in the NBA.

Famous Former NBA Players Claimed as Jehovah’s Witnesses

Some lists include former stars who reportedly adopted or had connections with Jehovah’s Witness faith later in life or in private. These names are not always confirmed or universally accepted:

• A.C. Green
• Detlef Schrempf
• Reggie Theus
• Michael Adams
• Dave Meyers Sportskeeda+4Legit.ng – Nigeria news.+4Altor Solutions+4

But again, these are often speculative or based on small interviews, and not all are consistently recognized by religious or sports historians.

Summary

• The number of publicly known NBA or ex-NBA players who are Jehovah’s Witnesses is small.
• The strongest, most supported list has three names: Danny Granger, Darren Collison, and Dewayne Dedmon.
• Some claims expand that number to “over 10,” including former players from older eras, but those claims lack strong evidence.
• Because religion is personal, there may be more players who never disclosed their faith.

FAQs

Q1: Are there current NBA players who are Jehovah’s Witnesses?
From available public information, there is no confirmed active NBA player today who openly says he is a Jehovah’s Witness. The known names are former or older players.

Q2: Did Darren Collison really retire to focus on faith?
Yes, Darren Collison publicly stated his reason for retiring in 2019 was to focus more on his family and ministry as a Jehovah’s Witness. Sportskeeda+2The SportsRush+2

Q3: Was Dewayne Dedmon always allowed to play basketball?
No. Because his mother was a devout Jehovah’s Witness, Dedmon was not allowed to play organized basketball until he was an adult. Wikipedia+1

Q4: Did Danny Granger’s baptism happen during or after his career?
Danny Granger was baptized as a Jehovah’s Witness after his NBA career ended, in 2017. Legit.ng – Nigeria news.+2Altor Solutions+2

Q5: Can we trust reports saying “over 10” players were Jehovah’s Witnesses?
We should treat them cautiously. Many of those lists lack solid proof or consistent confirmation. The safer approach is to rely on well-documented cases.