NBA Star Calls Growing Faith ‘My Peace’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton knows the ups and downs of the game and the pressures of the spotlight, but he finds peace in the constancy of God’s Word.
“[M]y first essential would be the Bible…just understanding that I’m made in the image of God and in a world where, you know, you have a bad game, when they kill you on social media…confidence goes up and down I can always come right here,” Haliburton said. “This is like my peace… He’s the only one who can really judge me.”
“Any peace outside of Christ is no peace at all. The only peace that is eternal is the peace of God that is in Christ Jesus,’ the two-time NBA All-Star player declared.
Although growing up his family didn’t attend church regularly, they “understood God’s place in our lives,” but recently Haliburton began to delve deeper into his faith.
“My faith has grown a lot over the last year or two,” he told NBA.com “Now that I’m an adult I guess — I own a house now and live on my own — I go to church on Sunday every chance I can. I go to chapel before games.”
Haliburton says that both parents supported him in his dream of becoming a basketball player, adding that they worked hard to provide for him and his siblings’ needs and wants.
“They were everything,” Haliburton said. “My mom never missed a game of mine growing up, like ever. Every AAU tournament, every everything, she was always there.
“When you say you want to be something and you believe you can be it with the help of God, it’s possible to happen,” his dad, John, spoke of his son’s basketball dream. “A lot of people talk about ‘God, God, God.’ That’s one thing. But the believing part is the ultimate victory. His word is still real.”
The Wisconsin native made it to this year’s conference finals, averaging 20.1 points and 10.9 assists per game. Haliburton is also representing the USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Movieguide® recently reported on other Christians who will be competing in the Olympics:
As hundreds of athletes compete for gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Movieguide® has their eye on a select few as they compete for “a crown that will last forever.”
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Track and Field.
As a world record holder, McLaughlin-Levrone is a favorite to win the 400m hurdle event. However, she aims to glorify God through her time in Paris.
“It’s the truth in a sport where you’re literally chasing gold all the time — I would take my love for Christ and that relationship over a gold medal any day,” McLaughlin-Levrone said on the “Sports Spectrum Podcast.
Coco Gauff, Tennis
Gauff missed the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to a COVID diagnosis, but now, four years later the athlete is ready to make her Olympic debut. In 2023, Gauff spoke of her faith after she won the Grand Slam title.
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