NBA Star Gets Baptized: ‘Nothing Without Jesus’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey is about to enter his third year as a pro, but he decided to get baptized before the season begins.
He shared in a post on his Instagram several photos from his baptism. “NOTHING WITHOUT JESUS,” he declared.
Ivey also included two Bible verses. The first is 2 Corinthians 5:17 which reads, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
The second verse is James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Ivey was joined by his wife, Caitlyn, and the two were baptized together.
“A new life ✝️ Mark 16:16,” she posted along with photos from the day.
This isn’t the first time the athlete has been vocal about his faith. In a press conference for the Detroit Pistons, Ivey referenced John 14:6.
“First, I just want to say that Jesus is the way, the truth, the life,” he told reporters. “To anyone in the world that’s hearing this message, the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Jesus is coming back, and we all have to repent for our sins and we have to put our faith in Jesus. He will come back when you least expect it, and it’s time to wake up if you haven’t put your faith in Jesus Christ.”
“I give all the glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for giving me these gifts,” he said earlier in the press conference, “and just being able to glorify Him in Heaven.”
“The Pistons selected Ivey No. 5 overall in 2022. In his two NBA seasons, he’s averaged 15.8 points, 4.5 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 29.9 minutes per game,” Sports Spectrum reported of his NBA career. “Under new coach J.B. Bickerstaff, Ivey and his Pistons teammates will try to deliver the first winning season for the franchise since 2015-16. Last season, the team won a franchise-low 14 games. Detroit begins the regular season on Oct. 23 at home against the Indiana Pacers.”
For more inspiring sports stories, check out Sports Spectrum.
Movieguide® previously reported on Ivey’s faith and relationship with his mom:
In 2022, prior to their first found in the NCAA tournament, he talked about the opportunity for him and his mother to be playing and coaching in their first-ever NCAA tournament.
His mother, Niele Ivey, is Notre Dame’s women’s basketball head coach.
When asked what it’s like tuning into each other’s games, he said, “We’re just super blessed to just be in this position. I just think it’s just what God’s done for us to put us in this position. You know, both of us are in March Madness right now. We’re doing what we love to do. It’s just a blessing.”
“Obviously, I’m not going to have her in the stands, but I know she’s going to be rooting for me, and I’m going to be rooting for her,” Ivey added. “You know, I don’t want to see her — I want to see her go far, so I don’t want to see her in the stands, and I know she doesn’t want to see me in the stands. I’m just so blessed to be here, and I know she’s super excited to get her journey started, too.”
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