Basketball

Pistons' Jaden Ivey enjoying bounceback season, knows 'identity in Christ is really what matters'

By Joshua Doering Nov 27, 2024
Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey drives to the basket, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

It was only natural that Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey was asked to walk reporters through his buzzer-beater against the Toronto Raptors Monday night in the postgame press conference. Ivey didn’t start his answer at the beginning of the play, though. He wanted to go back further.

The third-year pro out of Purdue shared that prior to the play, he prayed to God and asked Him to take control of the situation.

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“Before I even did the play, I was just talking to Jesus, man,” he said. “I’m like ‘Lord, just do something special.’ And He delivered, you know, gave me the strength to go out there and execute the last play.”

With star Cade Cunningham sidelined because of a hip injury, Ivey produced one of the best games of his young NBA career. He scored a team-high 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting, dished out eight assists and pulled down five rebounds. Detroit outscored Toronto by 25 points with him on the floor.

Ivey then used his special performance as an opportunity to share about his faith in God, which is something he’s done throughout his career. He was asked later in the press conference how he has bounced back from a difficult 2023-24 season that saw the Pistons post a 14-68 record and Ivey move from the bench to the starting lineup.

He once again pointed to his relationship with the Lord.

“I think it’s easy to get lost, you know, in this game, just the identity piece,” he said. “Whether or not you win games or changing your role, I think it’s key to know who you are as a person. I hit the shot today; I could miss, you know, go 0-for-10 next game.”

“Your identity in Christ is really what matters at the end of the day because this game is going to pass away,” he continued. “When it’s all said and done, when your time’s up, you stand in front of a holy God, and He’s so loving. He wants to accept you, and He already loves you, and He’s given a lot of grace to you because He died on the cross and took sin away so that we can be in Heaven with Him forever. I really believe that, and I stand for that.”

This summer, Ivey and his wife, Caitlyn, both publicly professed their faith by getting baptized. Ivey declared that he was “nothing without Jesus” in an Instagram post celebrating the baptism.

 

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A post shared by Jaden Ivey (@poisonivey)

Ivey also spoke about his faith in a press conference near the end of last season, thanking God for his on-court improvement and referencing John 14:6.

“I just want to say that Jesus is the way, the truth, the life,” he said. “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.”

The 2024-25 Pistons (8-11) are already more than halfway to their win total from last season, and Ivey is averaging a career-high 18.4 points per game on a career-best 44.7% shooting. He is second on the team in scoring average and assists per game (4.4). Detroit visits the Memphis Grizzlies (11-7) at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday.

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