“I am a perfect example of Him using broken vessels and what other people would throw away as trash. … Yet God does what He does anyway. So I’m thankful for that and thankful for this platform, that we can be able to glorify Him and talk about Him and all the good that He does through us.”
Monty Williams is in his third season as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns, who are the defending Western Conference champions. He inherited a 19-win team, yet took it to the NBA Finals two years later, and has done so by setting his coaching foundation on serving others and building relationships as he relentlessly pursues the Lord.
Stories of life transformation from the pro sports world
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Growing up, Shelby Rogers went to church every week with her mom and older sister. As her passion for tennis morphed into a life calling, Shelby moved away from home to turn pro at age 18. Being on tour, however, challenged her faith; she was one person at home and another on the road. It was then that God revealed to her that a life lived with a performance-based identity was unsustainable. Her foundation needed to be on the Rock, and Jesus desired a relationship with her, regardless of how she did on the court. She felt a newfound freedom and joy, knowing her value didn’t depend on her world ranking but on the unshakable love of Christ.
Watch the video above to hear Shelby Rogers tell her “I Once Was” story.
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We’re all in the middle of a story, and whether we admit it or not, we want our stories to matter. It’s those stories of deep and lasting impact that come to life when a person encounters Jesus, and responds to Him by faith. “I Once Was” invites those in the pro sports world to share their own transformational stories, describing the very moment that changed their lives forever.
Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
Between Steph Curry, Draymond Green and midseason acquisition Jimmy Butler, the Golden State Warriors have as much playoff experience as any team in the NBA. Offseason addition Buddy Hield, however, had four career postseason appearances when he joined the Warriors.
But with their season on the line in a win-or-go-home Game 7 Sunday night, it was Hield who propelled No. 7-seed Golden State past the Houston Rockets and into the second round. The nine-year veteran will not forget his performance inside the Toyota Center anytime soon.
Having scored four total points in Games 5 and 6 (both losses), Hield tied a Game 7 record by knocking down nine of his 11 3-point attempts. He went 12-of-15 from the field for a game-high 33 points in the Warriors’ 103-89 victory.
Two players have EVER hit 9+ threes on at least 80% from deep in a Playoff game:
“It’s a childhood dream,” he said in the postgame press conference. “We all talk about Game 7s. We all want to play in Game 7s, but actually playing in a Game 7 and preparing for it is one of the hardest things ever.”
Hield scored 22 of his points before halftime, including a buzzer-beater from halfcourt to end the first quarter.
Speaking with the media after the game, Hield openly discussed the nerves and pressure he felt. He told TNT’s “Inside the NBA” crew that his strong faith in God helped steady him.
“All glory to God, man,” he said. “Without Him this would not be possible. I was really locked in, just keeping my mind right and just talking to God and knowing I had to come through and help my team.”
Hield gave thanks to God again in the postgame press conference.
“Just trying to find my joy,” he said. “I’ve never been in this situation before. Just trying to seize the moment … Tonight was fun. All glory to God.”
Drafted sixth overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2016, Golden State is the fifth different organization Hield — who was born in the Bahamas and won the 3-point contest at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game — has played for. He appeared in all 82 games this season, averaging 11.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
In 2021, he became the fastest player in NBA history to make 1,000 3-pointers, breaking the record held by his now-teammate Curry.
Going back to his college days at the University of Oklahoma, Hield has also been outspoken about his faith in the Lord. He regularly thanks God for “Life, Health and Strength” on X and credits his mom, Jackie Swann, for laying the foundation for his relationship with the Lord.
“Psalm 23 is the one I always read, the main one before my games,” he said in a 2016 Sports Spectrum article. “My mom always told me to read that when I was nervous or before a big game. I also like Psalm 91, 27, 35, and 37. I read them before every game. I’m trying to get my mind right.”
If the Warriors are going to make a run at another NBA title, they’ll need Hield to continue making shots and playing at a high level. They have not reached the conference finals since winning the championship in 2021-22.
The No. 6-seed Minnesota Timberwolves await them in the second round. Game 1 from the Target Center in Minneapolis is at 9:30 p.m. ET Tuesday. The winner of the series will face either the Denver Nuggets or Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE & JASON ROMANO, FEATURING ANDRE WARD
Andre Ward is a former professional boxer who won titles as a super middleweight (168 lbs.) and light heavyweight (178 lbs.). In 2004, Ward won the light heavyweight gold medal for Team USA at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.
As a professional, Ward went 32-0 with 16 knockouts before retiring in September 2017, and he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2021. A documentary on his life released in June 2023 on Showtime, and in November 2023 he released his first book, “Killing the Image: A Champion’s Journey of Faith, Fighting and Forgiveness.”
Today on the podcast, we talk to Andre about representing Jesus in boxing, redemption from a tough childhood, his message for young people, serving as a youth pastor, and appearing in the “Creed” movies.
Stories of life transformation from the pro sports world
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With a Baptist minister for a grandfather, Tyler Clutts’ family went to church every Sunday. As he grew older, though, he developed a performance-based identity, always pursuing perfection in life and Christianity. He knew Jesus was our Savior, but never felt His presence. Once in the NFL, a teammate invited Tyler to a Christian conference, and he went, albeit “kicking and screaming.” But one morning, hearing a sermon about how we don’t have to earn the love of Christ, Tyler felt God’s presence for the first time. He discovered that when he draws close to Christ, he can love his family the way God calls him to, and be a light in a dark world.
Watch the video above to hear Tyler Clutts tell his “I Once Was” story.
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We’re all in the middle of a story, and whether we admit it or not, we want our stories to matter. It’s those stories of deep and lasting impact that come to life when a person encounters Jesus, and responds to Him by faith. “I Once Was” invites those in the pro sports world to share their own transformational stories, describing the very moment that changed their lives forever.
