10 Christian NBA Players To Watch This Season

6. Michael Porter Jr.

This week Michael Porter Jr., or MPJ, and his Denver Nuggets teammates saw their team’s first-ever championship banner being raised. The 25-year-old forward credits that achievement—and his life—to God and his “divine plan.”

Clinging to faith helps put the challenges of pro sports into perspective, Porter said. After suffering an injury last year, he posted on Instagram: “There is a good, loving God named Jesus who died for all of us! All we have to do is believe and put our faith in Him! Through all the heartache, adversity, and tough times in life continue to trust in HIM and His divine plan.” MPJ added the words of Isaiah 55:8-9: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

The athlete has shared, “It’s been a dream of mine to influence people for God’s kingdom, because no matter how down I am, I know in the back of my head—God is what matters. Getting people to heaven is what matters.”