NBA
Nets owner disappointed Irving backed antisemitic work
By Brian Mahoney — October 31, 2022
NEW YORK (AP) — “I am an OMNIST and I meant no disrespect to anyone’s religious beliefs,” read a post on Irving’s Twitter account.
NBA’s Biyombo brings Congo to the pope after trip canceled
By Associated Press — June 22, 2022
VATICAN CITY (AP) — 6-foot-9 Biyombo towered over the Argentine pope, even as he stood for photos.
US official latest to comment on NBA owner’s dismissal of Uyghur genocide
By Joseph Hammond — January 19, 2022
(RNS) — Nury Turkel, an official with USCIRF, has condemned recent statements from Palihapitiya, a billionaire venture capitalist and a small stakeholder in the Golden State Warriors’ NBA franchise.
NBA’s Enes Kanter targets China, Nike over Uyghur genocide
By Joseph Hammond — October 26, 2021
(RNS) — Kanter, one of the most visible Muslims in the NBA, donned a pair of custom shoes Monday with the slogans ‘modern day slaves’ and ‘no more excuses’ emblazoned on them.
Giannis Antetokounmpo: NBA stardom without the ego
By Simran Jeet Singh — August 10, 2021
(RNS) — Spiritual lessons from the NBA Finals' MVP.
Former NBA player Stan McKenzie, husband of first woman AME Church bishop, dead at 76
By Adelle M. Banks — July 21, 2021
(RNS) — Less than two weeks before, his wife — Bishop Vashti McKenzie — thanked her spouse as she made farewell remarks at the African Methodist Episcopal Church’s General Conference.
Kyrie Irving’s recent conversion puts a spotlight on athletes observing Ramadan
By Joseph Hammond — May 6, 2021
(RNS) — Both amateur and professional athletes across the country must figure out how to continue competing well as they fast during the month of Ramadan.
NBA star Stephen Jackson on converting to Islam: ‘I needed to listen to my heart’
By Omar Suleiman — February 4, 2021
(RNS) — ‘Allah has blessed me with so much already, and now he has blessed me with Islam,’ said Jackson.
NBA players hailed by pope at Vatican for demanding justice
By Tim Reynolds — November 24, 2020
(AP) — 'The pope had important words for us: We need to continue to be united, to operate as brothers, like a team, and to set an example for the younger generations,' said one of the players who visited Francis.
Sports bring joy to our lives and are a balm to our souls. Racial justice is more important
By Simran Jeet Singh — August 28, 2020
(RNS) — NBA players used their platforms over the summer to bring attention to racial injustice. So it came as no surprise when, in the wake of Jacob Blake’s murder, the players spoke up.
St. Paul would say, ‘Don’t be like Mike’
By Charles C. Camosy — May 21, 2020
(RNS) — I was prepared to be reminded of Michael Jordan’s greatness in ’The Last Dance.’ I was not prepared to be confronted with the cost at which that greatness came.
Conquering NBA fans’ hearts, Tacko Fall shows how sports bring us together
By Simran Jeet Singh — July 9, 2019
(RNS) — The love shown to a Senegalese Muslim basketball player — in a political moment of immense anti-immigrant, anti-black and anti-Muslim bigotry — shows us what a politically useful function sports can serve.
United Church of Christ to boycott Washington Redskins
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — June 29, 2015
(RNS) The progressive denomination wants the Washington Redskins to drop its controversial name and mascot.
For NBA teams, religion can be unifying or divisive
By Sam Amick — May 6, 2014
(RNS) This NBA season has been unprecedented when it comes to the blending of basketball and unresolved social issues. There has been a widespread push for increased tolerance on all fronts. Yet the conversation about religion and how it's best handled by coaches and players remains fluid.
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