‘Who we are called to serve’: NBA chaplains offer encouragement on and off the court

The history of chaplains in the NBA dates back approximately 40 years. In the 1970s, former Philadelphia 76ers players Bobby Jones and Julius Erving requested space and time to hold Bible study before each game. Their request was granted, and as more teams began to adopt this practice, the NBA and other professional sports teams, such as NASCAR, NHL, MLB and NFL, began to retain chaplains to lead faith practices and offer encouragement to players of any faith before games. Kyle Riley and Ryan Bramlett, co-chaplains for the Pacers, leading prayer in chapel. (Photo provided/Kyle Riley) Houston Rockets Chaplain Damon Gunn was one of the first to volunteer his time, and now, in 2024, each NBA team has two to four volunteer chaplains on rotation. “We like to just inspire guys and just really encourage them, and it’s usually not about basketball,” said Colin Pinkney, chaplain for the Charlotte Hornets. “We’d like to help them sort of normalize their lives because so much of their lives is basketball. What we’d like to do is offer them emotional, moral support they need just as men, as individuals who aren’t defining their whole life and personhood around the sport.” READ MORE: All-Star...