Former NBA star Mike Newlin talks with Wayne Shepherd about his basketball career and his long commitment to his relationship with Jesus Christ. (click for more)
Background & Basketball Career
- Mike Newlin was a standout NBA guard, scoring over 12,000 points.
- Drafted by the San Diego Rockets, who became the Houston Rockets one week later.
- Known for his discipline—trained 6–8 hours a day in high school.
- Believes time, not talent, is the key to success.
- Described his entrance into the NBA as the "easiest thing" he'd ever done because it was the logical result of consistent hard work.
Conversion to Christianity
- Became a Christian at age 27, just before an NBA season.
- Was at the peak of his career, considered a top guard in the league.
- Transition was costly: after his conversion, a coach benched him for three years, claiming he didn't trust believers.
- Struggled emotionally and spiritually with the fallout—it took 40 years to fully process the pain of that loss.
Spiritual Growth & Life After NBA
- Studied Bible doctrine daily for nearly 50 years.
- Learned Greek, Hebrew, and Latin; currently still in seminary.
- Sees life as preparation for the Judgment Seat of Christ.
- Believes salvation is by grace through faith alone, distinguishing it from his Catholic upbringing.
Core Beliefs
- One moment of faith—even the equivalent of a "quark" (billionth of a billionth of a grain of sand)—can determine one's eternal destiny.
- Feels called to write as a ministry using his background as a hook to reach others.
- Stresses the importance of nibbling at the Word of God daily.
- Encourages others to pursue God's plan actively: “Today is what matters.”
Life Lessons
- Suffered in silence under benching but later wished he had confronted the situation more maturely.
- Believes God tests us in the area we care most about.
- Thinks Christianity shouldn't make us passive—he had to learn to balance faith and human relationship dynamics.
- Emphasizes personal study of Scripture over relying on others for spiritual growth.
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