Alan Williams wears a necklace with three silver crosses. He says it’s more than jewelry — it’s symbolic of his journey of faith.
“It’s everything. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior,” said Williams, a forward for the Phoenix Suns. “I truly believe in Him and in everything He has brought for me. I am extremely thankful.”
He’s not alone. Several players on the Suns’ roster claim a faith in Christ that guides their basketball careers and their lives.
Suns point guard Tyler Ulis, a first-team All-American and SEC Player of the Year at Kentucky in 2016, said they owe everything they have to God.
“We understand that without God we wouldn’t be in this position that we are in,” Ulis said. “God is where our blessings come from. That is why we have the gifts we have.”
He has a tattoo of Proverbs 3:5–6 on his left arm — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
At Kentucky, Ulis helped lead the Cats to a 38–0 record during the 2014–15 season before losing to Wisconsin in the Final Four semifinal. He was drafted by the Suns in the second round, 34th overall, in 2016. This season he averages 6.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
A reflection of God’s gifts
Williams made it to the Suns by way of a different path. The 2014 Big West Conference Player of the Year at the University of California Santa Barbara, Williams led the NCAA in rebounding for the 2014–15 season his senior year.
After becoming the Gauchos’ all-time career leader in rebounds (1,125 over four years) and second in scoring (1,732 points), Williams was not selected in the 2015 NBA draft. He played the 2015–16 season in the Chinese Basketball Association, the first-tier professional men’s basketball league in China, and led the league in rebounding with 15.4 per game.
Then he moved to the NBA. Playing for the Phoenix Suns in spring 2016, Williams had the highest rebound average in NBA history (30.3 percent in 48 minutes played in a minimum of 10 games). He was signed to a multiyear contract by Phoenix in 2016. He became one of the most prolific NBA big men of the bench during the 2016–17 season.
He attributes his success to God, saying he always knows “anything that I do is a reflection of what God has given me.”
Devin Booker, a Suns shooting guard, agreed, saying he relies on prayer throughout his career.
“I wouldn’t be in this situation that I am without it,” he said. “I pray every day.”
Booker, 21, played one season at Kentucky, winning the Southeastern Conference Sixth Man of the Year award in 2015. This season he was the fourth youngest player in NBA history to score 3,000 points, joining LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant.
Power forward Jared Dudley said he also has to put faith in God at all times — not only in the bad but also in the good.
The Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year at Boston College in 2007, Dudley has played on four NBA teams and is with Phoenix for a second time. He played for the Suns from 2008 to 2013 and rejoined the team in 2016. In March 2017 he scored his 500th three-pointer as a Sun — the seventh player in team history to do so.
Dudley started his career at Horizon Christian Academy in San Diego and went to Horizon Christian Fellowship. Now 32, he said he gave his life to the Lord at a youth ministry meeting.
Horizon was “a big basketball school but created for Jesus,” he said. “That was basically their main focus. When we broke the huddle it was ‘1-2-3 Jesus.’”
He attended Bible classes and grew in his knowledge. High school friends continue to be accountability partners.
Horizon won two state basketball championships before it closed in 2017.
Dudley’s wife, Christina, also is a Christian, something Dudley said has been so important to his life.
“This lifestyle we live in is difficult at times,” he said. “There are a lot of temptations. It’s good to have your faith.”
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