{"id":33566,"date":"2024-03-21T10:51:08","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T14:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=33566"},"modified":"2024-03-21T10:51:08","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T14:51:08","slug":"detroit-pistons-player-jaden-ivey-urges-repentance-in-press-conference-says-jesus-is-coming-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2024\/03\/detroit-pistons-player-jaden-ivey-urges-repentance-in-press-conference-says-jesus-is-coming-back.html","title":{"rendered":"Detroit Pistons Player Jaden Ivey Urges Repentance in Press Conference, Says \u2018Jesus is Coming Back\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Hoops Postgame\/YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey recently asserted that \u201cJesus is coming back\u201d and attributed his strong athletic performance to divine intervention. In a postgame press conference, the 22-year-old spoke about his 34-point performance. The former Purdue University standout said he\u2019s \u201cgoing to work every single day, trusting my shot, trusting my work.\u201d Insisting that \u201cit\u2019s paying off,\u201d Ivey proclaimed, \u201cI give all the glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me these gifts.\u201d<\/p>\n

The NBA player expressed gratitude for the opportunity to \u201cglorify Him in Heaven.\u201d He repeatedly brought up his Christian faith throughout his remarks. \u201cI sow the seed every day and just continue to trust God and to grow my game,\u201d he said.\u00a0He concluded the press conference by quoting\u00a0John 14:6<\/a>\u00a0and offering a message of hope. He added, \u201cI just want to say that Jesus is the way, the truth, the life. And to any of the world that\u2019s hearing this message, the kingdom of Heaven is near. Jesus is coming back, and we all have to repent for our sins, and we have to put our faith in Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ivey continued, \u201cHe will come back when you least expect it. It\u2019s time to wake up if you haven\u2019t put your faith in Jesus Christ.\u201d This postgame press conference is not the first time Ivey has spoken publicly about his faith. In a\u00a02022 interview<\/a>\u00a0with Andscape, the then-college basketball player said, \u201cI can only thank God for all the blessings that I have and that I still have yet to receive.\u201d\u00a0Ivey shared that he aspired to play in the NBA, describing his mindset at the time as \u201cjust day by day, just trying to get better, staying patient with God\u2019s plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cWhatever happens, I\u2019m OK with it,\u201d he added. \u201cJust taking it one day at a time \u2014 I think that\u2019s the biggest thing for me.\u201d In a\u00a02022 press conference<\/a>\u00a0ahead of the Boilermakers\u2019 NCAA tournament game against Yale University, Ivey addressed the fact that both he and his mother, who coaches women\u2019s basketball at the University of Notre Dame, were participating in the coveted March Madness tournament. \u201cWe’re just super blessed to be in this position,” he replied.<\/p>\n