Mike Newlin

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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