Why is Pastor Carl Lentz such a hit among NBA stars?
The Bleacher Report calls the Hillsong Church pastor "the patron saint of NBA stars" for offering spiritual guidance to the likes of Kevin Durant, Tyson Chandler, Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin, Landry Fields and other basketball bigwigs.
So what is it about the 36-year-old pastor that makes stars like them listen and pay attention?
"I speak the same language as them. It's a huge advantage for me," Lentz said. "Basketball and life are so parallel; everything on a team dynamic is a life dynamic."
Surprisingly, Lentz had a basketball career before he switched to coaching then studying the Bible. He understood the struggles faced by athletes who want to know God, and he feels it is because of that understanding that fellow athletes and celebrities opened their hearts to him.
"Often, athletes get pushed outside of the church world because nobody understands them—NBA guys are part of one per cent that will ever play at that level," he shared. "I understand that athlete psyche. Even back then, I always had a natural pull toward helping guys who typically churches couldn't handle."
Lentz added that famous people often feel isolated because of their wealth. They are reluctant to trust because somebody always has an ulterior motive with them. But because Hillsong Church does not care about their wealth or status, they feel more open and accepted.
Basketball stars cannot help but gush about the unassuming Lentz, who actually looks more like a rock star than a regular pastor.
"When I first met him, I was like, 'You're a pastor?'" Fields said, according to the Bleacher Report. "It was brand new, shocking, but his appearance helps. He's a guy that you can easily relate to, and he's unlike anybody else in terms of the Christian pastoral world. Carl is an unbelievable preacher. It helps for people, especially me and other players that are kind of new to the faith."
Chandler describes Lentz as his mentor and thanks him for providing consistency in his life. "To see someone who doesn't want anything and just be there for you during a time of need is the most valuable thing that someone can give," he said.
For his part, Lin credits Lentz for keeping him down to earth and humble. "While society was talking about how great I was, I had to really fight back and really remember that God gave me the blessing that's here because God wanted me to be here. Carl helped me understand that," he said.
And the praises coming from the NBA stars do not end there. Durant cannot imagine how to get through his life and career without Lentz's guidance.
"It's an emotional roller coaster that you're on—the ups and downs of the NBA season—and he just calms me down after some games," Durant shared.
