Similarly, the ability to run fast—which is dependent on factors like body weight, leg muscle mass, and how many fast-twitch nerve fibers you have in your legs—is also an advantage in basketball. But the Church does not teach that Jesus had the biggest leg muscles or the most fast-twitch nerve fibers in human history. Despite these challenges, Jesus Shuttlesworth is not just a passive victim of circumstance. He is a talented and driven young man who is determined to make his own way in the world, and this drive and ambition is what makes him such a compelling character. Off the court, Ray Allen also did a remarkable job of bringing the character’s inner turmoil to the surface. Jesus Shuttlesworth is a young man who is grappling with a great deal of pressure and expectations, and Ray Allen was able to convey this sense of tension and uncertainty in a way that was both convincing and relatable.

For starters, the first half of the name, “Jesus”, is a clear reference to the religious figure of Jesus Christ. This reference is especially significant given the character’s role as a beacon of hope and inspiration for those around him. Just as Jesus Christ is seen as a savior and a source of guidance for many, Jesus Shuttlesworth is seen as a source of hope and inspiration for his team, his family, and his community. Pastor Rich Wilkerson: We're being cute and humorous about it but obviously Jesus—for the record—is everything for me. Jesus is the greatest topic in my life. He’s my lord and savior and every answer we’re looking for on Earth is found in Him. I think He’s so big that He also enjoys humor and fun. My only request is that we understand that obviously we’re kidding around, joking, but He means everything to me. Of course, as the omnipotent Son of God, he could have become the all-time MVP using his miraculous powers, but that wasn’t his mission. Jake, on the other hand, has experienced a transformation of his own. Shown in the stark difference of his treatment between his wife and Dakota Burns, a prostitute whom he befriends and treats nicely. Pastor Rich Wilkerson: In my opinion, He would crush at basketball. I think He would dominate. He’d be the man. This is Jesus we’re talking about. He can walk on water—what kind of dunks could He do?Pastor Rich Wilkerson: Have you ever tried to play in sandals? It’s the hardest thing in the world but Jesus would somehow master it. We’d all be wearing sandals after he played. Air Sandals. While Jesus truly loves Lala as evidenced by his actions, certain aspects of their relationship don’t seem to conform to the traditional boyfriend-girlfriend relationships. Aside from the peculiarities already mentioned above, Lala functions more as a gatekeeper than a girlfriend. “He’s a friend of the family,” she says of a talent scout who wants to get a sales pitch through to Jesus. He Got Game storylines and plot breakdowns:

Spurs Jesus: Compassion? Maybe. Take it easy? No. But I would say that He would forgive a hard foul. Kenny Anderson: He would be awesome. Better than Michael Jordan, Kobe, LeBron. No doubt. He blessed all of them to play the game, so He would be the top player. Top rebounder, top offense, top crossover, top 3-point shooter. He would be able to do everything. He could be like, "I want to win ten championships," and He’s going to win ten championships. If He wants to do it, He’s going to do it. So it be cool.Whether you need directionality on choosing your walk-up song or want to help your child choose one, consider the following Christian walk-up and pre-game songs. Kenny Anderson: Knowing Jesus, if he was playing the game, he’d probably lose sometimes. Just to say, “Hey, you know I’m not that nice, I lost tonight.” Then He’d recover and win a championship. Somehow it would be a teaching point. B-ball, football, golf—whatever it was, I think He would really teach guys how to be a team player. If the church is even partially a representation of these demographics, then it would mean that sports players are arguably one of the largest groups in any church. Learn how to play, coach, and referee basketball. Consider organizing regular practices and games, depending on the skills and number of players. Practices help build skills and can provide opportunities for one-on-one teaching. Organize teams with enough players to have substitutions during each game. Have the teams play against each other with volunteers both officiating and coaching. Planning a big activity at the end, such as a tournament, can be a great way to build community spirit. His sense of responsibility was also tested because when his mom died, and his father was behind bars, he had to take care of his little sister. He essentially skipped the formative years of young adulthood to become both a big brother and a parent to his sister.

A walk-up song is the music that is played over the loudspeakers as a baseball player walks up to the plate, and when a new pitcher takes the mound. You can learn a lot about the player based on the type of music he/she chooses. While some players choose music based on the beat, others make their selection because the lyrics have meaning. For Christian athletes, these lyrics are an opportunity to profess their faith in a public way. Here are a few of our favorite Christian walk-up songs! Now risen from the dead Jesus Christ calls us to play to his glory. Romans 12:1-2 urges us to: ‘Offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship’. In my mind I am struggling to envision a teenage Jesus who never ever makes a mistake. Nobody likes being around someone who is perfect—someone who never loses a game, never stubs his toe, never over sleeps, never hit his thumb with the hammer. Kenny Anderson: I think He’d be compassionate. He would outdo them and win, but He’d have the ultimate sportsmanship, you know? And—even on our imaginary scenario where Lebron James teaches him basketball—he wouldn’t have spent hours a day practicing on the court. It would have interfered with his mission.Throughout the film, Jesus is seen as a skilled basketball player who is always looking to improve and get better. Whether he is practicing on his own or competing in games, he is always focused and determined to be the best that he can be. And even when faced with difficult personal challenges, he never loses sight of his ultimate goal. In basketball, height is an advantage, but the Church does not hold that Jesus was the tallest man in history. His mother died at the hands of his father. As they were having a marital dispute, Jake Shuttlesworth, his father, shoved his mother in anger. This resulted in an accidental fall where she hits her head on the floor and dies due to the trauma. This is the reason why Jake is in prison. Jesus, we know, had to be charismatic. People followed Him; people liked him. I can’t seem to reconcile Jesus’ perfection and also being human like us.