Rookie Heads to NBA Anchored in Faith and Gratitude: ‘Only by God’s Grace’

Published: July 1, 2026

By Mallory Mattingly

With the 26th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs selected Tarris Reed Jr. from UCONN, and he praised God for the opportunity.

“Dreams come true, but only by God’s grace. Thank you, Jesus, for making this dream a reality,” Reed said, via a post from Christhlete.

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In a video documenting the day he was drafted, Reed recalled the moment he said out loud that he wanted to be an NBA player.

“I got a picture of myself [from] career day in kindergarten, and they asked everybody to write on the whiteboard what you want to be when you grow up, and I wrote NBA player, a dream I’ve been working for for so long,” he said in the video.

Reed couldn’t help but give credit to God, knowing it was “God’s sovereign will.”

“Just Him directing my steps on my life, really making Him the light, making Him shine, and really doing this all for Him,” the athlete declared.

After he was selected, Reed couldn’t stop saying how blessed he was.

“It’s crazy, bro. It’s really a blessing, man. Thank you, Jesus. Bro, ain’t nothing without His will. This the grace of God. This ain’t no manifestation. It’s the grace of God, man,” Reed said.

He was among the several stars who led UCONN back to the final four this season. However, the Huskies would take the National Championship loss to Michigan 63-69.

“It wasn’t easy choosing UCONN the first time and just choosing UCONN to come back again out the portal. So I give all thanks to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” Reed declared after the game, per a video shared by sports analyst Jon Root.

Reed then cited Ecclesiastes 7:8, which says, “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”

“So just looking back at the whole journey, I mean, I’m gonna miss it. So like I said, the Lord does things in mysterious ways. And I got all my tears out and just blessed me in the position I am in today. And I love these guys for life. They’re my brothers for life,” the San Antonio rookie added.

Reed’s path to the NBA is a testament to the power of perseverance and profound faith. Though he leaves UCONN with the sting of a hard-fought final loss, he enters the league with a grateful heart and a clear purpose. San Antonio isn’t just getting a talented center; they are getting a rookie grounded in humility, who’s ready to work and eager to see where God directs his steps next.

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