By Mallory Mattingly
Arizona Wildcats’ freshman guard Brayden Burries explained his free-throw ritual and why he continuously praises God, no matter what.
After every free-throw attempt, the basketball player always put his hand to his chest and then points to the sky.
“I don’t know if you notice, but after I shoot a free throw, I was like this,” he said after the Wildcats lost to Michigan in the Final Four, making the gesture, “you know, I’m always thanking God for every game I play. You know, just growing up, going to church, you know, it’s really big in my family. And you know…I’m very thankful that God has put me and my teammates in position to be successful, and He has blessed us with these opportunities. And, you know, I’m just very, very thankful, honestly.”
Related: 4 March Madness Stars Who Put Faith First
Burries often uses his platform to share his faith in Christ.
He writes John 13:7 in his Instagram bio, which reads: “Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.'”
Faith has taken center stage throughout this year’s March Madness tournament.
“It’s important for me right now to disconnect from things like social media because, during this time, it can get hectic and shift my focus instead of being focused on the main goal: I want to win a national championship. So that’s very important for me mentally,” Hannah Hidalgo of the Notre Dame Women’s basketball team told Pop Sugar before the tournament.
“I’m also very faithful to my religion. So it’s a lot of praying and a lot of talking to Christ. And I have a great support system, too. So, talking to them, telling them if I’m overwhelmed, and knowing that they’re always there to help,” she added.
“It’s all glory to God at the end of the day,” California Baptist’s Dominique Daniels told the media after their game against Utah Valley, where he dropped 47 points. “He’s the reason why I’m able to do what I’m able to do. He put me in this position for a reason, and I just give Him all the praise and all the glory and all the honor at the end of the day.
“I wouldn’t be able to do this without Him. It’s no credit to me. He put the hard work in me, He put the determination in me, so I give all credit to God,” he emphasized.
Burries’ free-throw ritual is more than a habit — it’s a reflection of a deeper gratitude that shapes how he approaches both basketball and life. Let’s all remember to thank God for His blessings today.
Read Next: Basketball Star’s March Madness Prep Begins With Prayer
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