Former Butler player making impact on the court in a new way

By ANDREW CHERNOFF
WISH-TV | wishtv.com

Playing in the NBA G League can be a grind.

In fact, each team in the league played at least 50 games this past season.

“Pro sports, there’s a lot that goes into it,” Austin Spurs guard and Indiana native Kyle Mangas said. “And your identity can get kind of swept up into that. So, it’s important to really truly remember who you are.”

For Mangas, it’s also important to remember who he is spiritually.

That’s why before games, like when the Spurs played the Noblesville Boom last month, Mangas attends a small devotional to pray and talk about faith.

“This kind of puts everything into perspective and reminds you of what’s most important,” Mangas said.

The man at the center the devotional ahead of the Spurs vs. Boom game was former Butler University basketball star Kellen Dunham. Dunham is a co-chaplain for the Boom.

“Three years ago, I was working at Salesforce, and I heard a whisper from God that maybe you should be getting back into basketball,” Dunham said.

Dunham has been a co-chaplain for the Boom, along with fellow co-chaplain Andy Riemersma, the past three years.

“It’s bigger than basketball,” Riemersma said. “We’re trying to set these guys up for a future beyond the game and help them understand that their identity is not in what they do, but in who they are. And so we want more for these players than from them.”

Both Dunham and Riemersma lead a prayer session before each game just a short distance away from the court.

“So much resources are put into physical, the mental side of the game,” Dunham said. “But, I feel like we do ourselves a disservice not to go there spiritually.”

Dunham was actually part of the NBA G League when he played professional basketball. He thinks that experience helps him connect with players as he talks with them about faith before games.

“He’s been in their shoes,” Riemersma said. “He has lived this and walked this. He carries that coach personality. And I learned a lot from watching him lead chapel and how he pours into the guys.”

Dunham may not be playing on the court anymore, but he’s still making an impact on the hardwood.

“It’s just the joy to be able to share that good news in the Gospel with others, that we speak the same basketball language,” Dunham said.

The Noblesville Boom wrapped up their season late last month.

This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/sports/basketball/butler-basketball/kellen-dunham-noblesville-boom.