I AM THIRD REACHES THE NBA THROUGH IWU ALUMNI

College basketball programs throughout the country are feeling the impact of sweeping changes across the game. The transfer portal and NIL are fueling transactional coaching and performance-based relationships. While there is a temptation to get sucked into the evolving world, the IWU Basketball program is doubling down on what it means to be #DIFFERENT as a program.

At IWU, this means basketball is about more than just winning games. The program is built around the I AM THIRD philosophy—putting God first, others second, and self–third. This mindset has shaped the success of IWU's teams and the lives of players who carry these values into professional arenas.

Kyle Mangas ’21 is one example of the growing influence of I AM THIRD across basketball at the highest levels. Mangas spent this summer playing with the Los Angeles Lakers Summer League team and recently signed by the Indiana Pacers to an Exhibit 10 contract.

“The impact of what I learned at IWU is something I carry into every team I play on,” says Mangas. “Professional basketball can be so performative, with everyone focused on their own promotion. But at IWU I was taught to put myself third. If I try to play like every other player in the NBA, I’m probably not going to get very far because there are so many talented, athletic players. But I believe taking a different approach by playing I AM THIRD is the best chance I have to make it in the league, and it’s given me deeper influence for Christ on every team I have been on.”

Fellow alumni Joel Okafor ’19 and Luke Stephens ’23 were promoted this summer to full-time positions within the Indiana Pacers basketball operations staff. Like Mangas, they are passionate about connecting I AM THIRD to professional basketball.

“The culture at IWU was just different,” says Stephens. “There were expectations and standards that taught us to measure our success by how much we help others grow. And that really prepared me to step into an NBA team and add value in my first year.”

As the program continues to pursue a counter-cultural vision of college basketball, the influence of I AM THIRD has spread beyond the court and into the communities, families, and professions of each alumnus. Growing a culture of service through athletics opens doors to share Christ. IWU is proud to send world changers to unique platforms with Christ in his rightful place—first—so they can serve well in theirs.