What Are Aaron Nesmith’s Ethnicity & Religion? Pacers Star’s Nationality & Early Life Revealed

The Basketball Gods, year after year, handpick only those who are willing to go through the grind of becoming a professional athlete on the hardwood and send them to the most-watched basketball league in the universe. 2020 was no different for a young man called Aaron Nesmith from Charleston, South Carolina. His dream of playing in the NBA became a reality when the Boston Celtics selected him as the 14th overall pick in the 2020 draft, and life had come full circle.

All those hours the current Indiana Pacers SF had spent in various gyms through school and college had finally paid off. This is what the ‘American Dream’ is all about. Back in 2020, when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced his inclusion into the NBA family, Nesmith was in tears, overwhelmed with joy, surrounded by his close-knit family. Family has always been the cornerstone for this humble star from the Palmetto State, whose strong value systems had been shaped by them from an early age.

What is Aaron Nesmith’s Ethnicity?

Aaron Nesmith was born on October 16, 1999, to Bernard and Ernie Nesmith. Both his parents are of Nigerian origin. Right from childhood, he was instilled with a strong work ethic that has kept him in good standing throughout his life. The hard work and dedication he showed towards the game meant that he would only go from strength to strength from high school, all the way to college, and into the pros.

He starred at Porter-Gaud High School and became a force to be reckoned with while leading the Cyclones to three consecutive state championships, topping it off by winning the South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year Award. His achievements during high school didn’t stop there. He rounded off his incredible time at Porter-Gaud by being named the South Carolina Independent Schools Association Class 3A Player of the Year for a third time.

Initially, there was skepticism from college scouts, but the tide soon turned as he blossomed into one of the nation’s top high school players through his incredible performances with Porter-Gaud, leading them to a 25-2 record in his senior year. This was when Nesmith started receiving offers from major Division-1 schools. He would eventually end up committing to Vanderbilt University, where he would continue his basketball education under the sound and able guidance of NBA legend Jerry Stackhouse.

He spent two seasons with the Commodores, averaging 14.5 PPG and 5.3 RPG, with his sophomore year being cut short by a right foot injury. But he would not let this become a deterrent. He became more determined than ever. After being out of action for six weeks, he would slowly but steadily start finding his way back into basketball shape. After the conclusion of the 2019-20 NCAA season, Nesmith declared for the NBA Draft. This was when the whole world came to a standstill with the rise of the coronavirus.

The pandemic had ripped through humanity, leaving a path of great destruction, and it seemed that things would only get worse. But this period proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Charleston native. The NBA postponed its 2020 Draft from June to November due to the COVID-19 situation. He would use this to his advantage by working out with Travis Smith, who was assistant coach for the Cyclones at the time, from March through to November. This would turn out to be fruitful as he got back in game shape.

The NBA took note of Nesmith’s college exploits and how well he had recovered from his foot injury. The C’s came calling during draft night selecting him as the 14th overall pick. His transition from high school to the NBA was complete. All his achievements in such a short span of time can be attributed to one major factor- His Faith.

What is Aaron Nesmith’s religion?

Nesmith has always been a devout Christian. This is something which is easily comprehensible by looking at his Instagram post in early 2020. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, he wrote at the time. In showing his love for the Almighty and his family who had sacrificed so much for him, he continued, ” I want to thank GOD, my family for the sacrifices they have made, since the minute I picked up a basketball.”

“I am so grateful for what life has brought me so far and I cannot wait for this next step in my journey. Most importantly with everything going on in the world right now, I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during this time.” he concluded on his Instagram post, showing his utmost concern for what the world was going through.

This shows, the genuine love a man has for his fellow human beings, whose roots are deeply intertwined with his religion. That is who Aaron Nesmith is. Someone who never forgot all those who helped him reach his life goals. This forms the essence of human existence and makes him a true role model in every sense, one, who every kid across the world would do well to emulate.