It seemed like only hours since I had put down C.J. Mahaney’s mini-book, Don’t Waste Your Sports. In it, Mahaney outlines a number of representative traits that Christ-focused athletes playing should be displaying on and around the playing field. Among these is humility.

I have to tell you, I’m a sucker for humility. In fact, I have made a habit of teaching through the years that, contrary to popular opinion, God does play favorites. He favors the humble. This is true both for those who are made lowly by their circumstances and those who endeavor to humble themselves before the sovereign Lord. This latter group, James wrote, are those whom God lifts up.

But humility is hard to find in the many arenas of sports. Last night, L.A. Laker Ron Artest made a crucial 3-pointer in the team’s eventual triple-overtime win against the Phoenix Suns, then blew big kisses to the crowd when a timeout immediately followed. It got a big laugh out of me. But no, it was not humble. And in the NBA, particularly, where most games could contribute 30-40 such moments to a highlight reel, there are plenty of opportunities for athletes to point their fingers, thump their chests, and otherwise make sure their accomplishments are noticed and rewarded—at least with endearing applause.