Former American basketball player Mike Guminski recently spoke at length about his career, his struggles with alcoholism and his journey to Christ. The 64-year-old Guminski, who played four years at Duke from 1976-1980 and was named ACC Rookie of the Year, appeared on the podcast “UNPACKIN’ it” last month to discuss a variety of topics, including his testimony.
Between interviewHe said his relationship with alcohol began in college, but it wasn’t a full-blown addiction at the time.
“The first time I had a beer I was with some older guys on my team. I’d started playing on the national team and I was hanging out with them. Obviously I didn’t drink every day, but on the weekends, after we’d won a game, things like that,” Guminski said, adding that alcoholism ran in his family and was something he was familiar with growing up.
At the same time, he said his drinking in college never had a negative impact on his life until difficult times in his life, when he was divorced in 2011 from his first wife, whom he had been married to since 1981, and lost his second wife, Sarah, years ago to “massive internal bleeding.”
“What happened was her liver was no longer able to clot blood and after the paramedics arrived she went into cardiac arrest two more times,” he explained. “They stabilised her and she was taken to hospital. She went into cardiac arrest two more times, each lasting three minutes.”
Guminski added that he was put on life support but was eventually taken off after doctors declared him brain dead. As for his alcoholism, he said his drinking got worse despite friends’ attempts to intervene. At this time, Guminski said he began drinking vodka regularly.
of Tipping point He arrived when Guminski was living with his son, Noah, who offered to help him overcome his addiction.
“I walked in the door and there were a bunch of vodka bottles on the kitchen table, stained with leaves, and a note in front of it that said, ‘Dad, I love you and I want to help you,’ and I fell to my knees and cried with embarrassment. And then we started talking,” he said, adding that his son would intervene on his behalf.
Guminski added that the intervention for her son involved video calls from two men from a Florida-based program called Rebound and a woman named Leanne Miller, who ironically was a bridesmaid at her son’s first wedding and has been in recovery for 13 years.
Guminski said he felt “incredible calm” during the call and knew Jesus was in the room. He then traveled to Florida and enrolled in a 60-day recovery program at a rehab center. Now, he’s four years sober and committed to his walk with Christ.
“It’s been exactly three years and 11 months since I recovered,” he said. “Four years ago now, no one would have noticed. That was just four years ago. I’ve told people I don’t think miracles happen now. I am one of them, and I know what God has done in my life.”
Guminski’s LinkedInLast year, he celebrated three years of sobriety and praised God.
“I am so happy to be celebrating my third year of sobriety with my son Noah and the staff at Sana Recovery. I wouldn’t be here without the love and support of him and my friends and family,” he said. “God has worked so many miracles in my life and I am so blessed to walk with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I look forward to sharing my story with anyone who thinks it can help them or someone close to them! Grace and peace to you all!”
Gminski played at Duke University and also played for the New Jersey Nets after being selected seventh overall in the first round of the 1980 NBA Draft. He went on to play for the 76ers, Hornets and Bucks throughout his 14-year NBA career. After retiring from basketball, Gminski was a longtime analyst for the Hornets, CBS Sports, Raycom Sports and Fox Sports Net, and was a regular contributor to WFNZ.
WATCH: Mike Gminski talks JJ Redick, Duke University basketball, vodka, addiction, and Jesus | UNPACKIN’ it podcast
Photo credit: ©YouTube/UNPACKIN’it
