Chaplain and PA announcer for the Denver Nuggets, first time NBA finalists, uses voice and platform to serve God

Kyle Speller is no stranger to using his voice for the glory of God, but this year’s NBA Finals have provided him a unique opportunity on basketball’s biggest stage.

As the Denver Nuggets’ public address announcer for the last 18 years, Speller has been part of many important games, but none as meaningful as these. It’s the Nuggets’ first time ever in the Finals.

Speller moved to Denver in 1979, just three years after the Nuggets joined the National Basketball Association, and he began rooting for the team that never could quite get over the hump in the Western Conference. Denver has made it one step short of the Finals four times before this year.

“I’ve been dreaming about this for years,” Speller said of making it the Finals, in a recent interview with Sports Spectrum.

Besides announcing, Speller has also served as the team’s chaplain for the last 16 years, as well as working as a voice-over artist, emcee, inspirational speaker and Associate Pastor of Emmanuel Christian Center in Denver. 

Despite his many titles, Speller wants to be known first as a “Servant of JESUS CHRIST,” as his Twitter bio reads.  

As team chaplain, he delivers a message before every game, where players and coaches from either team are welcome to attend. 

“I’m always praying, ‘Lord, what would You have me share in that period of time?’” Speller says. “And I can’t tell you how many times, like almost every single time I’m doing a chapel, I’ll prepare a message but God will flip it [while I’m] driving into the arena. 

“The Holy Spirit will just drop something into my spirit. I’m constantly telling the guys, ‘I had this ready, but this is something the Lord placed on my heart, so I’m going to just go with this.’ And that’s the way I’ve been operating this entire time.” 

Despite his and his team’s accomplishments, Speller defines success by a simple formula: “Vision + Passion + Working as unto the LORD = Success.” 

“It’s a privilege to have [these] roles and I don’t take it for granted,” Speller says. “I appreciate it, I’m grateful. As the announcer, I’m one of 30 people in the world [who announce for an NBA team]. I’m like, ‘God just blessed me.’ When it’s like that, I just want to serve.” 

Speller’s Nuggets are up 3-1 in the Finals against the Miami Heat, and could win it all in game 5 on Monday night.