--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that's what makes a true great…" description: "\"I think that's what makes a true great basketball player: playing both ends.\" — Aaron Gordon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/aaron-gordon-6882_ball-player_i-think-that-s-what-makes-a-true-great-b_2264420.jpg" --- # I think that's what makes a true great basketball player… ![“I think that's what makes a true great basketball player: playing both ends.” quote by Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/aaron-gordon-6882_ball-player_i-think-that-s-what-makes-a-true-great-b_2264420.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/aaron-gordon-6882_ball-player_i-think-that-s-what-makes-a-true-great-b_2264420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/aaron-gordon-6882_ball-player_i-think-that-s-what-makes-a-true-great-b_2264420.jpg) > “I think that's what makes a true great basketball player: playing both ends.” [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He values versatility, believing greatness comes from contributing on both offense and defense. **In simple terms:** Great players excel at scoring and defending. Key Takeaway Develop all‑around skills for true greatness. Themes basketball versatility teamwork excellence Mood competitive focused Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - team strategy - player scouting - training programs Key Concepts two‑way play skill development coach expectations Questions to Reflect On - How can you improve defensive skills? - What balance of offense and defense yields success? A Different Perspective Specializing can limit overall impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ball player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-player/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-player/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-basketball/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Player Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player-playing-588598/) [Playing Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-ends-5222104/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) ## Related quotes > [So many great basketball players haven't won championships before, and they're still great. But that's what people judge you by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/so-many-great-basketball-players-haven-t-won-championships-before-and/) [Lebron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [There were great European players that were great basketball players that did not make it in the NBA... This is the best league in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-were-great-european-players-that-were-great-basketball-players/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [A player who makes a team great is better than a great player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/a-player-who-makes-a-team-great-is-better-than-a-great-player/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [My mom always tells me that... Nobody is going to remember you for the great basketball player you are but they will remember you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-austin/my-mom-always-tells-me-that-nobody-is-going-to-remember-you-for-the/) [Isaiah Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-austin/) > [Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/figure-out-how-to-climb-it-go-through-it-or-work-around-it/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I worked every day - Christmas Eve, birthdays - trying to become a great basketball player. Everywhere I went, I had a basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mason-jr/i-worked-every-day-christmas-eve-birthdays-trying-to-become-a-great/) [Harvey Mason, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mason-jr/) > [When I was young, I never wanted to leave the court until I got things exactly correct. My dream was to become a pro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/when-i-was-young-i-never-wanted-to-leave-the-court-until-i-got-things/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [One man cannot make a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/one-man-cannot-make-a-team/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/if-you-run-into-a-wall-don-t-turn-around-and-give-up-figure-out-how/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Being a great basketball player is only part of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mullin/being-a-great-basketball-player-is-only-part-of-who-you-are/) [Chris Mullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mullin/) > [Basketball is a beautiful game when the five players on the court play with one heartbeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/basketball-is-a-beautiful-game-when-the-five-players-on-the-court/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [The best teams have chemistry. They communicate with each other and they sacrifice personal glory for a common goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debusschere/the-best-teams-have-chemistry-they-communicate-with-each-other-and/) [Dave DeBusschere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debusschere/) > [Michael Jordan didn’t become a great basketball player because he wanted to do product endorsements. Van Gogh didn’t become a great painter because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-d-schwager/michael-jordan-didn-t-become-a-great-basketball-player-because-he/) [Jack D. Schwager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-d-schwager/) > [It is foolish to expect a young man to follow your advice and to ignore your example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/it-is-foolish-to-expect-a-young-man-to-follow-your-advice-and-to/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [Great players never look in the mirror and think I'm a great basketball player. You ask yourself, Am I the best player I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/great-players-never-look-in-the-mirror-and-think-i-m-a-great/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) ## More by Aaron Gordon > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [You know me, I work hard, but I play hard, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/you-know-me-i-work-hard-but-i-play-hard-too/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [I've taken way too many shots in practice to count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-ve-taken-way-too-many-shots-in-practice-to-count/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [If we win, everybody gets paid. That's how it goes and that's how it's always been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/if-we-win-everybody-gets-paid-that-s-how-it-goes-and-that-s-how-it-s/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [For as long as I have Orlando on my chest, Magic on my chest, I'm going to give it everything I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/for-as-long-as-i-have-orlando-on-my-chest-magic-on-my-chest-i-m-going/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [I love the game of basketball so to neglect one side of the floor, that's disrespecting the game to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-love-the-game-of-basketball-so-to-neglect-one-side-of-the-floor/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [I'm kind of mobile like a guard, so when I'm dunking it doesn't look like a big guy dunking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-m-kind-of-mobile-like-a-guard-so-when-i-m-dunking-it-doesn-t-look/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [I'm long, athletic and I'm not really somebody you want to try and shoot over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-m-long-athletic-and-i-m-not-really-somebody-you-want-to-try-and/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [I love defense just as much as I love scoring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-love-defense-just-as-much-as-i-love-scoring/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [I care more about the win than the stats, every single day of the week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-care-more-about-the-win-than-the-stats-every-single-day-of-the-week/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [To be D-POY is a goal. I don't think it's selfish and I'd love to be D-POY.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/to-be-d-poy-is-a-goal-i-don-t-think-it-s-selfish-and-i-d-love-to-be-d/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Everybody's a critic, including myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-s-a-critic-including-myself/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [I want to set up after-school programs, have basketball camps for the kids and help in the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-want-to-set-up-after-school-programs-have-basketball-camps-for-the/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [I play the game to the best of my abilities regardless of where I am on the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-play-the-game-to-the-best-of-my-abilities-regardless-of-where-i-am/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [That's how I came into the league, defensive-minded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/that-s-how-i-came-into-the-league-defensive-minded/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) [Explore all 96 Aaron Gordon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) ## More Ball player quotes > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. 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You've got to like competing. That's how your team gets better, when you have competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-competed-every-day-as-a-professional-football-player-you-ve-got-to/) [Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/) > [“I can’t wait to knock you up and have a whole team of little baseball players around this place!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sterling/i-can-t-wait-to-knock-you-up-and-have-a-whole-team-of-little-baseball/) [J. Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sterling/) > [MOST AMAZING FOOTBALL PLAYER IN THE ENTIRE WORLD && IN REAL MADRID](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-amazing-football-player-in-the-entire-world-in-real-madrid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My older brothers were both basketball players so I just grew up around the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brook-lopez/my-older-brothers-were-both-basketball-players-so-i-just-grew-up/) [Brook Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brook-lopez/) > [I'm a basketball player, so I want to do whatever I've got to do to be on the floor and I'm prepared for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrese-haliburton/i-m-a-basketball-player-so-i-want-to-do-whatever-i-ve-got-to-do-to-be/) [Tyrese Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrese-haliburton/) > [“Seeing yourself in print is such an amazing concept: you can get so much attention without having to actually show up somewhere. While others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeing-yourself-in-print-is-such-an-amazing-concept-you-can-get-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People say baseball players should go out and have fun. No way. To me, baseball is pressure, I always feel it. This is work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-eckersley/people-say-baseball-players-should-go-out-and-have-fun-no-way-to-me/) [Dennis Eckersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-eckersley/) > [Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-a-country-whose-main-exports-are-hockey-players-and-cold/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [“The great thing about baseball players, from the point of view of personal hygiene, is how seldom they break a sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-great-thing-about-baseball-players-from-the-point-of-view-of/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [A lot of scouts and people are enamored with athleticism and youth. So they take that any day over mature, high-quality basketball players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/a-lot-of-scouts-and-people-are-enamored-with-athleticism-and-youth-so/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [I'm a baseball player. I've done this my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/i-m-a-baseball-player-i-ve-done-this-my-whole-life/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) [Browse all 1,395 Ball player quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-player/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that's what makes a true great basketball player: playing both ends.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aaron Gordon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-think-that-s-what-makes-a-true-great-basketball-player-playing-both/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ball player" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-think-that-s-what-makes-a-true-great-basketball-player-playing-both/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/aaron-gordon-6882_ball-player_i-think-that-s-what-makes-a-true-great-b_2264420.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/aaron-gordon-6882_ball-player_i-think-that-s-what-makes-a-true-great-b_2264420.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/aaron-gordon-6882_ball-player_i-think-that-s-what-makes-a-true-great-b_2264420.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that's what makes a true great basketball player: playing both ends.” — Aaron Gordon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Aaron Gordon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that's what makes a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-think-that-s-what-makes-a-true-great-basketball-player-playing-both/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-think-that-s-what-makes-a-true-great-basketball-player-playing-both/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```