--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In basketball, I always had a first step…" description: "\"In basketball, I always had a first step. A separation step. That works now, too.\" — Antonio Gates" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/antonio-gates-44299_basketball_in-basketball-i-always-had-a-first-step_2731727.jpg" --- # In basketball, I always had a first step. A separation… ![“In basketball, I always had a first step. A separation step. That works now, too.” quote by Antonio Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/antonio-gates-44299_basketball_in-basketball-i-always-had-a-first-step_2731727.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/antonio-gates-44299_basketball_in-basketball-i-always-had-a-first-step_2731727.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/antonio-gates-44299_basketball_in-basketball-i-always-had-a-first-step_2731727.jpg) > “In basketball, I always had a first step. A separation step. That works now, too.” [Antonio Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A decisive initial movement creates space and advantage in basketball and life. **In simple terms:** First step creates separation and opportunity. Key Takeaway Make a clear opening move to gain advantage. Themes strategy initiative movement Mood focused energetic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - business negotiations - personal goals Key Concepts sports tactics career planning Questions to Reflect On - What “first step” can you take now? - How does separation improve outcomes? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on a single tactic can be predictable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-step-2959755/) [First step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-step/) [First steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-steps/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Separation Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-step-2959756/) [Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step/) [Step Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step-separation-2959757/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) ## Related quotes > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [Any departure from fact is the first step on a slippery slope toward unbelievability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-henry-iii/any-departure-from-fact-is-the-first-step-on-a-slippery-slope-toward/) [William A. Henry III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-henry-iii/) > [Looking beauty in the world, is the first step of purifying the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/looking-beauty-in-the-world-is-the-first-step-of-purifying-the-mind/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [Beginning to reason is like stepping onto an escalator that leads upward and out of sight. Once we take the first step, the distance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/beginning-to-reason-is-like-stepping-onto-an-escalator-that-leads/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [It may be that we are puppets-puppets controlled by the strings of society. But at least we are puppets with perception, with awareness. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/it-may-be-that-we-are-puppets-puppets-controlled-by-the-strings-of/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [It's no accident that most self-help groups use 'anonymous' in their names; to Americans, the first step toward redemption is a ritual wiping out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/it-s-no-accident-that-most-self-help-groups-use-anonymous-in-their/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [Held in the palms of thousands of disgruntled people over the centuries have been ideas worth millions - if they only had taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hayes/held-in-the-palms-of-thousands-of-disgruntled-people-over-the/) [Robert M. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-hayes/) > [Commitment is taking the first step, even if it means falling the rest of the way down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-fesler/commitment-is-taking-the-first-step-even-if-it-means-falling-the-rest/) [Wes Fesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-fesler/) > [I can turn an idea into a business before you know it's going to be important. My first step will blow by you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/i-can-turn-an-idea-into-a-business-before-you-know-it-s-going-to-be/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [The first step toward maintaining autonomy in any programmed environment is to be aware that there's programming going on. It's as simple as understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/the-first-step-toward-maintaining-autonomy-in-any-programmed/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [How do you turn the invisible into the visible? The first step is to define your dream precisely; the only limit to what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/how-do-you-turn-the-invisible-into-the-visible-the-first-step-is-to/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Women create an idealized, hopeful vision for the future to inspire other women. Fiction and fantasy are the crucial first steps to changing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-rodale/women-create-an-idealized-hopeful-vision-for-the-future-to-inspire/) [Maya Rodale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-rodale/) > [The cultural integration of psychedelics won't happen overnight, and the question of young people is perhaps the most difficult involved. The first step is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-doblin/the-cultural-integration-of-psychedelics-won-t-happen-overnight-and/) [Rick Doblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-doblin/) > [“I remember wondering, within a year or two of taking my first steps, why only men sat to drink tea and converse, and why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/i-remember-wondering-within-a-year-or-two-of-taking-my-first-steps/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [The first step for a leader is to be right with yourself. Integrity is the basis of leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-first-step-for-a-leader-is-to-be-right-with-yourself-integrity-is/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) ## More by Antonio Gates > [I try to find out what the guy's strengths and weaknesses are. Like in boxing, I'd be a counter-puncher. Whatever he does well, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gates/i-try-to-find-out-what-the-guy-s-strengths-and-weaknesses-are-like-in/) [Antonio Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gates/) > [In high school, every last one of the passing schemes was designed for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gates/in-high-school-every-last-one-of-the-passing-schemes-was-designed-for/) [Antonio Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gates/) > [You had to be tough in our neighborhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gates/you-had-to-be-tough-in-our-neighborhood/) [Antonio Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gates/) > [A dunk is nice because it can create momentum, but it's not as good as scoring a touchdown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gates/a-dunk-is-nice-because-it-can-create-momentum-but-it-s-not-as-good-as/) [Antonio Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gates/) > [I'd like to be a 5-10, 205-pound running back. I think it's natural for big guys to want to be a little faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gates/i-d-like-to-be-a-5-10-205-pound-running-back-i-think-it-s-natural-for/) [Antonio Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gates/) > [High school football in Detroit was not easy at all. There were talented players everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gates/high-school-football-in-detroit-was-not-easy-at-all-there-were/) [Antonio Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gates/) > [Play more than one sport in high school. If you play, say, football and basketball, you can learn to be physical and you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gates/play-more-than-one-sport-in-high-school-if-you-play-say-football-and/) [Antonio Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gates/) > [If I had stayed with football in college, I probably would have been a first-round pick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gates/if-i-had-stayed-with-football-in-college-i-probably-would-have-been-a/) [Antonio Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gates/) [Explore all 9 Antonio Gates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gates/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In basketball, I always had a first step. 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