--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a pretty good idea of what makes…" description: "\"I have a pretty good idea of what makes NBA players great - especially at the different positions, and where the biggest problems lie that you have to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ba/brad-stevens-4524_defending_i-have-a-pretty-good-idea-of-what-makes_2871217.png" --- # I have a pretty good idea of what makes NBA players great… ![“I have a pretty good idea of what makes NBA players great - especially at the different positions, and where the biggest problems lie that you have to address in defending those people.” quote by Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ba/brad-stevens-4524_defending_i-have-a-pretty-good-idea-of-what-makes_2871217.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ba/brad-stevens-4524_defending_i-have-a-pretty-good-idea-of-what-makes_2871217.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ba/brad-stevens-4524_defending_i-have-a-pretty-good-idea-of-what-makes_2871217.png) > “I have a pretty good idea of what makes NBA players great - especially at the different positions, and where the biggest problems lie that you have to address in defending those people.” [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding positional roles and defensive challenges is key to evaluating NBA talent. **In simple terms:** Know positions and defense to assess players. Key Takeaway Study roles and defensive issues. Themes basketball strategy player analysis defense Mood analytical strategic Type sports educational When to use this quote - draft scouting - game planning - player development Key Concepts sports analytics coaching methodology Questions to Reflect On - What defensive stats matter most? - How do you compare players across eras? A Different Perspective Defensive metrics can be noisy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defending/) [Defending People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defending-people-952985/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie/) [Makes Nba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-nba-3928885/) [Nba Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba-players/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Players Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/players-great/) [Pretty good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty-good/) [Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems/) ## Related quotes > [I can be like a lioness when defending my people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/i-can-be-like-a-lioness-when-defending-my-people/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Sometimes when you're defending people, you have to admit there was something that's not quite right, and that preserves some credibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-t-conway-iii/sometimes-when-you-re-defending-people-you-have-to-admit-there-was/) [George T. Conway III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-t-conway-iii/) > [“The people who support and defend those accused of child sexual abuse indiscriminately, those who join organizations dedicated to defending people who are accused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-salter/the-people-who-support-and-defend-those-accused-of-child-sexual-abuse/) [Anna Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-salter/) > [“This was law? she thought. Where was the excitement of court cases, the challenge of defending the people that her father was always talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-pascal/this-was-law-she-thought-where-was-the-excitement-of-court-cases-the/) [Francine Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-pascal/) > [It can be said, truly said, that the Iraqi resistance is not just defending Iraq. They are defending all the Arabs and they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-galloway/it-can-be-said-truly-said-that-the-iraqi-resistance-is-not-just/) [George Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-galloway/) > [“My job is defending the people and to hell with the laws. Your job is defending the laws and to hell with the people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-hamilton/my-job-is-defending-the-people-and-to-hell-with-the-laws-your-job-is/) [Donald Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-hamilton/) > [This is where young players today want to land. They want to be NBA players because of the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/this-is-where-young-players-today-want-to-land-they-want-to-be-nba/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [As NBA players, so much of the game is mental, as far as confidence and playing against the best players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/as-nba-players-so-much-of-the-game-is-mental-as-far-as-confidence-and/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [I'm getting used to this as a coach because it's a little jealousy from a lot of these coaches around the country. I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/i-m-getting-used-to-this-as-a-coach-because-it-s-a-little-jealousy/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [The majority of NBA players' upbringing, there's not much financial education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/the-majority-of-nba-players-upbringing-there-s-not-much-financial/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [This is always one of my big pet peeves is that 65% of NBA players, three years out of the NBA, are broke. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-howland/this-is-always-one-of-my-big-pet-peeves-is-that-65-of-nba-players/) [Ben Howland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-howland/) > [One thing pro wrestlers and NBA players have in common is passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-vontavious-porter/one-thing-pro-wrestlers-and-nba-players-have-in-common-is-passion/) [Montel Vontavious Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-vontavious-porter/) > [When the NBA adopted their uniform that they had to wear, I thought that was very interesting. And you see the way NBA players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/when-the-nba-adopted-their-uniform-that-they-had-to-wear-i-thought/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [NBA players are intense competitors, and it is truly humbling to know that my peers see me as someone who exhibits sportsmanship and respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/nba-players-are-intense-competitors-and-it-is-truly-humbling-to-know/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [On the road, we've got to find a way to just stay together as a team and find a way to win...I know it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-jennings/on-the-road-we-ve-got-to-find-a-way-to-just-stay-together-as-a-team/) [Brandon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-jennings/) ## More by Brad Stevens > [I don't focus well angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/i-don-t-focus-well-angry/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [When you've worked in the same place for 13 years, when things go well, you know how to keep it going well. When things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/when-you-ve-worked-in-the-same-place-for-13-years-when-things-go-well/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [I like to be pretty streamlined, to maximize our time on the practice floor. I like to make sure I'm respectful of our players'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/i-like-to-be-pretty-streamlined-to-maximize-our-time-on-the-practice/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [My care is that we play with great effort and togetherness. That is what we're looking for. That's what we want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/my-care-is-that-we-play-with-great-effort-and-togetherness-that-is/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [Jaylen's a high achiever. You can be a high achiever in every which way. He's a guy that - we've talked about several times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/jaylen-s-a-high-achiever-you-can-be-a-high-achiever-in-every-which/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [It's so much fun to dream in your driveway. I had an old wooden backboard in my driveway. That's where my friends and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/it-s-so-much-fun-to-dream-in-your-driveway-i-had-an-old-wooden/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [Jaylen's greatest impact, as good as he is at basketball, won't be at basketball. I just think he's a special guy. He's a special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/jaylen-s-greatest-impact-as-good-as-he-is-at-basketball-won-t-be-at/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [I think the NBA's amazing and I think our players are amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/i-think-the-nba-s-amazing-and-i-think-our-players-are-amazing/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [What makes Butler truly unique is the people that we have been so blessed to work with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/what-makes-butler-truly-unique-is-the-people-that-we-have-been-so/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [At the end of the day, you do this job because you really like working with your team and like the chance to compete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/at-the-end-of-the-day-you-do-this-job-because-you-really-like-working/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [My experience at DePauw was about as beneficial as any experience I've had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/my-experience-at-depauw-was-about-as-beneficial-as-any-experience-i/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [One thing I'd like to do better personally is decompress. Obviously when things don't go your way, you'll be thinking of it all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/one-thing-i-d-like-to-do-better-personally-is-decompress-obviously/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [If I was playing a game of Sorry or checkers with my nine-year-old, I hate losing. That's just my makeup and personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/if-i-was-playing-a-game-of-sorry-or-checkers-with-my-nine-year-old-i/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [One of my greatest regrets in coaching is the Butler Final Four runs, because if I would have been a seasoned coach, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/one-of-my-greatest-regrets-in-coaching-is-the-butler-final-four-runs/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [I could probably go through our losses in a lot more detail than our wins, all through my career. But you have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/i-could-probably-go-through-our-losses-in-a-lot-more-detail-than-our/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) [Explore all 108 Brad Stevens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) ## More Defending quotes > [“Assault!" he croaked. "The battery might yet follow." The warning- entirely unnecessary from Patience's perspective- came from Vane. One look at his face, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/assault-he-croaked-the-battery-might-yet-follow-the-warning-entirely/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [We believe in defending everyone's lives. We believe in defending everyone's property.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-milei/we-believe-in-defending-everyone-s-lives-we-believe-in-defending/) [Javier Milei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-milei/) > [“Skeptics are always marked by their total lack of skepticism towards whatever position they are defending.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-madison/skeptics-are-always-marked-by-their-total-lack-of-skepticism-towards/) [Steve Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-madison/) > [My uncle, my dad always made sure I had guard skills. But as far as defending everybody, that wasn't really my mindset until my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/draymond-green/my-uncle-my-dad-always-made-sure-i-had-guard-skills-but-as-far-as/) [Draymond Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/draymond-green/) > [“Defending unpopular positions is what lawyers do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-clement/defending-unpopular-positions-is-what-lawyers-do/) [Paul Clement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-clement/) > [Sometimes I think they should set up an asylum for people like that... a whole slew of paparazzi defending their positions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-think-they-should-set-up-an-asylum-for-people-like-that-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some people say there is a beauty about defending. Beauty is nice, but the most important thing is success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/some-people-say-there-is-a-beauty-about-defending-beauty-is-nice-but/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [Sometimes when you're defending people, you have to admit there was something that's not quite right, and that preserves some credibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-t-conway-iii/sometimes-when-you-re-defending-people-you-have-to-admit-there-was/) [George T. Conway III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-t-conway-iii/) > [“No system was worth defending if it didn’t bend for its people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/no-system-was-worth-defending-if-it-didn-t-bend-for-its-people/) [Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/) > [Passionately defending one's principles is crucial. Representing your district is fundamental. But refusing to entertain the common ground - with no other cost but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/passionately-defending-one-s-principles-is-crucial-representing-your/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [“Defending your point of view while knowing that you are wrong is just like a person whose wisdom is being obstructed by his arrogance”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waqas-haider/defending-your-point-of-view-while-knowing-that-you-are-wrong-is-just/) [Waqas Haider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waqas-haider/) > [I don't think San Francisco needs defending. I never meet anyone who doesn't love the place, Americans or others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-don-t-think-san-francisco-needs-defending-i-never-meet-anyone-who/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [My second year in Rome was very good. Back then, a striker was a striker. Strikers scored goals; they didn't defend. Today this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sven-goran-eriksson/my-second-year-in-rome-was-very-good-back-then-a-striker-was-a/) [Sven-Goran Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sven-goran-eriksson/) > [I went from beating John Cena in my first match to winning the Intercontinental title to defending it at WrestleMania.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-owens/i-went-from-beating-john-cena-in-my-first-match-to-winning-the/) [Kevin Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-owens/) > [The truth is far from you, so you know you got to lie. Then you're all the time defending what you can never justify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-truth-is-far-from-you-so-you-know-you-got-to-lie-then-you-re-all/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) [Browse all 213 Defending quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defending/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have a pretty good idea of what makes NBA players great - especially at the different positions, and where the biggest problems lie that you have to address in defending those people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brad Stevens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/i-have-a-pretty-good-idea-of-what-makes-nba-players-great-especially/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defending" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/i-have-a-pretty-good-idea-of-what-makes-nba-players-great-especially/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ba/brad-stevens-4524_defending_i-have-a-pretty-good-idea-of-what-makes_2871217.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ba/brad-stevens-4524_defending_i-have-a-pretty-good-idea-of-what-makes_2871217.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ba/brad-stevens-4524_defending_i-have-a-pretty-good-idea-of-what-makes_2871217.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have a pretty good idea of what makes NBA players great - especially at the different positions, and where…” — Brad Stevens", "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": "Brad Stevens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have a pretty good idea...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/i-have-a-pretty-good-idea-of-what-makes-nba-players-great-especially/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/i-have-a-pretty-good-idea-of-what-makes-nba-players-great-especially/#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 } } ] } ```