--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My goal is to win the next game one…" description: "\"My goal is to win the next game one possession at a time. That's it. I don't have any other goals\" — Brad Stevens" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/brad-stevens-4524_basketball_my-goal-is-to-win-the-next-game-one-poss_949239.png" --- # My goal is to win the next game one possession at a time… ![“My goal is to win the next game one possession at a time. That's it. I don't have any other goals” quote by Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/brad-stevens-4524_basketball_my-goal-is-to-win-the-next-game-one-poss_949239.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/brad-stevens-4524_basketball_my-goal-is-to-win-the-next-game-one-poss_949239.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/brad-stevens-4524_basketball_my-goal-is-to-win-the-next-game-one-poss_949239.png) > “My goal is to win the next game one possession at a time. That's it. I don't have any other goals” [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. Success is built through incremental, disciplined actions focusing on each moment rather than distant outcomes. **In simple terms:** Winning comes one step at a time. Key Takeaway Focus on each possession, trust the process. Themes discipline focus incremental success teamwork process Mood motivational strategic Type sports leadership When to use this quote - basketball games - practice sessions - coaching meetings Key Concepts sports strategy goal setting mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance short-term actions with long-term vision? - What rituals keep you present? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on single moments can ignore larger strategy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-leadership/) [Coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaches/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game-possession-1681042/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goal Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal-win/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [NBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Will to win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will-to-win/) [Win Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-game/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Every little possession and every little detail can help you win a game or that possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-calderon/every-little-possession-and-every-little-detail-can-help-you-win-a/) [Jose Calderon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-calderon/) > [The goal is to win. It's not about making money. I have many much less risky ways of making money than this (buying Chelsea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-abramovich/the-goal-is-to-win-it-s-not-about-making-money-i-have-many-much-less/) [Roman Abramovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-abramovich/) > [If you play to win as I do, the game never ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-mikita/if-you-play-to-win-as-i-do-the-game-never-ends/) [Stan Mikita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-mikita/) > [You never win a game unless you beat the guy in front of you. The score on the board doesn't mean a thing. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/you-never-win-a-game-unless-you-beat-the-guy-in-front-of-you-the/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [There are some days when the ball doesn't want go in, but our goal is to win every game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcelo/there-are-some-days-when-the-ball-doesn-t-want-go-in-but-our-goal-is/) [Marcelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcelo/) > [English teams recognise you can control a game without possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-fletcher/english-teams-recognise-you-can-control-a-game-without-possession/) [Darren Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-fletcher/) > [Some games you going to play great. Some games you're not. So, it's all about moving on to the next game, next possession. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-favors/some-games-you-going-to-play-great-some-games-you-re-not-so-it-s-all/) [Derrick Favors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-favors/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I would spend almost as much time planning a practice as conducting it. Everything was planned out each day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-would-spend-almost-as-much-time-planning-a-practice-as-conducting/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [You have to earn your right to win the game with effort and togetherness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/you-have-to-earn-your-right-to-win-the-game-with-effort-and/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [A leader's job is to develop committed followers. Bad leaders destroy their followers' sense of commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/a-leader-s-job-is-to-develop-committed-followers-bad-leaders-destroy/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [When you have a problem, if you tell the truth, the problem becomes part of your past. If you lie, it becomes part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-pitino/when-you-have-a-problem-if-you-tell-the-truth-the-problem-becomes/) [Rick Pitino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-pitino/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [If you are not willing to work hard and establish discipline in your life, then all your dreams are merely pipe dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-pitino/if-you-are-not-willing-to-work-hard-and-establish-discipline-in-your/) [Rick Pitino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-pitino/) ## 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 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": "My goal is to win the next game one possession at a time. 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