--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just as basketball doesn't define who I…" description: "\"Just as basketball doesn't define who I am, neither does being gay.\" — Brittney Griner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/brittney-griner-4548_basketball_just-as-basketball-doesn-t-define-who-i_1016206.png" --- # Just as basketball doesn't define who I am, neither does… ![“Just as basketball doesn't define who I am, neither does being gay.” quote by Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/brittney-griner-4548_basketball_just-as-basketball-doesn-t-define-who-i_1016206.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/brittney-griner-4548_basketball_just-as-basketball-doesn-t-define-who-i_1016206.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/brittney-griner-4548_basketball_just-as-basketball-doesn-t-define-who-i_1016206.png) > “Just as basketball doesn't define who I am, neither does being gay.” [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One’s identity is not defined by a single characteristic, whether it’s a sport or sexual orientation. **In simple terms:** Identity isn’t defined by one thing. Key Takeaway Embrace a multidimensional sense of self. Themes identity diversity self‑acceptance Mood affirming empowering Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - personal growth - team dynamics - LGBTQ+ advocacy - mental health Questions to Reflect On - How does this view empower personal confidence? - What societal barriers still affect identity perception? A Different Perspective It may overlook systemic challenges faced by marginalized groups. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) ## Related quotes > [Basketball doesn't build character it reveals it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-naismith/basketball-doesn-t-build-character-it-reveals-it/) [James Naismith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-naismith/) > [I'm not a role model... Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-m-not-a-role-model-just-because-i-dunk-a-basketball-doesn-t-mean-i/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [Basketball doesn't give me time to be in a relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/basketball-doesn-t-give-me-time-to-be-in-a-relationship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love basketball, but playing basketball doesn't fully define who I am. I was always a good student, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/i-love-basketball-but-playing-basketball-doesn-t-fully-define-who-i/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [When I step on that basketball court, I'm thinking about basketball, I'm thinking about winning - but there's so much that goes into thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmelo-anthony/when-i-step-on-that-basketball-court-i-m-thinking-about-basketball-i/) [Carmelo Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmelo-anthony/) > [Just basketball motivates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luka-doncic/just-basketball-motivates-me/) [Luka Doncic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luka-doncic/) > [That's one thing I tell young kids is watch Chris Paul play basketball. He doesn't just play the game. He's trying to beat the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-taurasi/that-s-one-thing-i-tell-young-kids-is-watch-chris-paul-play/) [Diana Taurasi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-taurasi/) > [I lost all feeling a long time ago. Basketball is basketball. It doesn't matter what floor I'm on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/i-lost-all-feeling-a-long-time-ago-basketball-is-basketball-it-doesn/) [Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/) > [At the end of the day, you're only going to be allowed to play basketball for a short period of time. You're a human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/at-the-end-of-the-day-you-re-only-going-to-be-allowed-to-play/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [...Basketball doesn't care what color your skin is. It doesn't care what language you speak or what religion you practice. It doesn't care if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-calhoun/basketball-doesn-t-care-what-color-your-skin-is-it-doesn-t-care-what/) [Jim Calhoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-calhoun/) > [There's more to life than just basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-horry/there-s-more-to-life-than-just-basketball/) [Robert Horry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-horry/) > [Balling is balling; it is all just basketball for me and I'm used to playing both games, so it really does not matter if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-parker/balling-is-balling-it-is-all-just-basketball-for-me-and-i-m-used-to/) [Tony Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-parker/) > [Who's to say because you're just a basketball player, or you are a basketball player, who's to say you can't chime in on other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaylen-brown/who-s-to-say-because-you-re-just-a-basketball-player-or-you-are-a/) [Jaylen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaylen-brown/) > [People associate me with 'oh he's just a basketball player,' I'm a regular guy and I like playing video games in my spare time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hart/people-associate-me-with-oh-he-s-just-a-basketball-player-i-m-a/) [Josh Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hart/) > [It's always good to have people from my school accomplish great things. It doesn't necessarily have to be just basketball. I want to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabari-parker/it-s-always-good-to-have-people-from-my-school-accomplish-great/) [Jabari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabari-parker/) ## More by Brittney Griner > [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/) > [When I was a rookie, I had to shag balls out of the stands. It was my rookie duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/when-i-was-a-rookie-i-had-to-shag-balls-out-of-the-stands-it-was-my/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [If you ever need a pillow, I can make you a pillow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/if-you-ever-need-a-pillow-i-can-make-you-a-pillow/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [I'm not the only female that wears men's clothes, so I'm not one in a million.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-m-not-the-only-female-that-wears-men-s-clothes-so-i-m-not-one-in-a/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [Don't worry about what other people are going to say, because they're always going to say something, but, if you're just true to yourself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/don-t-worry-about-what-other-people-are-going-to-say-because-they-re/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [Don't hide who you really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/don-t-hide-who-you-really-are/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [If you're not that big player, then nobody's really gonna know who you are to promote the brand. If LeBron says, 'Go buy this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/if-you-re-not-that-big-player-then-nobody-s-really-gonna-know-who-you/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [Defenders tend to leave me open on the elbow and when I step out, so it was only the smart thing to do to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/defenders-tend-to-leave-me-open-on-the-elbow-and-when-i-step-out-so/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [I've learned to love myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-ve-learned-to-love-myself/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [Just to know I have so many fans out there buying my jersey means a lot. It means I'm doing something right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/just-to-know-i-have-so-many-fans-out-there-buying-my-jersey-means-a/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [I want to be known for defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-want-to-be-known-for-defense/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [People are either going to accept me for who I am or they're not. I don't know what people think I'm hiding. I've heard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/people-are-either-going-to-accept-me-for-who-i-am-or-they-re-not-i/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [Domestic violence is never okay no matter what the situation is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/domestic-violence-is-never-okay-no-matter-what-the-situation-is/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [Everybody knows we make more money overseas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/everybody-knows-we-make-more-money-overseas/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [I want you to come watch my game, not the uniforms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-want-you-to-come-watch-my-game-not-the-uniforms/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) [Explore all 109 Brittney Griner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) ## 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": "Just as basketball doesn't define who I am, neither does being gay.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brittney Griner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/just-as-basketball-doesn-t-define-who-i-am-neither-does-being-gay/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/just-as-basketball-doesn-t-define-who-i-am-neither-does-being-gay/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/brittney-griner-4548_basketball_just-as-basketball-doesn-t-define-who-i_1016206.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/brittney-griner-4548_basketball_just-as-basketball-doesn-t-define-who-i_1016206.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/brittney-griner-4548_basketball_just-as-basketball-doesn-t-define-who-i_1016206.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Just as basketball doesn't define who I am, neither does being gay.” — Brittney Griner", "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": "Brittney Griner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Just as basketball doesn't define who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/just-as-basketball-doesn-t-define-who-i-am-neither-does-being-gay/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/just-as-basketball-doesn-t-define-who-i-am-neither-does-being-gay/#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 } } ] } ```