--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some guys get by on natural athletic…" description: "\"Some guys get by on natural athletic ability. And then when they reach a certain point, they got to put in the time before and after practice and in th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/charles-oakley-8431_ability_some-guys-get-by-on-natural-athletic-abi_1341311.jpg" --- # Some guys get by on natural athletic ability. And then… ![“Some guys get by on natural athletic ability. And then when they reach a certain point, they got to put in the time before and after practice and in the off-season.” quote by Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/charles-oakley-8431_ability_some-guys-get-by-on-natural-athletic-abi_1341311.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/charles-oakley-8431_ability_some-guys-get-by-on-natural-athletic-abi_1341311.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/charles-oakley-8431_ability_some-guys-get-by-on-natural-athletic-abi_1341311.jpg) > “Some guys get by on natural athletic ability. And then when they reach a certain point, they got to put in the time before and after practice and in the off-season.” [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Natural talent alone is insufficient; athletes must invest time before and after practice, including off‑season work, to excel. **In simple terms:** Talent needs disciplined effort to succeed. Key Takeaway Commit to consistent training. Themes sports discipline development Mood motivational focused Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - coach lecture - motivational talk Key Concepts work ethic skill refinement seasonal training Questions to Reflect On - How will you structure your training year‑round? - What habits reinforce continuous improvement? A Different Perspective Neglecting off‑season work limits growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Athletic ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletic-ability/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Off season](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/off-season/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of guys do the pretty things. Dunking, tattoos, earrings, sagging jeans. That's the league now. They have athletic ability, but they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/a-lot-of-guys-do-the-pretty-things-dunking-tattoos-earrings-sagging/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I think any time you can go out and put pads on and practice before the season, I think it's a good sign. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-edelman/i-think-any-time-you-can-go-out-and-put-pads-on-and-practice-before/) [Julian Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-edelman/) > [Guys are natural problem solvers - they like to have strategies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/guys-are-natural-problem-solvers-they-like-to-have-strategies/) [Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/) > [There are a lot of really funny guys who are very natural in what they do: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Seth Rogen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/there-are-a-lot-of-really-funny-guys-who-are-very-natural-in-what/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [Home life is a foreign environment for most guys. So it's natural to show them being idiots at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/home-life-is-a-foreign-environment-for-most-guys-so-it-s-natural-to/) [Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/) > [When I was younger, I used to wrestle, and I feel that it contributed to my athletic ability because as a wrestler you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhani-jones/when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-wrestle-and-i-feel-that-it-contributed/) [Dhani Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhani-jones/) > [I feel that I'm more of a speed player, being able to rush the edge with a lot of speed coming around the corner.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cole/i-feel-that-i-m-more-of-a-speed-player-being-able-to-rush-the-edge/) [Justin Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cole/) > [Francis Ngannou is a fighter that has athletic ability. He's not an athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/francis-ngannou-is-a-fighter-that-has-athletic-ability-he-s-not-an/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [Every player adds their own dimension and mine is probably my athletic ability. I've played against a lot of big players and in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-hargreaves/every-player-adds-their-own-dimension-and-mine-is-probably-my/) [Owen Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-hargreaves/) > [We all have faults in life. Mine is that I sometimes rely on my athletic ability a little too much. When I'm having success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-sehorn/we-all-have-faults-in-life-mine-is-that-i-sometimes-rely-on-my/) [Jason Sehorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-sehorn/) > [ My mom said giving birth was the most excruciating thing she's ever gone through in her life. So...if \[a cesarean\] doesn't happen, I'll be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/my-mom-said-giving-birth-was-the-most-excruciating-thing-she-s-ever/) [Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/) > [I can do anything I want, basically, as long as it doesn't involve athletic ability, or something like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-can-do-anything-i-want-basically-as-long-as-it-doesn-t-involve/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I feel like I've been blessed with some athletic ability and I'd like to take advantage of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-holliday/i-feel-like-i-ve-been-blessed-with-some-athletic-ability-and-i-d-like/) [Matt Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-holliday/) > [I've been fortunate that I have good athletic ability, just in general. Quick, strong, able to bounce off players, trying to be strong in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-pulisic/i-ve-been-fortunate-that-i-have-good-athletic-ability-just-in-general/) [Christian Pulisic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-pulisic/) > [I had no musical or athletic ability, and I wasn't particularly good looking. Comedy was something I could do for attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-had-no-musical-or-athletic-ability-and-i-wasn-t-particularly-good/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) ## More by Charles Oakley > [Every team has a main guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/every-team-has-a-main-guy/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [Even though I retired, I work out four to five days a week, run two to three miles, I play ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/even-though-i-retired-i-work-out-four-to-five-days-a-week-run-two-to/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I was in New York, I went to a Yankees game and I called and said, 'Can I get tickets to the Knicks game?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/i-was-in-new-york-i-went-to-a-yankees-game-and-i-called-and-said-can/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I'm all about having a good time and respecting my teammates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/i-m-all-about-having-a-good-time-and-respecting-my-teammates/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [In the old days Michael Jordan and Larry Bird worked for everything they got. They worked hard on their game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/in-the-old-days-michael-jordan-and-larry-bird-worked-for-everything/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [You can't play Around the World in the NBA, you've gotta go to the basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/you-can-t-play-around-the-world-in-the-nba-you-ve-gotta-go-to-the/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [My thing was, if somebody talks about you this and that, you got to go prove them wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/my-thing-was-if-somebody-talks-about-you-this-and-that-you-got-to-go/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [You can't shut somebody up by losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/you-can-t-shut-somebody-up-by-losing/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [If I would compare anybody to Michael Jordan, it would be Kobe Bryant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/if-i-would-compare-anybody-to-michael-jordan-it-would-be-kobe-bryant/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I'm always willing to work stuff out, because I'm that type of guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/i-m-always-willing-to-work-stuff-out-because-i-m-that-type-of-guy/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I like Chicago. I've visited Chicago before and have family here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/i-like-chicago-i-ve-visited-chicago-before-and-have-family-here/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [You can't say, 'You're a scorer, you score. You rebound, you rebound.' Basketball is more than that. Basketball is knowing the next step, knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/you-can-t-say-you-re-a-scorer-you-score-you-rebound-you-rebound/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I'm in New York every two weeks. I don't have to ring a bell when I come to the city. I just do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/i-m-in-new-york-every-two-weeks-i-don-t-have-to-ring-a-bell-when-i/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [Coming from the inner city of Cleveland and growing up you never expected a street to be named after you or anything. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/coming-from-the-inner-city-of-cleveland-and-growing-up-you-never/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I shoot five or six times, go out and play defense and make sure everything is clicking. I'm like a transmission in a car.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/i-shoot-five-or-six-times-go-out-and-play-defense-and-make-sure/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) [Explore all 81 Charles Oakley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some guys get by on natural athletic ability. 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