--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I understand that my success isn't about…" description: "\"I understand that my success isn't about championships - it's about bringing together people who were once, and in some ways still are, divided. It's b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/dawn-staley-4962_basketball_i-understand-that-my-success-isn-t-about_941902.png" --- # I understand that my success isn't about championships… ![“I understand that my success isn't about championships - it's about bringing together people who were once, and in some ways still are, divided. It's bigger than basketball.” quote by Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/dawn-staley-4962_basketball_i-understand-that-my-success-isn-t-about_941902.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/dawn-staley-4962_basketball_i-understand-that-my-success-isn-t-about_941902.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/dawn-staley-4962_basketball_i-understand-that-my-success-isn-t-about_941902.png) > “I understand that my success isn't about championships - it's about bringing together people who were once, and in some ways still are, divided. It's bigger than basketball.” [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True success lies in uniting divided people, transcending sport achievements. **In simple terms:** Success is about uniting people, not just winning. Key Takeaway Focus on building inclusive unity. Themes teamwork unity leadership social impact Mood inspirational hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - Sports team building - community projects - social activism - organizational culture Key Concepts Collective identity shared purpose Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to bridge divides? - How do you measure impact beyond trophies? A Different Perspective Unity can be challenged by deep-seated divisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [It's always bigger than basketball. This game can change a life. You see the smile on the kid's face - it literally can change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-aaron-fox/it-s-always-bigger-than-basketball-this-game-can-change-a-life-you/) [De'Aaron Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/de-aaron-fox/) > [My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn't realize that four years ago. I do now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/my-relationship-with-northeast-ohio-is-bigger-than-basketball-i-didn/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. Its where I walked. Its where I ran.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebeon-james/before-anyone-ever-cared-where-i-would-play-basketball-i-was-a-kid/) LeBeon James > [You tell your players all the time: 'Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.' I think I'm in a position where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/you-tell-your-players-all-the-time-be-part-of-the-solution-not-part/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [I just think some things are bigger than basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-just-think-some-things-are-bigger-than-basketball/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [I play for something bigger than basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pascal-siakam/i-play-for-something-bigger-than-basketball/) [Pascal Siakam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pascal-siakam/) > [In terms of the grand scheme of life, life is so much bigger than basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-plum/in-terms-of-the-grand-scheme-of-life-life-is-so-much-bigger-than/) [Kelsey Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-plum/) > [Basketball has given me everything, but it has to be bigger than basketball. That was the first thing that I said to Under Armour,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-embiid/basketball-has-given-me-everything-but-it-has-to-be-bigger-than/) [Joel Embiid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-embiid/) > [The NBA is getting bigger. Basketball is getting better around the world. There are more players. There are better coaches around it, so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-calderon/the-nba-is-getting-bigger-basketball-is-getting-better-around-the/) [Jose Calderon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-calderon/) > [My life is bigger than basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwyane-wade/my-life-is-bigger-than-basketball/) [Dwyane Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwyane-wade/) > [Things are bigger than basketball. The Spurs are great at helping you know that you're not just at the gym every day to throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-mills/things-are-bigger-than-basketball-the-spurs-are-great-at-helping-you/) [Patty Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-mills/) > [I would like to have a few more championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-would-like-to-have-a-few-more-championships/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [Rebounding wins championships, you need to emphasize it and work with kids on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/rebounding-wins-championships-you-need-to-emphasize-it-and-work-with/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [In the state of Kentucky, all they know is Kentucky basketball. It's the same thing in L.A. They love the Lakers and they expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-randle/in-the-state-of-kentucky-all-they-know-is-kentucky-basketball-it-s/) [Julius Randle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-randle/) > [My success isn't a result of arrogance - it's a result of belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/my-success-isn-t-a-result-of-arrogance-it-s-a-result-of-belief/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) ## More by Dawn Staley > [I'm not the one to back down and I don't give up, and believe me, I'm not perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-m-not-the-one-to-back-down-and-i-don-t-give-up-and-believe-me-i-m/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [Aside from their talent, a prerequisite of us actually recruiting a young lady is their relationship with their parents because if they respect their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/aside-from-their-talent-a-prerequisite-of-us-actually-recruiting-a/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [When I was growing up in the projects in Philadelphia in the 1970s and 80s, Cadillac was the car to have. But I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/when-i-was-growing-up-in-the-projects-in-philadelphia-in-the-1970s/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [I like the challenge of getting players to rise to certain levels, but that's the easy part. The biggest challenge is to get them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-like-the-challenge-of-getting-players-to-rise-to-certain-levels-but/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [I don't coach to win awards, I really don't. I'm very, very satisfied with just being there for my players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-don-t-coach-to-win-awards-i-really-don-t-i-m-very-very-satisfied/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [I grew up in the projects in North Philly. And when you grow up in the projects in North Philly, no one thinks you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-grew-up-in-the-projects-in-north-philly-and-when-you-grow-up-in-the/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [I'm not one that really has a huge social life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-m-not-one-that-really-has-a-huge-social-life/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [A lot of people notice when you succeed, but they don't see what it takes to get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/a-lot-of-people-notice-when-you-succeed-but-they-don-t-see-what-it/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [I think I'm very consistent with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-think-i-m-very-consistent-with-who-i-am/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [I grew up in a disciplined household, and I have never been afraid of working hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-grew-up-in-a-disciplined-household-and-i-have-never-been-afraid-of/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [If there were ever a secret to being a great coach, that's it: the connection. I need to have a personal relationship with each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/if-there-were-ever-a-secret-to-being-a-great-coach-that-s-it-the/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [It's my nature just to teach, help and simplify basketball, that's my mentality. To not make the game so hard. It's really an easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/it-s-my-nature-just-to-teach-help-and-simplify-basketball-that-s-my/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [Some of my earliest lessons in perseverance were being turned away from the basketball court by the guys in the neighborhood when all I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/some-of-my-earliest-lessons-in-perseverance-were-being-turned-away/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [It's not often you see great players just improve year after year after year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/it-s-not-often-you-see-great-players-just-improve-year-after-year/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [Coaching - teaching the game - came relatively easy. I connected extremely well with the players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/coaching-teaching-the-game-came-relatively-easy-i-connected-extremely/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) [Explore all 104 Dawn Staley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) ## 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": "I understand that my success isn't about championships - it's about bringing together people who were once, and in some ways still are, divided. 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