--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If i'm not trying my best, I might as…" description: "\"If i'm not trying my best, I might as well retire.\" — Derrick Rose" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/derrick-rose-6897_basketball_if-i-m-not-trying-my-best-i-might-as-wel_1128929.jpg" --- # If i'm not trying my best, I might as well retire. ![“If i'm not trying my best, I might as well retire.” quote by Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/derrick-rose-6897_basketball_if-i-m-not-trying-my-best-i-might-as-wel_1128929.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/derrick-rose-6897_basketball_if-i-m-not-trying-my-best-i-might-as-wel_1128929.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/derrick-rose-6897_basketball_if-i-m-not-trying-my-best-i-might-as-wel_1128929.jpg) > “If i'm not trying my best, I might as well retire.” [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If effort is absent, continuing feels pointless; commitment demands giving one's best. **In simple terms:** Give your best or quit. Key Takeaway Commit fully. Themes motivation effort career sports Mood determined serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - training - work projects - creative pursuits - personal goals Key Concepts performance psychology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What drives your best effort? - When is it okay to step back? A Different Perspective Burnout risk if always at max. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Best Retire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-retire-3091585/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Retire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retire/) [Retirement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retirement/) [Retiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retiring/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-best/) [Trying My Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-my-best/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [When I retire, I want to step away on a positive note. What you put out into the world comes back to you. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/when-i-retire-i-want-to-step-away-on-a-positive-note-what-you-put-out/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [I'd like to live off the band, but if not, I'll just retire to Mexico or Yugoslavia with a few hundred dollars, grow potatoes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/i-d-like-to-live-off-the-band-but-if-not-i-ll-just-retire-to-mexico/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [I keep going because if you stop, you stop. Why retire? Inspire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/i-keep-going-because-if-you-stop-you-stop-why-retire-inspire/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [If you are smart, you never retire. You may retire from that job you have had for many years, but you will pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-are-smart-you-never-retire-you-may-retire-from-that-job-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I don't think many people will remember me when I retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-boginskaya/i-don-t-think-many-people-will-remember-me-when-i-retire/) [Svetlana Boginskaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-boginskaya/) > [I guess I'll retire someday if I live that long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-bowden/i-guess-i-ll-retire-someday-if-i-live-that-long/) [Bobby Bowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-bowden/) > [Retirement is not a dirty word, I am just enjoying what I am doing. If they want me to retire, then stop asking me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/retirement-is-not-a-dirty-word-i-am-just-enjoying-what-i-am-doing-if/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I didn't retire, I became irrelevant - there is a big difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drew/i-didn-t-retire-i-became-irrelevant-there-is-a-big-difference/) [Kevin Drew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drew/) > [When you retire you go from Who's Who to Who's That?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wriston/when-you-retire-you-go-from-who-s-who-to-who-s-that/) [Walter Wriston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wriston/) > [My experience is, people who retire die sooner than they should have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/my-experience-is-people-who-retire-die-sooner-than-they-should-have/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [When you retire, you switch bosses - from the one who hired you to the one who married you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-perret/when-you-retire-you-switch-bosses-from-the-one-who-hired-you-to-the/) [Gene Perret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-perret/) > [Retire for what? What would I do? I made my name as a person that is helping. I'm like Moses in the music business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/retire-for-what-what-would-i-do-i-made-my-name-as-a-person-that-is/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [I don't really think about retiring. I will retire just before people start saying, 'I knew Leonard Slatkin when he conducted well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/i-don-t-really-think-about-retiring-i-will-retire-just-before-people/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [Why should I say I will retire in three or four years? You retire the very moment you utter those words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-gebrselassie/why-should-i-say-i-will-retire-in-three-or-four-years-you-retire-the/) [Haile Gebrselassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-gebrselassie/) > [A man can't retire his experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-baruch/a-man-can-t-retire-his-experience/) [Bernard Baruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-baruch/) ## More by Derrick Rose > [Memphis off to a good start vs Arizona! Let's go boys! Who you guys got in your brackets?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/memphis-off-to-a-good-start-vs-arizona-let-s-go-boys-who-you-guys-got/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [My mom is real passionate and a family-first woman. She always told me that just because I can shoot a basketball better than someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/my-mom-is-real-passionate-and-a-family-first-woman-she-always-told-me/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [Basketball is life, make goals for yourself then you can succeed! No matter what!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/basketball-is-life-make-goals-for-yourself-then-you-can-succeed-no/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [I still have goals. Seeing those doubters out there, it's gonna be funny seeing them eat their words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/i-still-have-goals-seeing-those-doubters-out-there-it-s-gonna-be/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [Skills Challenge tonight! You guys tuning in? Who you picking for the dunk contest?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/skills-challenge-tonight-you-guys-tuning-in-who-you-picking-for-the/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [Congrats to Simeon on winning another state title yesterday. Back to back!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/congrats-to-simeon-on-winning-another-state-title-yesterday-back-to/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [I never had a problem with a coach in my life, no matter what team I've been in on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/i-never-had-a-problem-with-a-coach-in-my-life-no-matter-what-team-i/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [ I would say I'm more patient, way more patient than I was when I came in \[to the league\], before the injuries. But I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/i-would-say-i-m-more-patient-way-more-patient-than-i-was-when-i-came/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [Celtics coming into our house tomorrow… Y'all gonna get loud for us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/celtics-coming-into-our-house-tomorrow-y-all-gonna-get-loud-for-us/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [My whole life has been nothing but trying to find a way to take care of my mom and take care of my family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/my-whole-life-has-been-nothing-but-trying-to-find-a-way-to-take-care/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [McDonald's is over with. But chips and candy and stuff, it's going to be hard to get away from that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/mcdonald-s-is-over-with-but-chips-and-candy-and-stuff-it-s-going-to/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [All I can do is just go in there and tighten up my game, tighten up my handles. Just all the little basic things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/all-i-can-do-is-just-go-in-there-and-tighten-up-my-game-tighten-up-my/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [I have a lot more confidence this year than any other year I played in the league. I put in so much work this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/i-have-a-lot-more-confidence-this-year-than-any-other-year-i-played/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [I put that on myself with not telling the Knicks. It was just bad timing but I'm not perfect, far from it. The front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/i-put-that-on-myself-with-not-telling-the-knicks-it-was-just-bad/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [Whatever your goal is: dedicate yourself to it and it's going to be a lot of sacrifice, but if you love what you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/whatever-your-goal-is-dedicate-yourself-to-it-and-it-s-going-to-be-a/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) [Explore all 96 Derrick Rose quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) ## 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": "If i'm not trying my best, I might as well retire.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Derrick Rose" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/if-i-m-not-trying-my-best-i-might-as-well-retire/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/if-i-m-not-trying-my-best-i-might-as-well-retire/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/derrick-rose-6897_basketball_if-i-m-not-trying-my-best-i-might-as-wel_1128929.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/derrick-rose-6897_basketball_if-i-m-not-trying-my-best-i-might-as-wel_1128929.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/derrick-rose-6897_basketball_if-i-m-not-trying-my-best-i-might-as-wel_1128929.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If i'm not trying my best, I might as well retire.” — Derrick Rose", "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": "Derrick Rose", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If i'm not trying my best,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/if-i-m-not-trying-my-best-i-might-as-well-retire/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/if-i-m-not-trying-my-best-i-might-as-well-retire/#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 } } ] } ```