--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's hard because, throughout your whole…" description: "\"It's hard because, throughout your whole career, you're known as the top player, the best on your team, you're playing the most minutes, and then you m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/devin-booker-12388_best_it-s-hard-because-throughout-your-whole_914077.jpg" --- # It's hard because, throughout your whole career, you're… ![“It's hard because, throughout your whole career, you're known as the top player, the best on your team, you're playing the most minutes, and then you might not get in the game. You don't know when you're going to get in the game.” quote by Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/devin-booker-12388_best_it-s-hard-because-throughout-your-whole_914077.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/devin-booker-12388_best_it-s-hard-because-throughout-your-whole_914077.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/devin-booker-12388_best_it-s-hard-because-throughout-your-whole_914077.jpg) > “It's hard because, throughout your whole career, you're known as the top player, the best on your team, you're playing the most minutes, and then you might not get in the game. You don't know when you're going to get in the game.” [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A top athlete may face unexpected reduced playing time, causing uncertainty and identity challenges. **In simple terms:** Even stars can be benched unexpectedly. Key Takeaway Adapt and stay ready for opportunities. Themes identity uncertainty performance resilience Mood anxious determined Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - team meetings - personal training - mental preparation - career planning Key Concepts career dynamics role fluidity psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain confidence when sidelined? - What strategies keep you prepared for sudden play? A Different Perspective Being a star doesn't guarantee playing time; external factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [The only thing I pay attention to with free throws is what a guy does in the final four minutes of a game. 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You know the ball's going to be in your hand a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-millsap/you-ve-got-to-be-more-focused-especially-starting-and-playing-more/) [Paul Millsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-millsap/) > [You do what you can to help your team win, whether it's playing that many minutes or 24 or whatever is asked of you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pronger/you-do-what-you-can-to-help-your-team-win-whether-it-s-playing-that/) [Chris Pronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pronger/) > [As long as I'm on the court, playing minutes, I'm going to impact the game someway - if that's defensively or offensively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-clarkson/as-long-as-i-m-on-the-court-playing-minutes-i-m-going-to-impact-the/) [Jordan Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-clarkson/) > [I think there's always enough right in front of me worrying about who's playing the minutes tomorrow, but you've always got to have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nurse/i-think-there-s-always-enough-right-in-front-of-me-worrying-about-who/) [Nick Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nurse/) > [I might only get 20 minutes in the game, and I can't go in there and expect to show myself. You have to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jozy-altidore/i-might-only-get-20-minutes-in-the-game-and-i-can-t-go-in-there-and/) [Jozy Altidore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jozy-altidore/) > [I like to listen to music during the minutes before the game; I don't feel very chatty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deco/i-like-to-listen-to-music-during-the-minutes-before-the-game-i-don-t/) [Deco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deco/) > [It's 45 minutes after the game right now and I still don't want to take this jersey off. That's because I know that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-o-driscoll/it-s-45-minutes-after-the-game-right-now-and-i-still-don-t-want-to/) [Brian O'Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-o-driscoll/) > [When you play 40 minutes a game, you're going to average a lot of rebounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/when-you-play-40-minutes-a-game-you-re-going-to-average-a-lot-of/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [In football, the only game I know is the 90-minutes game. It's not mind games; I don't try to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/in-football-the-only-game-i-know-is-the-90-minutes-game-it-s-not-mind/) [Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/) > [If I can't play 30 to 35 minutes a game, every game, and contribute, then it's time to leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-havlicek/if-i-can-t-play-30-to-35-minutes-a-game-every-game-and-contribute/) [John Havlicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-havlicek/) > [The truth is I would always like to play 90 minutes, do it in every game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-jimenez/the-truth-is-i-would-always-like-to-play-90-minutes-do-it-in-every/) [Raul Jimenez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-jimenez/) > [I tell the players that they can't relive any day in their lives and that they can't relive the minutes of a game, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-mcguire/i-tell-the-players-that-they-can-t-relive-any-day-in-their-lives-and/) [Al McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-mcguire/) ## More by Devin Booker > [I'm not the strongest, I'm not the fastest, I can't jump the highest, so for me, it's doing it in other ways: changing paces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/i-m-not-the-strongest-i-m-not-the-fastest-i-can-t-jump-the-highest-so/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [A lot of people in my class were one to two years older than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/a-lot-of-people-in-my-class-were-one-to-two-years-older-than-me/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [I like to think of myself as somebody who heals fast and can play through pain, but I'm not going to rush it at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/i-like-to-think-of-myself-as-somebody-who-heals-fast-and-can-play/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [I like players that play off IQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/i-like-players-that-play-off-iq/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [I always try to outsmart my defender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/i-always-try-to-outsmart-my-defender/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [For me, I grew up watching really good Detroit Pistons teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/for-me-i-grew-up-watching-really-good-detroit-pistons-teams/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [If you're not my coach, I don't know you. Don't say anything to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/if-you-re-not-my-coach-i-don-t-know-you-don-t-say-anything-to-me/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [That's something I pride myself on, playing every single game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/that-s-something-i-pride-myself-on-playing-every-single-game/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [It was a culture shock at first, moving from Michigan to Mississippi. But it ended up being the best decision I ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/it-was-a-culture-shock-at-first-moving-from-michigan-to-mississippi/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [I don't want to rely on one thing. Being good at everything, that's how you earn your spot on the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/i-don-t-want-to-rely-on-one-thing-being-good-at-everything-that-s-how/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [I'd say I'm the best 19-year-old ever, and I still feel that way at 21.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/i-d-say-i-m-the-best-19-year-old-ever-and-i-still-feel-that-way-at-21/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [Even when I wasn't a shooter, when I was younger, I used to watch Rip Hamilton. He was one of my favorite players with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/even-when-i-wasn-t-a-shooter-when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-watch-rip/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [I seen an interview with Kobe; he said what separated him from a lot of people was everyone thought 30 points was a lot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/i-seen-an-interview-with-kobe-he-said-what-separated-him-from-a-lot/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [Some people are born and train their whole life to be an NBA player. 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A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [Life is where you love people and use things not use people and love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/life-is-where-you-love-people-and-use-things-not-use-people-and-love/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/) Gene Scott > [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/) [Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/) > [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/) [Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/) > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) Browse all 21,674 Best quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's hard because, throughout your whole career, you're known as the top player, the best on your team, you're playing the most minutes, and then you might not get in the game. 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