--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's tough at first. You realize in the…" description: "\"It's tough at first. You realize in the NBA, it's not easy. Each and every night, you're playing against that player that was the best high school play..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/devin-booker-12388_best_it-s-tough-at-first-you-realize-in-the-n_2752866.jpg" --- # It's tough at first. You realize in the NBA, it's not… ![“It's tough at first. You realize in the NBA, it's not easy. Each and every night, you're playing against that player that was the best high school player, that player that was the best player on his college team.” quote by Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/devin-booker-12388_best_it-s-tough-at-first-you-realize-in-the-n_2752866.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/devin-booker-12388_best_it-s-tough-at-first-you-realize-in-the-n_2752866.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/devin-booker-12388_best_it-s-tough-at-first-you-realize-in-the-n_2752866.jpg) > “It's tough at first. You realize in the NBA, it's not easy. Each and every night, you're playing against that player that was the best high school player, that player that was the best player on his college team.” [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. NBA players face relentless competition, realizing that elite talent is everywhere and the challenge is constant. **In simple terms:** Competing at the top is always tough. Key Takeaway Embrace the grind. Themes competition hard work perseverance Mood determined focused Type motivational practical When to use this quote - professional sports - career development - skill mastery - team dynamics Key Concepts sports psychology performance Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay motivated against top talent? - What routines help you improve daily? A Different Perspective Burnout risk is high. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Every night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-night/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Nba Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba-easy-987975/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Player Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player-player-249267/) [Playing Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-player-1859301/) [Realize Nba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realize-nba-1479284/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough/) ## Related quotes > [If you are not playing a player, any player, for two, three, four games, then you don't have to give a reason for that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/if-you-are-not-playing-a-player-any-player-for-two-three-four-games/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [Coaching in the NBA is not easy. It's like a nervous breakdown with a paycheck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-williams/coaching-in-the-nba-is-not-easy-it-s-like-a-nervous-breakdown-with-a/) [Pat Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-williams/) > [It took me a while to realize I'm an NBA player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-howard/it-took-me-a-while-to-realize-i-m-an-nba-player/) [Josh Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-howard/) > [Even when we're not playing, when they see a player in the street or in a restaurant, they want to show their love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-osimhen/even-when-we-re-not-playing-when-they-see-a-player-in-the-street-or/) [Victor Osimhen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-osimhen/) > [People don't realize that everyone in the NBA is really good. The difference is having a coach that believes in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/people-don-t-realize-that-everyone-in-the-nba-is-really-good-the/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [Love is a game . Love is a dream you wish upon. Players are the game they say they change once a player always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-lynn-pippin/love-is-a-game-love-is-a-dream-you-wish-upon-players-are-the-game/) [Cheyenne Lynn Pippin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-lynn-pippin/) > [Once A Player Always A Player .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-lopez/once-a-player-always-a-player/) [Kim Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-lopez/) > [“You cannot sculpt a piece into a Player. A Player must mold himself out of fortitude and conviction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-mcphail/you-cannot-sculpt-a-piece-into-a-player-a-player-must-mold-himself/) [Melissa McPhail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-mcphail/) > [A lot of people, when a guy scores a lot of goals, think, 'He's a great player', because a goal is very important, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/a-lot-of-people-when-a-guy-scores-a-lot-of-goals-think-he-s-a-great/) [Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) > [As far as being a 'player's player,' you've only got to go to Nashville or Argentina and you can forget about it. The world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-knopfler/as-far-as-being-a-player-s-player-you-ve-only-got-to-go-to-nashville/) [Mark Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-knopfler/) > [It's not the name that makes the player. It's the player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-bonds/it-s-not-the-name-that-makes-the-player-it-s-the-player/) [Barry Bonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-bonds/) > [Bernard is a great player, a player for the Brazilian national team, and I also followed his progress with Atletico Mineiro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richarlison/bernard-is-a-great-player-a-player-for-the-brazilian-national-team/) [Richarlison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richarlison/) > [When Cristiano Ronaldo gets the ball, you can just leave him to it while he beats player after player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-giggs/when-cristiano-ronaldo-gets-the-ball-you-can-just-leave-him-to-it/) [Ryan Giggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-giggs/) > [You learn something new from every player. No player is the same, so I'm definitely trying to pick up as much as I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cole/you-learn-something-new-from-every-player-no-player-is-the-same-so-i/) [Justin Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cole/) > [I don't want to get into who's the No. 1 player. The player who is the most electrifying to me is Cole Anthony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-williams/i-don-t-want-to-get-into-who-s-the-no-1-player-the-player-who-is-the/) [Jay Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-williams/) ## 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. But some people, if it doesn't work out, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/some-people-are-born-and-train-their-whole-life-to-be-an-nba-player/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/it-s-hard-because-throughout-your-whole-career-you-re-known-as-the/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) [Explore all 55 Devin Booker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) ## More Best quotes > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... 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When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's tough at first. You realize in the NBA, it's not easy. 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