--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like when I was growing up, when I was in…" description: "\"Like when I was growing up, when I was in the league the first three years, and I watched playoff basketball, there was barely any calls called. They l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/dillon-brooks-6667_basketball_like-when-i-was-growing-up-when-i-was-in_1128286.jpg" --- # Like when I was growing up, when I was in the league the… ![“Like when I was growing up, when I was in the league the first three years, and I watched playoff basketball, there was barely any calls called. They let the players play, figure it out.” quote by Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/dillon-brooks-6667_basketball_like-when-i-was-growing-up-when-i-was-in_1128286.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/dillon-brooks-6667_basketball_like-when-i-was-growing-up-when-i-was-in_1128286.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/dillon-brooks-6667_basketball_like-when-i-was-growing-up-when-i-was-in_1128286.jpg) > “Like when I was growing up, when I was in the league the first three years, and I watched playoff basketball, there was barely any calls called. They let the players play, figure it out.” [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on a time when referees allowed games to flow with minimal interference, emphasizing player autonomy. **In simple terms:** Few calls let players manage the game themselves. Key Takeaway Value player decision‑making on the court. Themes sportsmanship autonomy game flow referee role player responsibility Mood reflective nostalgic critical Type sports personal experience When to use this quote - basketball games - youth leagues - coaching strategies Key Concepts self‑regulation competitive integrity sports culture Questions to Reflect On - Should referees intervene less often? - How does player autonomy affect game quality? A Different Perspective Modern officiating may over‑regulate play. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [When it comes down to playoff basketball, it's attention to detail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-williams/when-it-comes-down-to-playoff-basketball-it-s-attention-to-detail/) [Lou Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-williams/) > [I am already a veteran because I've been in the league for three years and I've played big games in the Euro League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bojan-bogdanovic/i-am-already-a-veteran-because-i-ve-been-in-the-league-for-three/) [Bojan Bogdanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bojan-bogdanovic/) > [People said I would be in the league for two to three years and then I would be done. I have been blessed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/people-said-i-would-be-in-the-league-for-two-to-three-years-and-then/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [Look, playoff basketball in the NBA is the greatest thing in any sport in my opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-carlisle/look-playoff-basketball-in-the-nba-is-the-greatest-thing-in-any-sport/) [Rick Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-carlisle/) > [Who wouldn't be inspired at the end of the day? I have come from a League Two team and been out on loan in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ollie-watkins/who-wouldn-t-be-inspired-at-the-end-of-the-day-i-have-come-from-a/) [Ollie Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ollie-watkins/) > [You can be in this league for 10-15 years and not win a championship. My boy, Nelson Agholor, been in the league for three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juju-smith-schuster/you-can-be-in-this-league-for-10-15-years-and-not-win-a-championship/) [JuJu Smith-Schuster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juju-smith-schuster/) > [When LeBron came into the league, I was 9 years old. So I grew up watching him play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-antetokounmpo/when-lebron-came-into-the-league-i-was-9-years-old-so-i-grew-up/) [Giannis Antetokounmpo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-antetokounmpo/) > [Everyone in the league has a journey or a legacy, whether you're in the league for five years or you're in the league for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo-russell/everyone-in-the-league-has-a-journey-or-a-legacy-whether-you-re-in/) [D'Angelo Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo-russell/) > [When I first came into the league, my first three, four years, I had a teammate from college win a Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-johnson/when-i-first-came-into-the-league-my-first-three-four-years-i-had-a/) [Calvin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-johnson/) > [Hard fouls are a part of playoff basketball, and I think that's how basketball should be. I don't take those fouls personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/hard-fouls-are-a-part-of-playoff-basketball-and-i-think-that-s-how/) [Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/) > [Playoff basketball isn't about who scores, stats or putting numbers up on the board. It's just about winning at the end of the day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-williams/playoff-basketball-isn-t-about-who-scores-stats-or-putting-numbers-up/) [Lou Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-williams/) > [Being in the league six years, things have kind of slowed down for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/being-in-the-league-six-years-things-have-kind-of-slowed-down-for-me/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [Playoff basketball ... you've got to treat every possession like it's your last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/playoff-basketball-you-ve-got-to-treat-every-possession-like-it-s/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I just love playoff basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-george/i-just-love-playoff-basketball/) [Paul George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-george/) > [The average career in the league is three years, or a little more or less. When you start 100 games, it tells you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/the-average-career-in-the-league-is-three-years-or-a-little-more-or/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) ## More by Dillon Brooks > [I always wanted someone looking up to me and trying to understand where I'm coming from as a leader. I'm ready for that. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/i-always-wanted-someone-looking-up-to-me-and-trying-to-understand/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [The fans, they can do whatever they want. I'm just mostly focused on what's going on on the court and winning games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/the-fans-they-can-do-whatever-they-want-i-m-just-mostly-focused-on/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [You gotta be able to close out to the side, you gotta be able to know where the shooting pocket is, where he likes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/you-gotta-be-able-to-close-out-to-the-side-you-gotta-be-able-to-know/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [Utah, they love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/utah-they-love-me/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [Whenever there's like a game or competition going, I always got the juices flowing. But you know when it's just chillin-back, laid-back time, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/whenever-there-s-like-a-game-or-competition-going-i-always-got-the/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [I hope I stay here in Memphis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/i-hope-i-stay-here-in-memphis/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [I'm just trying to give my best effort, play the best I can and make winning plays. And whatever defensive assignment I have, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/i-m-just-trying-to-give-my-best-effort-play-the-best-i-can-and-make/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [I love to compete at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/i-love-to-compete-at-all-costs/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [On the defensive end, I know I've got to man the defense and just keep having positive vibes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/on-the-defensive-end-i-know-i-ve-got-to-man-the-defense-and-just-keep/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [I don't have the longest arms, I'm not the fastest guy and I'm not the strongest guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/i-don-t-have-the-longest-arms-i-m-not-the-fastest-guy-and-i-m-not-the/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [When I get going and I get started, it's just contagious, and you see guys doing just a little bit more. That's what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/when-i-get-going-and-i-get-started-it-s-just-contagious-and-you-see/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [I play physical, and I play hard, and the refs know that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/i-play-physical-and-i-play-hard-and-the-refs-know-that/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [My team needs me to play defense, score the basketball and be a leader out there on the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/my-team-needs-me-to-play-defense-score-the-basketball-and-be-a-leader/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [Ime Udoka is a great coach. And I want to be coached by a great coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/ime-udoka-is-a-great-coach-and-i-want-to-be-coached-by-a-great-coach/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [Everyone wants to hate on something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/everyone-wants-to-hate-on-something/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) [Explore all 98 Dillon Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) ## 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": "Like when I was growing up, when I was in the league the first three years, and I watched playoff basketball, there was barely any calls called. 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