--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I may not be the most physically tough…" description: "\"I may not be the most physically tough player, but I think mentally I'm right up there.\" — Dirk Nowitzki" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b8/dirk-nowitzki-11188_football_i-may-not-be-the-most-physically-tough-p_2296993.png" --- # I may not be the most physically tough player, but I think… ![“I may not be the most physically tough player, but I think mentally I'm right up there.” quote by Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b8/dirk-nowitzki-11188_football_i-may-not-be-the-most-physically-tough-p_2296993.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b8/dirk-nowitzki-11188_football_i-may-not-be-the-most-physically-tough-p_2296993.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b8/dirk-nowitzki-11188_football_i-may-not-be-the-most-physically-tough-p_2296993.png) > “I may not be the most physically tough player, but I think mentally I'm right up there.” [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mental resilience can compensate for physical limitations in competitive sports. **In simple terms:** Mindset matters more than muscle. Key Takeaway Cultivate mental toughness. Themes sports mental strength confidence perseverance Mood determined confident Type sports inspirational When to use this quote - basketball - team sports - high‑pressure games - training regimens Key Concepts psychology performance optimization Questions to Reflect On - How do you train mental toughness? - Can mental strength outweigh physical deficits? 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Mentally, physically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-may-treanor/i-m-stronger-than-i-think-i-am-mentally-physically/) [Misty May-Treanor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-may-treanor/) > [We work at being mentally and physically tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tucker/we-work-at-being-mentally-and-physically-tough/) [Justin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tucker/) > [People have no idea how physically tough doing a film is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/people-have-no-idea-how-physically-tough-doing-a-film-is/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) > [If I stay mentally right during a game, then I feel like I can be up there with the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/if-i-stay-mentally-right-during-a-game-then-i-feel-like-i-can-be-up/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [It is important to know for yourself if you're mentally right; if you're ready, nobody can stop you. That is the thing that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/it-is-important-to-know-for-yourself-if-you-re-mentally-right-if-you/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [I have to be mentally right every time I take the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-have-to-be-mentally-right-every-time-i-take-the-floor/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [The trouble is that people are all too ready to jump to conclusions about anybody who they think looks a bit strange. They think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-burns/the-trouble-is-that-people-are-all-too-ready-to-jump-to-conclusions/) [Pete Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-burns/) > [Think mentally and work physically -mehak quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehak-sethi/think-mentally-and-work-physically-mehak-quotes/) [Mehak Sethi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehak-sethi/) > [All true competitors in any field and walk of life take adversity and are strengthened from it. They develop a reputation of determination and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-jensen/all-true-competitors-in-any-field-and-walk-of-life-take-adversity-and/) [Luke Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-jensen/) > [There are tough players and nice guys, and I'm a tough player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-fischer/there-are-tough-players-and-nice-guys-and-i-m-a-tough-player/) [Bobby Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-fischer/) > [I think I'm a really tough player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-wozniacki/i-think-i-m-a-really-tough-player/) [Caroline Wozniacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-wozniacki/) > [Radwanska is a tough player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peng-shuai/radwanska-is-a-tough-player/) [Peng Shuai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peng-shuai/) > [I was a tough player, but I wasn't the most talented player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mcdermott/i-was-a-tough-player-but-i-wasn-t-the-most-talented-player/) [Sean McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mcdermott/) > [Once you score big runs at the start of your international career, you get really confident because that is one part which is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shikhar-dhawan/once-you-score-big-runs-at-the-start-of-your-international-career-you/) [Shikhar Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shikhar-dhawan/) ## More by Dirk Nowitzki > [It's fun being around guys that want to work, that want to learn, that want to get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/it-s-fun-being-around-guys-that-want-to-work-that-want-to-learn-that/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [I want to see myself as a student. Keep learning, keep improving, keep your eyes and ears open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-want-to-see-myself-as-a-student-keep-learning-keep-improving-keep/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [I was never a great screen and roller, obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-was-never-a-great-screen-and-roller-obviously/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [I take my sport damned seriously. Basketball is my life. There are other people who go into important games as if they were any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-take-my-sport-damned-seriously-basketball-is-my-life-there-are/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [As a newcomer, I was often expected to carry the bags of the older players, or get them burgers. That can make you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/as-a-newcomer-i-was-often-expected-to-carry-the-bags-of-the-older/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [You know what time it is mav nation. Let's do this. Big game at aac. We bleed blue. See u guys there tonight. Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/you-know-what-time-it-is-mav-nation-let-s-do-this-big-game-at-aac-we/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [I felt, when I was 20, I wasn't quite ready for the physical contact of 82 games. Mentally, it was tough. I forgot what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-felt-when-i-was-20-i-wasn-t-quite-ready-for-the-physical-contact-of/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [I started to play the guitar for a couple of years, which was fun. I still bring it out once in a while, could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-started-to-play-the-guitar-for-a-couple-of-years-which-was-fun-i/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [As a star you never know when people are really serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/as-a-star-you-never-know-when-people-are-really-serious/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [I think different guys have different priorities. For me, it was always important to be in one spot, one city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-think-different-guys-have-different-priorities-for-me-it-was-always/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [I lost control of myself a couple times in the playoffs. I have to keep cooler in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-lost-control-of-myself-a-couple-times-in-the-playoffs-i-have-to/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [Dirk nowitzki is the key to everything in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/dirk-nowitzki-is-the-key-to-everything-in-life/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [The only advice I would give young guys is to keep your ears and eyes open. Never see yourself as a finished product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/the-only-advice-i-would-give-young-guys-is-to-keep-your-ears-and-eyes/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [My whole first season was surreal. My first game was against Detlef Schrempf. There was German media everywhere. It was probably my worst NBA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/my-whole-first-season-was-surreal-my-first-game-was-against-detlef/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [When I think about my MVP season, I will also think about the loss to Golden State. But winning the award as Most Valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/when-i-think-about-my-mvp-season-i-will-also-think-about-the-loss-to/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) [Explore all 61 Dirk Nowitzki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) [Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I may not be the most physically tough player, but I think mentally I'm right up there.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dirk Nowitzki" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-may-not-be-the-most-physically-tough-player-but-i-think-mentally-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-may-not-be-the-most-physically-tough-player-but-i-think-mentally-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b8/dirk-nowitzki-11188_football_i-may-not-be-the-most-physically-tough-p_2296993.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b8/dirk-nowitzki-11188_football_i-may-not-be-the-most-physically-tough-p_2296993.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b8/dirk-nowitzki-11188_football_i-may-not-be-the-most-physically-tough-p_2296993.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I may not be the most physically tough player, but I think mentally I'm right up there.” — Dirk Nowitzki", "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": "Dirk Nowitzki", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I may not be the most...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-may-not-be-the-most-physically-tough-player-but-i-think-mentally-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-may-not-be-the-most-physically-tough-player-but-i-think-mentally-i/#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 } } ] } ```