--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best player I've ever played against…" description: "\"The best player I've ever played against is Kobe Bryant. I have seen him do some stuff that is just unbelievable.\" — Dirk Nowitzki" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cf/dirk-nowitzki-11188_best-players_the-best-player-i-ve-ever-played-against_1096872.png" --- # The best player I've ever played against is Kobe Bryant. I… ![“The best player I've ever played against is Kobe Bryant. I have seen him do some stuff that is just unbelievable.” quote by Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cf/dirk-nowitzki-11188_best-players_the-best-player-i-ve-ever-played-against_1096872.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cf/dirk-nowitzki-11188_best-players_the-best-player-i-ve-ever-played-against_1096872.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cf/dirk-nowitzki-11188_best-players_the-best-player-i-ve-ever-played-against_1096872.png) > “The best player I've ever played against is Kobe Bryant. I have seen him do some stuff that is just unbelievable.” [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. Kobe Bryant’s skill set was astonishing and beyond ordinary expectations. **In simple terms:** Kobe was unbelievably talented. Key Takeaway Study exceptional talent. Themes sports excellence admiration Mood admiring inspired Type personal motivational When to use this quote - coaching - player development - team dynamics Key Concepts peak performance mental toughness Questions to Reflect On - How do you set personal goals after witnessing greatness? - What lessons can be learned from extraordinary athletes? A Different Perspective Rare talent can create unrealistic benchmarks for others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-players/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [I played against Kobe a lot when I was in high school during the summers, even in college, just being that guy in L.A.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demar-derozan/i-played-against-kobe-a-lot-when-i-was-in-high-school-during-the/) [DeMar DeRozan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demar-derozan/) > [When you played Kobe, it was something different. When you went to L.A., you made sure your shoes were tied extra tight. You made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-frye/when-you-played-kobe-it-was-something-different-when-you-went-to-l-a/) [Channing Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-frye/) > [I don't think Kobe is the best player. I'm the best player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-don-t-think-kobe-is-the-best-player-i-m-the-best-player/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. His contribution as a goal threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-have-nothing-but-praise-for-the-boy-he-is-easily-the-best-player-in/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [ The best player I ever played against was Paolo Maldini. We \[Arsenal\] played against Milan in the European Supercup \[in 1995\]. Maldini marked me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merson/the-best-player-i-ever-played-against-was-paolo-maldini-we-arsenal/) [Paul Merson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merson/) > [If I would compare anybody to Michael Jordan, it would be Kobe Bryant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/if-i-would-compare-anybody-to-michael-jordan-it-would-be-kobe-bryant/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [Kobe Bryant, to me, is still the best basketball player in my mind. He played with me and he was in my era. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/kobe-bryant-to-me-is-still-the-best-basketball-player-in-my-mind-he/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I love Kobe Bryant, was a Lakers fan for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-sexton/i-love-kobe-bryant-was-a-lakers-fan-for-sure/) [Collin Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-sexton/) > [That awkward moment when you beat Kobe Bryant one-on-one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-awkward-moment-when-you-beat-kobe-bryant-one-on-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think as long as you have Kobe Bryant on your team, anything can happen in the playoffs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanie-buss/i-think-as-long-as-you-have-kobe-bryant-on-your-team-anything-can/) [Jeanie Buss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanie-buss/) > [Right now if you ask me Carmelo Anthony is GONE. He's going to L.A. to play w/Kobe Bryant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/right-now-if-you-ask-me-carmelo-anthony-is-gone-he-s-going-to-l-a-to/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [The best quality about Kobe Bryant? You want me to be honest? I don't know. I'll tell you why. I open my arms to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/the-best-quality-about-kobe-bryant-you-want-me-to-be-honest-i-don-t/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Kobe Bryant is my favorite basketball player. He takes risks. He goes for the shot. He isn't cautious with whatever he does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/kobe-bryant-is-my-favorite-basketball-player-he-takes-risks-he-goes/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [Kobe Bryant demands his teammates to be the best every night, and he's not afraid to challenge them. He's not afraid to challenge them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-williams/kobe-bryant-demands-his-teammates-to-be-the-best-every-night-and-he-s/) [Jay Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-williams/) > [If a jayvee team puts on Lakers uniforms, that doesn't make them Kobe Bryant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-a-jayvee-team-puts-on-lakers-uniforms-that-doesn-t-make-them-kobe/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## 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 Best players quotes > [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. His contribution as a goal threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-have-nothing-but-praise-for-the-boy-he-is-easily-the-best-player-in/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [Ruben Neves is by far one of the best players I've ever played with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-coady/ruben-neves-is-by-far-one-of-the-best-players-i-ve-ever-played-with/) [Conor Coady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-coady/) > [I liked starting. I liked matching up with the best of the best players who got the start. Taking on that challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-ingles/i-liked-starting-i-liked-matching-up-with-the-best-of-the-best/) [Joe Ingles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-ingles/) > [Obviously, at PSG, they have the best players in the world. Being with that group has really made me strong. I have watched the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-weah/obviously-at-psg-they-have-the-best-players-in-the-world-being-with/) [Timothy Weah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-weah/) > [To me, Messi, Neymar and Suarez are among the three best players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-silva/to-me-messi-neymar-and-suarez-are-among-the-three-best-players-in-the/) [Thiago Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-silva/) > [One thing I think you have to do here at Wisconsin is maximize your personnel. From the standpoint of getting our best players out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-bielema/one-thing-i-think-you-have-to-do-here-at-wisconsin-is-maximize-your/) [Bret Bielema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-bielema/) > [I just want to play against the best players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-hovland/i-just-want-to-play-against-the-best-players-in-the-world/) [Viktor Hovland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-hovland/) > [When you're a manager, we sometimes speak too much about tactics, but the most difficult thing for a manager is to get the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ander-herrera/when-you-re-a-manager-we-sometimes-speak-too-much-about-tactics-but/) [Ander Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ander-herrera/) > [I don't work this hard just to be the best player. I do it to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-mcpeak/i-don-t-work-this-hard-just-to-be-the-best-player-i-do-it-to-win/) Holly McPeak > [ The best player I ever played against was Paolo Maldini. We \[Arsenal\] played against Milan in the European Supercup \[in 1995\]. Maldini marked me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merson/the-best-player-i-ever-played-against-was-paolo-maldini-we-arsenal/) [Paul Merson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merson/) > [Lionel Messi is the best player ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-souness/lionel-messi-is-the-best-player-ever/) [Graeme Souness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-souness/) > [At some point, everyone who is playing, their dream is to be in the NBA, because that's where all the best players are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-calderon/at-some-point-everyone-who-is-playing-their-dream-is-to-be-in-the-nba/) [Jose Calderon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-calderon/) > [I look at some of the best players around the world and sometimes I do try and bat like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-smith/i-look-at-some-of-the-best-players-around-the-world-and-sometimes-i/) [Steve Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-smith/) > [Personally, I've always got along great with Mesut, found him extremely pleasant as a human being. He always supported me and was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-reus/personally-i-ve-always-got-along-great-with-mesut-found-him-extremely/) [Marco Reus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-reus/) [Browse all 434 Best players quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-players/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The best player I've ever played against is Kobe Bryant. 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