--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's one thing to make it to the NBA…" description: "\"It's one thing to make it to the NBA. It's one thing to make the playoffs your first year. It's one thing to make the playoffs your second year. But if..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/donovan-mitchell-6469_continue_it-s-one-thing-to-make-it-to-the-nba-it_2034758.jpg" --- # It's one thing to make it to the NBA. It's one thing to… ![“It's one thing to make it to the NBA. It's one thing to make the playoffs your first year. It's one thing to make the playoffs your second year. But if you want to be great, you've got to continue to work.” quote by Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/donovan-mitchell-6469_continue_it-s-one-thing-to-make-it-to-the-nba-it_2034758.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/donovan-mitchell-6469_continue_it-s-one-thing-to-make-it-to-the-nba-it_2034758.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/donovan-mitchell-6469_continue_it-s-one-thing-to-make-it-to-the-nba-it_2034758.jpg) > “It's one thing to make it to the NBA. It's one thing to make the playoffs your first year. It's one thing to make the playoffs your second year. But if you want to be great, you've got to continue to work.” [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Initial success is common, but sustained greatness requires continuous effort and improvement. **In simple terms:** Greatness needs ongoing work. Key Takeaway Keep working to stay great. Themes perseverance growth excellence Mood determined focused Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career longevity - skill development - training routines Key Concepts continuous improvement sports psychology Questions to Reflect On - What habits keep you improving? - How do you handle setbacks? A Different Perspective May overlook the role of talent and opportunity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [NBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba/) [Playoffs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playoffs/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I don't just want to make the playoffs or get to the first or second round. When I compete or make it to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajon-rondo/i-don-t-just-want-to-make-the-playoffs-or-get-to-the-first-or-second/) [Rajon Rondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajon-rondo/) > [Every year is a new year, and when you look at the turnover year to year, teams that made the playoffs last year aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-mcdavid/every-year-is-a-new-year-and-when-you-look-at-the-turnover-year-to/) [Connor McDavid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-mcdavid/) > [If I continue to just get to the playoffs every year, I guess you could say I arrived, but right now I'm just trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/if-i-continue-to-just-get-to-the-playoffs-every-year-i-guess-you/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [I understand when you have great players on losing teams who are tired of losing, struggling in the playoffs every year. You're the lone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-understand-when-you-have-great-players-on-losing-teams-who-are/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I want to be in the playoffs every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/i-want-to-be-in-the-playoffs-every-year/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [I went to Golden State and helped them get to the playoffs my first year there, and they haven't been to the playoffs in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/i-went-to-golden-state-and-helped-them-get-to-the-playoffs-my-first/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [You know, we were going through the playoffs every year with the Braves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/you-know-we-were-going-through-the-playoffs-every-year-with-the-braves/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [When I got into the NBA, the thing of it was, if you won, you got a new arena. But if you lost, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/when-i-got-into-the-nba-the-thing-of-it-was-if-you-won-you-got-a-new/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [When you watch the old NBA, one thing is for sure, you will see more fights, a little more talking, bigger guys, bigger bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/when-you-watch-the-old-nba-one-thing-is-for-sure-you-will-see-more/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [What I've learned so far from researching is that to win the Stanley Cup, you have to make the playoffs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-leonsis/what-i-ve-learned-so-far-from-researching-is-that-to-win-the-stanley/) [Ted Leonsis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-leonsis/) > [I don't pay attention to accolades or any of that stuff because I think it can serve as a distraction, so for me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/i-don-t-pay-attention-to-accolades-or-any-of-that-stuff-because-i/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [No matter how noble and special people want to make the playoffs out to be... it's a crapshoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orel-hershiser/no-matter-how-noble-and-special-people-want-to-make-the-playoffs-out/) [Orel Hershiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orel-hershiser/) > [I'm going to make the playoffs. You can believe that. To never play in the playoffs, that will not be my legacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladainian-tomlinson/i-m-going-to-make-the-playoffs-you-can-believe-that-to-never-play-in/) [LaDainian Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladainian-tomlinson/) > [Well, of course you question it, especially when you get to this point. I always look at it would I rather not make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/well-of-course-you-question-it-especially-when-you-get-to-this-point/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [One of the things I learned playing on a good team is when the team wins, when you make the playoffs, everybody looks good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/one-of-the-things-i-learned-playing-on-a-good-team-is-when-the-team/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) ## More by Donovan Mitchell > [My teammates and I have so much faith in each other on the court while we're out there trying to win games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/my-teammates-and-i-have-so-much-faith-in-each-other-on-the-court/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [I'm a very, very impatient person when it comes to breaking news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/i-m-a-very-very-impatient-person-when-it-comes-to-breaking-news/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [You know, it's a long season and hopefully a long career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/you-know-it-s-a-long-season-and-hopefully-a-long-career/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [I'm from New York. You walk by, you bump somebody and they give you a look. There's always an attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/i-m-from-new-york-you-walk-by-you-bump-somebody-and-they-give-you-a/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [It's not always going to be perfect but to have your teammates have your back through the ups and downs, it means the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/it-s-not-always-going-to-be-perfect-but-to-have-your-teammates-have/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [I'm the type of person that if I put it off, I'll forget about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/i-m-the-type-of-person-that-if-i-put-it-off-i-ll-forget-about-it/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [I was a good athlete, a good baseball player. A great baseball player, I should say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/i-was-a-good-athlete-a-good-baseball-player-a-great-baseball-player-i/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [What's special about Salt Lake, it's a small, tight-knit, close community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/what-s-special-about-salt-lake-it-s-a-small-tight-knit-close-community/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [I go by the 80-20 rule. So, 80 percent of the time, I'm eating healthy and focused on the right foods - fruits, vegetables,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/i-go-by-the-80-20-rule-so-80-percent-of-the-time-i-m-eating-healthy/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [For me to get better, I have to pick and learn from the best. It starts with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/for-me-to-get-better-i-have-to-pick-and-learn-from-the-best-it-starts/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [When I was a kid, my favorite event was the Slam Dunk Contest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/when-i-was-a-kid-my-favorite-event-was-the-slam-dunk-contest/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [I'm able to defend. A lot of guys don't have that willingness to defend and I think as a guard who's undersized - that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/i-m-able-to-defend-a-lot-of-guys-don-t-have-that-willingness-to/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [I feel the need to really get after a guy defensively and showing that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/i-feel-the-need-to-really-get-after-a-guy-defensively-and-showing-that/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [The biggest thing I've been working on his just finding the open man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/the-biggest-thing-i-ve-been-working-on-his-just-finding-the-open-man/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [I have so many special memories from the camps I went to when I was growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/i-have-so-many-special-memories-from-the-camps-i-went-to-when-i-was/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) [Explore all 99 Donovan Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) ## More Continue quotes > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [I'm very proud of some of the stories I've been given thanks to the team at 'Emmerdale,' they've been great over the years so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-fletcher/i-m-very-proud-of-some-of-the-stories-i-ve-been-given-thanks-to-the/) [Kelvin Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-fletcher/) > [Sometimes, when full and in fear that I will continue to eat unwanted food just because it's staring at me, I will place my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-nichols/sometimes-when-full-and-in-fear-that-i-will-continue-to-eat-unwanted/) [Rachel Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-nichols/) > [Trends that can't continue, won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-stein/trends-that-can-t-continue-won-t/) [Herbert Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-stein/) > [Though my grandmother had picked up modern ideas in America, she still had some conflicting 19th-century Irish notions. She believed that daughters, educated though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-mahoney/though-my-grandmother-had-picked-up-modern-ideas-in-america-she-still/) [Rosemary Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-mahoney/) > [“...continue on the right path. You have potential...Don't give up. Don't let yourself get down and quit studying or fighting for what you want.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabela-pamelli-martins/continue-on-the-right-path-you-have-potential-don-t-give-up-don-t-let/) Isabela Pamelli Martins > [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [Push yourself every single day to continue to work at yourself. And I feel like that's the reason why I made it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-scherzer/push-yourself-every-single-day-to-continue-to-work-at-yourself-and-i/) [Max Scherzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-scherzer/) > [Throughout my journey, my mother has been my biggest inspiration and will continue to be in my future endeavours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harnaaz-sandhu/throughout-my-journey-my-mother-has-been-my-biggest-inspiration-and/) [Harnaaz Sandhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harnaaz-sandhu/) > [I've had a long career and I want to continue to have a long career. The way to do that is not to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-ve-had-a-long-career-and-i-want-to-continue-to-have-a-long-career/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [I'll just continue doing what I'm doing until I'm told otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-page/i-ll-just-continue-doing-what-i-m-doing-until-i-m-told-otherwise/) [Rob Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-page/) > [“Continue with whatever it is that you have been doing, except for attachment-abhorrence. If ‘we’ stay in our state of Pure Soul, attachment-abhorrence will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/continue-with-whatever-it-is-that-you-have-been-doing-except-for/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Financial independence could be one of the factors, but most 65 plus artistes in our industry wish to continue working for the passion they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashok-saraf/financial-independence-could-be-one-of-the-factors-but-most-65-plus/) [Ashok Saraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashok-saraf/) > [“This is how they are able to continue and endure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/this-is-how-they-are-able-to-continue-and-endure/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [Because you continue to inhabit and believe your metaphors, you cannot see what is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/because-you-continue-to-inhabit-and-believe-your-metaphors-you-cannot/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) Browse all 2,414 Continue quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's one thing to make it to the NBA. It's one thing to make the playoffs your first year. It's one thing to make the playoffs your second year. 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