--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't ever have a rule that you won't…" description: "\"Don't ever have a rule that you won't enforce with your best player.\" — Doug Collins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/921/doug-collins-24666_basketball_don-t-ever-have-a-rule-that-you-won-t-en_2624181.png" --- # Don't ever have a rule that you won't enforce with your… ![“Don't ever have a rule that you won't enforce with your best player.” quote by Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/921/doug-collins-24666_basketball_don-t-ever-have-a-rule-that-you-won-t-en_2624181.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/921/doug-collins-24666_basketball_don-t-ever-have-a-rule-that-you-won-t-en_2624181.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/921/doug-collins-24666_basketball_don-t-ever-have-a-rule-that-you-won-t-en_2624181.png) > “Don't ever have a rule that you won't enforce with your best player.” [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders must apply rules consistently, even to top performers, to maintain fairness and authority. **In simple terms:** Treat everyone the same, no favorites. Key Takeaway Enforce rules equally. Themes leadership fairness authority Mood serious determined Type advice motivational When to use this quote - coaching - management - sports teams - business leadership Key Concepts team dynamics consistency ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance fairness with rewarding excellence? - When should exceptions be made? A Different Perspective Strict uniformity can demotivate star players if not balanced with recognition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Best players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-players/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [NBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba/) ## Related quotes > [It's a poor rule that won't work both ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/it-s-a-poor-rule-that-won-t-work-both-ways/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [It is poor rule that won't work more ways than one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/it-is-poor-rule-that-won-t-work-more-ways-than-one/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [I have a rule that I won't Google my own name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/topher-grace/i-have-a-rule-that-i-won-t-google-my-own-name/) [Topher Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/topher-grace/) > [Why have a rule if you're not going to enforce it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/why-have-a-rule-if-you-re-not-going-to-enforce-it/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [President Ronald Reagan used to speak of the Soviet constitution, and he noted that it purported to grant wonderful rights of all sorts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/president-ronald-reagan-used-to-speak-of-the-soviet-constitution-and/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) > [I have the possibility to watch Messi in training each morning, and because of what he demonstrates he is the best player in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thierry-henry/i-have-the-possibility-to-watch-messi-in-training-each-morning-and/) [Thierry Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thierry-henry/) > [Without any doubt the best player in the Premiership has to be Paul Scholes. He knows how to do everything, and he is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thierry-henry/without-any-doubt-the-best-player-in-the-premiership-has-to-be-paul/) [Thierry Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thierry-henry/) > [Messi on the World Cup 2014? He showed why he is the best player in the world. It was a pleasure to see him play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandro-del-piero/messi-on-the-world-cup-2014-he-showed-why-he-is-the-best-player-in/) [Alessandro Del Piero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandro-del-piero/) > [Messi is the best player in the world. If he's not already, he'll be the best footballer of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/messi-is-the-best-player-in-the-world-if-he-s-not-already-he-ll-be/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [We're not great friends, but I admire him. If he thinks he's the best player of the century, that's his problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/we-re-not-great-friends-but-i-admire-him-if-he-thinks-he-s-the-best/) [Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) > [Messi doesn't have to do it in the Premier League to prove himself. The Champions League is the ultimate club competition. If he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/messi-doesn-t-have-to-do-it-in-the-premier-league-to-prove-himself/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [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/) > [ 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/) > [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 > [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/) ## More by Doug Collins > [I was taught by teachers, and if it's one thing I have it's a basketball mind and I try to pass it on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/i-was-taught-by-teachers-and-if-it-s-one-thing-i-have-it-s-a/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) > [We're talking about being relevant again. I want the Sixers to be on people's tongues again... I want the Sixers to be the basketball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/we-re-talking-about-being-relevant-again-i-want-the-sixers-to-be-on/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) > [Boston is a very proud franchise. The NBA misses them when they are not in the mix. They, along with teams like the Knicks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/boston-is-a-very-proud-franchise-the-nba-misses-them-when-they-are/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) > [You don't want to be down 2-0 in a series. It's always important to try and get one on the opponent's home court. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/you-don-t-want-to-be-down-2-0-in-a-series-it-s-always-important-to/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) > [The great thing about basketball is you work as hard as you can to individually get better so that your team can win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/the-great-thing-about-basketball-is-you-work-as-hard-as-you-can-to/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) > [Work as hard as you can to become as good an individual player as you can to help your team win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/work-as-hard-as-you-can-to-become-as-good-an-individual-player-as-you/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) > [The one thing about players today is that they're very sensitive, and very fragile. They didn't grow up with tough coaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/the-one-thing-about-players-today-is-that-they-re-very-sensitive-and/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) > [When hired three years ago, I willingly accepted the challenge of leading the Bulls back to the type of team this city richly deserves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/when-hired-three-years-ago-i-willingly-accepted-the-challenge-of/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) > [I remember when I went to try out for the Olympic team in 1972, Coach Iba told me he didn't care how many points…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/i-remember-when-i-went-to-try-out-for-the-olympic-team-in-1972-coach/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) > [To change a team you must change their comfort zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/to-change-a-team-you-must-change-their-comfort-zone/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) > [As I look back on the day I signed my professional contract in 1973, I've never gone to sleep wondering if I could pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/as-i-look-back-on-the-day-i-signed-my-professional-contract-in-1973-i/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) > [“The practice of collaborative innovation offers a way forward. By embracing the practice we find ways as a community to resolve tensions between surplus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/the-practice-of-collaborative-innovation-offers-a-way-forward-by/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) > [When your teammate looks you in the eye and holds you accountable, that's the greatest kind of leadership there is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/when-your-teammate-looks-you-in-the-eye-and-holds-you-accountable/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) > [I think there's a lot of different ways to win. You've seen teams that win championships with a super-duper star like Kobe Bryant. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-different-ways-to-win-you-ve-seen-teams-that/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) > [A closing team is so important in the NBA. The last seven minutes is what you are always coaching to get to. Now you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/a-closing-team-is-so-important-in-the-nba-the-last-seven-minutes-is/) [Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) [Explore all 24 Doug Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/) ## 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": "Don't ever have a rule that you won't enforce with your best player.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Doug Collins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/don-t-ever-have-a-rule-that-you-won-t-enforce-with-your-best-player/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/don-t-ever-have-a-rule-that-you-won-t-enforce-with-your-best-player/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/921/doug-collins-24666_basketball_don-t-ever-have-a-rule-that-you-won-t-en_2624181.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/921/doug-collins-24666_basketball_don-t-ever-have-a-rule-that-you-won-t-en_2624181.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/921/doug-collins-24666_basketball_don-t-ever-have-a-rule-that-you-won-t-en_2624181.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't ever have a rule that you won't enforce with your best player.” — Doug Collins", "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": "Doug Collins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't ever have a rule that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/don-t-ever-have-a-rule-that-you-won-t-enforce-with-your-best-player/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/don-t-ever-have-a-rule-that-you-won-t-enforce-with-your-best-player/#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 } } ] } ```