--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was taught by teachers, and if it's one…" description: "\"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 pay it forward.\" — Doug Collins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/doug-collins-24666_basketball_i-was-taught-by-teachers-and-if-it-s-one_216218.png" --- # I was taught by teachers, and if it's one thing I have… ![“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 pay it forward.” quote by Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/doug-collins-24666_basketball_i-was-taught-by-teachers-and-if-it-s-one_216218.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/doug-collins-24666_basketball_i-was-taught-by-teachers-and-if-it-s-one_216218.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/doug-collins-24666_basketball_i-was-taught-by-teachers-and-if-it-s-one_216218.png) > “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 pay it forward.” [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. Teach and share knowledge, creating a cycle of mentorship and gratitude. **In simple terms:** Pass on what you learn. Key Takeaway Mentor others and pay it forward. Themes mentorship gratitude legacy Mood motivational proud Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - coaching - team building - school clinics - community sports Key Concepts education sports psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you mentor despite a busy schedule? - What legacy do you want to leave? A Different Perspective Mentorship can be limited by time and resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Pay Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-forward/) [Pay it forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-it-forward/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachers/) ## Related quotes > [I try to pay it forward. I do a lot of philanthropic and charity work. Some of my greatest awards, greatest rewards, have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-perez/i-try-to-pay-it-forward-i-do-a-lot-of-philanthropic-and-charity-work/) [George Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-perez/) > [Chase the dream like a beast. Give it all you got with human compassion with a genuine desire to pay it forward!~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-compton/chase-the-dream-like-a-beast-give-it-all-you-got-with-human/) [Bobby Compton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-compton/) > [It's hump day! Lets help others get over this week's hump. Reach out to someone and pay it forward today!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-hump-day-lets-help-others-get-over-this-week-s-hump-reach-out-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think that's my goal as time goes on, is to just try and pay it forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-kennedy/i-think-that-s-my-goal-as-time-goes-on-is-to-just-try-and-pay-it/) [Myles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-kennedy/) > [There are so many bright people who just need an opportunity to help others and pay it forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/there-are-so-many-bright-people-who-just-need-an-opportunity-to-help/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [Be humble, be grateful, give back, share, pay it forward, chase your dreams, go for it, and take a moment to remember where it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/be-humble-be-grateful-give-back-share-pay-it-forward-chase-your/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [Spread good energy. Pay it forward!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-maynard/spread-good-energy-pay-it-forward/) [Brittany Maynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-maynard/) > [To me, you have to pay it forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-paysinger/to-me-you-have-to-pay-it-forward/) [Spencer Paysinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-paysinger/) > [“Pay it forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/pay-it-forward/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“We've also evolved the ability to simply 'pay it forward': I help you, somebody else will help me. I remember hearing a parable when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-epstein/we-ve-also-evolved-the-ability-to-simply-pay-it-forward-i-help-you/) Greg Epstein > [When you're in a position that you can comfortably give, you need to pay it forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/when-you-re-in-a-position-that-you-can-comfortably-give-you-need-to/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [“Pay it forward with free compliments. They are returned in due time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chiles/pay-it-forward-with-free-compliments-they-are-returned-in-due-time/) [David Chiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chiles/) > [Sometimes you can't pay it back, so you just have to pay it forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/sometimes-you-can-t-pay-it-back-so-you-just-have-to-pay-it-forward/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Frank Sinatra turns 100 this year and his music has been a major player in the soundtrack of my life. So it's only right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/frank-sinatra-turns-100-this-year-and-his-music-has-been-a-major/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [Figure out what you're good at and start helping other people with it; give it away. Pay it forward. Karma sort of works because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naval-ravikant/figure-out-what-you-re-good-at-and-start-helping-other-people-with-it/) [Naval Ravikant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naval-ravikant/) ## More by 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/) > [We've got to get our fans back. We've got to start winning and get our fans excited about the 76ers again... We're selling hope.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/we-ve-got-to-get-our-fans-back-we-ve-got-to-start-winning-and-get-our/) [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": "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 pay it forward.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Doug Collins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/i-was-taught-by-teachers-and-if-it-s-one-thing-i-have-it-s-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/i-was-taught-by-teachers-and-if-it-s-one-thing-i-have-it-s-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/doug-collins-24666_basketball_i-was-taught-by-teachers-and-if-it-s-one_216218.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/doug-collins-24666_basketball_i-was-taught-by-teachers-and-if-it-s-one_216218.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/doug-collins-24666_basketball_i-was-taught-by-teachers-and-if-it-s-one_216218.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“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…” — 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": "I was taught by teachers, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/i-was-taught-by-teachers-and-if-it-s-one-thing-i-have-it-s-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/i-was-taught-by-teachers-and-if-it-s-one-thing-i-have-it-s-a/#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 } } ] } ```