--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I could've played basketball, but my mind…" description: "\"I could've played basketball, but my mind was on baseball. I didn't know what I was in for. In high school it was a matter of talent. No one told you w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb3/eric-davis-11953_baseball_i-could-ve-played-basketball-but-my-mind_1935996.jpg" --- # I could've played basketball, but my mind was on baseball… ![“I could've played basketball, but my mind was on baseball. I didn't know what I was in for. In high school it was a matter of talent. No one told you what to do.” quote by Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb3/eric-davis-11953_baseball_i-could-ve-played-basketball-but-my-mind_1935996.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb3/eric-davis-11953_baseball_i-could-ve-played-basketball-but-my-mind_1935996.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb3/eric-davis-11953_baseball_i-could-ve-played-basketball-but-my-mind_1935996.jpg) > “I could've played basketball, but my mind was on baseball. I didn't know what I was in for. In high school it was a matter of talent. No one told you what to do.” [Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing a sport based on talent without understanding the broader context can limit potential growth. **In simple terms:** Choosing without understanding limits growth. Key Takeaway Explore broader interests before committing. Themes talent choice growth Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice reflective When to use this quote - high school sports decisions - career planning - personal development Key Concepts self-awareness career development Questions to Reflect On - What broader interests could you explore? - How does early guidance shape decisions? A Different Perspective Talent alone doesn't guarantee success; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [When you step into the batter's box, have nothing on your mind except baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rose/when-you-step-into-the-batter-s-box-have-nothing-on-your-mind-except/) [Pete Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rose/) > [I was very fortunate when I was little - I played basketball. You really absolutely learn how to be a team player, how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weili-dai/i-was-very-fortunate-when-i-was-little-i-played-basketball-you-really/) [Weili Dai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weili-dai/) > [Dear Scottie, I have nothing but respect for you my friend as an athlete and knowledgeable basketball mind. But you are way off in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/dear-scottie-i-have-nothing-but-respect-for-you-my-friend-as-an/) [Kareem Abdul-jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [Donnie Walsh, a heck of a basketball mind and a guy that I had tremendous respect for, gave me an opportunity and believed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jackson/donnie-walsh-a-heck-of-a-basketball-mind-and-a-guy-that-i-had/) [Mark Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jackson/) > [Most of basketball is in the mind. But it helps to have big hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/most-of-basketball-is-in-the-mind-but-it-helps-to-have-big-hands/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [Baseball didn't really fit my personality as well as football does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-amendola/baseball-didn-t-really-fit-my-personality-as-well-as-football-does/) [Danny Amendola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-amendola/) > [I love both sports, but the deciding factor was, being a left-handed pitcher, I had a huge advantage in baseball because of that, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-glavine/i-love-both-sports-but-the-deciding-factor-was-being-a-left-handed/) [Tom Glavine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-glavine/) > [My mom wanted me to play baseball. She didn't want me to play basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-horford/my-mom-wanted-me-to-play-baseball-she-didn-t-want-me-to-play/) [Al Horford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-horford/) > [I thought I'd be back in baseball, but I didn't know when.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lester/i-thought-i-d-be-back-in-baseball-but-i-didn-t-know-when/) [Jon Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lester/) > [Back in my day, we didn't think about money as much. We enjoyed playing the game. We loved baseball. I didn't think about anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-musial/back-in-my-day-we-didn-t-think-about-money-as-much-we-enjoyed-playing/) [Stan Musial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-musial/) > [Look, I have no qualms about having played basketball. The game has done so much for me. Look at the places I've been, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bradley/look-i-have-no-qualms-about-having-played-basketball-the-game-has/) [Bill Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bradley/) > [I played Little League baseball, but I also played basketball. Basketball was my primary sport. When you play basketball seriously, a lot of times,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/i-played-little-league-baseball-but-i-also-played-basketball/) [Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/) > [I played basketball, softball and lacrosse, also did gymnastics and danced for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-played-basketball-softball-and-lacrosse-also-did-gymnastics-and/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I played basketball in high school, and I love watching sports - I'll watch everything except maybe hockey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-played-basketball-in-high-school-and-i-love-watching-sports-i-ll/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) ## More by Eric Davis > [I know people are pretty well embarrassed just at the mention of colon cancer. Sticking a tube in you to find out what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-davis/i-know-people-are-pretty-well-embarrassed-just-at-the-mention-of/) [Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/) > [If you don't believe in something, you'll fall for anything. I believe everything happens for a reason. If you are strong from within, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-davis/if-you-don-t-believe-in-something-you-ll-fall-for-anything-i-believe/) [Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/) > [I don't listen to what people say about me and I don't read what they write about me. People can compare me to anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-davis/i-don-t-listen-to-what-people-say-about-me-and-i-don-t-read-what-they/) [Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/) > [Nothing I did contributed to me having cancer, so I can't sit back and say, 'Oh why me.' Why not me? Why does tragedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-davis/nothing-i-did-contributed-to-me-having-cancer-so-i-can-t-sit-back-and/) [Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/) > [You can't get more appreciation than that, to be elected by the fans. That's the ultimate, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-davis/you-can-t-get-more-appreciation-than-that-to-be-elected-by-the-fans/) [Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/) > [Blessings can come in a number of ways. The Lord doesn't give you what you want, the Lord gives you what you need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-davis/blessings-can-come-in-a-number-of-ways-the-lord-doesn-t-give-you-what/) [Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/) > [I was fortunate to play for Pete Rose and have teammates like Ken Griffey Sr., Tony Perez and Dave Concepcion. I grew up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-davis/i-was-fortunate-to-play-for-pete-rose-and-have-teammates-like-ken/) [Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/) > [I don't even take aspirin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-davis/i-don-t-even-take-aspirin/) [Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/) > [The kids competed for a full 32 minutes. We want the kids to compete on every possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-davis/the-kids-competed-for-a-full-32-minutes-we-want-the-kids-to-compete/) [Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/) > [The last two times I went to spring training, I had to win a job, and if I didn't get off to a blazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-davis/the-last-two-times-i-went-to-spring-training-i-had-to-win-a-job-and/) [Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/) > [I'd never heard of colon cancer. Baseball wasn't even important to me. I have a wife and two girls. 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We are a very loving, hugging and kissing kind of family. And we grew up in a church atmosphere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-davis/that-s-just-my-family-s-mentality-we-are-a-very-loving-hugging-and/) [Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/) [Explore all 57 Eric Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/) ## More Baseball quotes > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. 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Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/) [George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/) > [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/) [Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/) > [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/) [Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. 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