--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not like being a professional…" description: "\"It's not like being a professional basketball player where you're in a big house. Maybe three, four or five guys make a couple million bucks a year, bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/frank-grillo-14052_ball-player_it-s-not-like-being-a-professional-baske_89579.jpg" --- # It's not like being a professional basketball player where… ![“It's not like being a professional basketball player where you're in a big house. Maybe three, four or five guys make a couple million bucks a year, but that's it. The rest of them have second jobs.” quote by Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/frank-grillo-14052_ball-player_it-s-not-like-being-a-professional-baske_89579.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/frank-grillo-14052_ball-player_it-s-not-like-being-a-professional-baske_89579.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/frank-grillo-14052_ball-player_it-s-not-like-being-a-professional-baske_89579.jpg) > “It's not like being a professional basketball player where you're in a big house. Maybe three, four or five guys make a couple million bucks a year, but that's it. The rest of them have second jobs.” [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only a tiny elite of basketball players earn millions; the majority must supplement income with other work. **In simple terms:** Most pro athletes need side jobs. Key Takeaway Elite earnings are rare in sports. Themes income disparity sports economics career instability labor market Mood pragmatic cynical Type observational social commentary When to use this quote - post‑career planning - financial counseling - team budgeting Key Concepts salary distribution secondary employment Practical Applications - advice on side‑hustles - policy proposals for athlete welfare Questions to Reflect On - Why do earnings concentrate among few? - What support structures help lower‑paid athletes? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ball player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-player/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-player/) [Big House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-house/) [Big houses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-houses/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Bucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bucks/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Couple Million](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple-million-1117187/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Five Guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five-guys/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Guys Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guys-make-569506/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Million Bucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-bucks/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Player Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player-big-534218/) [Professional Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-basketball-1117188/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I've invested a couple million into touring, and that's paid off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logic/i-ve-invested-a-couple-million-into-touring-and-that-s-paid-off/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logic/) > [I'm an old-timer in the business from the sense that when you do something that you feel good about there might be another person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/i-m-an-old-timer-in-the-business-from-the-sense-that-when-you-do/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) > [This is going to sound horrible, but I don't even know how much I make in a year. It must be, you know, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/this-is-going-to-sound-horrible-but-i-don-t-even-know-how-much-i-make/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I'm stackin' money to the ceiling. All this ice that's in my Rollie. I be chillin' and I just made a couple million. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meek-mill/i-m-stackin-money-to-the-ceiling-all-this-ice-that-s-in-my-rollie-i/) [Meek Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meek-mill/) > [I was just an ordinary player with a big heart and a fighting spirit to recommend me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-fallon/i-was-just-an-ordinary-player-with-a-big-heart-and-a-fighting-spirit/) [Sean Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-fallon/) > [Internet players have successfully addressed the all-in play from a mathematical perspective. For example, it's fairly common to see a net player move all-in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hellmuth/internet-players-have-successfully-addressed-the-all-in-play-from-a/) [Phil Hellmuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hellmuth/) > [He's a big player, and the big players score the big goals and make the big contributions in the big games. That's what determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/he-s-a-big-player-and-the-big-players-score-the-big-goals-and-make/) [Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/) > [As a kid, I knew about Jackie and what he did, though I probably didn't realize what kind of a player he was and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-semien/as-a-kid-i-knew-about-jackie-and-what-he-did-though-i-probably-didn-t/) [Marcus Semien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-semien/) > [I'd like to be a professional baseball player that's always been a big ambition of mine. I'd also like to try my hand at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/i-d-like-to-be-a-professional-baseball-player-that-s-always-been-a/) [Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/) > [I know what it is like when a player has big ambitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-know-what-it-is-like-when-a-player-has-big-ambitions/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [Chris Gayle is an incredible player. A big guy, with phenomenal power and a very big bat. It's quite the combo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-buttler/chris-gayle-is-an-incredible-player-a-big-guy-with-phenomenal-power/) [Jos Buttler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-buttler/) > [Inch for inch, the 6-foot-3 Westbrook is the NBA's most sensationally talented player, a relentlessly explosive basket-attacker with a deadly pull-up jumper - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-bayless/inch-for-inch-the-6-foot-3-westbrook-is-the-nba-s-most-sensationally/) [Skip Bayless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-bayless/) > [Being a player for a big team like Barca, you have to be very strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-enrique/being-a-player-for-a-big-team-like-barca-you-have-to-be-very-strong/) [Luis Enrique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-enrique/) > [I feel blessed that I had an opportunity to be in the Big Ten for four years as a player and be in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-alford/i-feel-blessed-that-i-had-an-opportunity-to-be-in-the-big-ten-for/) [Steve Alford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-alford/) > [Every great player has a big character. I don't know any player with a lot of quality who just has quality - you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-nasri/every-great-player-has-a-big-character-i-don-t-know-any-player-with-a/) [Samir Nasri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-nasri/) ## More by Frank Grillo > [I look at the script first and who's directing it and then talk to the director to find out what his vision of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/i-look-at-the-script-first-and-who-s-directing-it-and-then-talk-to/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [I love Charles Bronson. He didn't have a lot of range, and he wasn't a great actor, but you couldn't take your eyes off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/i-love-charles-bronson-he-didn-t-have-a-lot-of-range-and-he-wasn-t-a/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [There's nobody in the arts in my family. It was kind of embarrassing to even say that I wanted to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/there-s-nobody-in-the-arts-in-my-family-it-was-kind-of-embarrassing/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [I don't look like Hollywood Guy. I'm a regular guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/i-don-t-look-like-hollywood-guy-i-m-a-regular-guy/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [I think anybody who has a soul would themselves and their needs aside to help other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/i-think-anybody-who-has-a-soul-would-themselves-and-their-needs-aside/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [Anthony Bourdain is a legend and an inspiration for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/anthony-bourdain-is-a-legend-and-an-inspiration-for-me/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [Listen, 'The Purge' actually exists in some form or another in many places around the world when you think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/listen-the-purge-actually-exists-in-some-form-or-another-in-many/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [Im a believer in getting punched in the face. I know it sounds cliched, but to me, fighting is a metaphor for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/im-a-believer-in-getting-punched-in-the-face-i-know-it-sounds-cliched/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [You've got to go out there and do your things. Whatever comes your way, you jump on it, and like anything, that's how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/you-ve-got-to-go-out-there-and-do-your-things-whatever-comes-your-way/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [You get spoiled on Captain America, where your trailers two blocks long and its got three bedrooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/you-get-spoiled-on-captain-america-where-your-trailers-two-blocks/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [When I graduated college, I decided that I was going to try to be an actor, but it was my dirty secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/when-i-graduated-college-i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-try-to-be-an/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [I love 'The Dirty Dozen.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/i-love-the-dirty-dozen/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [I did 'The Grey,' and it was very intense and emotional because we're in the wilderness, and it was always 30 degrees. You kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/i-did-the-grey-and-it-was-very-intense-and-emotional-because-we-re-in/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [The soap opera was so long ago - the thing about soap operas, and there's something to be said for doing it, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/the-soap-opera-was-so-long-ago-the-thing-about-soap-operas-and-there/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [A tough guy, to me, stands for something, and he's not afraid to get a beating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/a-tough-guy-to-me-stands-for-something-and-he-s-not-afraid-to-get-a/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) [Explore all 48 Frank Grillo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) ## More Ball player quotes > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [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 have friends in other industries but if I am training for a wrestling match, I would turn to the best wrestler to train,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-aries/i-have-friends-in-other-industries-but-if-i-am-training-for-a/) [Austin Aries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-aries/) > [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/) > [I competed every day as a professional football player... You've got to like competing. That's how your team gets better, when you have competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-competed-every-day-as-a-professional-football-player-you-ve-got-to/) [Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/) > [“I can’t wait to knock you up and have a whole team of little baseball players around this place!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sterling/i-can-t-wait-to-knock-you-up-and-have-a-whole-team-of-little-baseball/) [J. Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sterling/) > [MOST AMAZING FOOTBALL PLAYER IN THE ENTIRE WORLD && IN REAL MADRID](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-amazing-football-player-in-the-entire-world-in-real-madrid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My older brothers were both basketball players so I just grew up around the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brook-lopez/my-older-brothers-were-both-basketball-players-so-i-just-grew-up/) [Brook Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brook-lopez/) > [I'm a basketball player, so I want to do whatever I've got to do to be on the floor and I'm prepared for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrese-haliburton/i-m-a-basketball-player-so-i-want-to-do-whatever-i-ve-got-to-do-to-be/) [Tyrese Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrese-haliburton/) > [“Seeing yourself in print is such an amazing concept: you can get so much attention without having to actually show up somewhere. While others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeing-yourself-in-print-is-such-an-amazing-concept-you-can-get-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People say baseball players should go out and have fun. No way. To me, baseball is pressure, I always feel it. This is work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-eckersley/people-say-baseball-players-should-go-out-and-have-fun-no-way-to-me/) [Dennis Eckersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-eckersley/) > [Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-a-country-whose-main-exports-are-hockey-players-and-cold/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [“The great thing about baseball players, from the point of view of personal hygiene, is how seldom they break a sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-great-thing-about-baseball-players-from-the-point-of-view-of/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [A lot of scouts and people are enamored with athleticism and youth. So they take that any day over mature, high-quality basketball players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/a-lot-of-scouts-and-people-are-enamored-with-athleticism-and-youth-so/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [I'm a baseball player. I've done this my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/i-m-a-baseball-player-i-ve-done-this-my-whole-life/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) [Browse all 1,395 Ball player quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-player/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not like being a professional basketball player where you're in a big house. Maybe three, four or five guys make a couple million bucks a year, but that's it. 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