--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Guys like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James…" description: "\"Guys like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, they'll take bad criticism in a good way.\" — Gary Payton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/gary-payton-4951_bad_guys-like-kobe-bryant-lebron-james-kevin_65907.png" --- # Guys like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett… ![“Guys like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, they'll take bad criticism in a good way.” quote by Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/gary-payton-4951_bad_guys-like-kobe-bryant-lebron-james-kevin_65907.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/gary-payton-4951_bad_guys-like-kobe-bryant-lebron-james-kevin_65907.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/gary-payton-4951_bad_guys-like-kobe-bryant-lebron-james-kevin_65907.png) > “Guys like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, they'll take bad criticism in a good way.” [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights athletes' ability to transform negative feedback into constructive motivation, using criticism as a catalyst for growth. **In simple terms:** Turning criticism into growth Key Takeaway Criticism can be a tool for improvement Themes resilience mindset sportsmanship growth leadership Mood determined optimistic focused Type motivational observational When to use this quote - post-game interviews - team meetings - personal development workshops - coaching sessions Key Concepts feedback motivation performance mental toughness Practical Applications - coach feedback strategies - athlete mental training Questions to Reflect On - How can criticism be reframed positively? - What habits help athletes stay resilient? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ## Related quotes > [Paternalistic is a very good word. They think they have to look out for these guys? Don't worry about it. Why? Because of history.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/paternalistic-is-a-very-good-word-they-think-they-have-to-look-out/) [Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/) > [We had guys come out of high school, Moses Malone, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, but all these guys could play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/we-had-guys-come-out-of-high-school-moses-malone-kevin-garnett-lebron/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [Guys like Andre Miller and Kevin Garnett - they're posting up hoping a second guy will run at them so they can pass. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-sampson/guys-like-andre-miller-and-kevin-garnett-they-re-posting-up-hoping-a/) [Kelvin Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-sampson/) > [Usually guys like Chris Paul, Lebron James, they will steal the ball from you. Stay away from those guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-davis/usually-guys-like-chris-paul-lebron-james-they-will-steal-the-ball/) [Baron Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-davis/) > [“So the challenge, as you contemplate your next opportunity to be boring or remarkable, is to answer these two questions: (1) "If I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/so-the-challenge-as-you-contemplate-your-next-opportunity-to-be/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [A bad short story or novel or poem leaves one comparatively calm because it does not exist, unless it gets a fake prestige throughbeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/a-bad-short-story-or-novel-or-poem-leaves-one-comparatively-calm/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [Bad criticism recites rote arguments. The shame of rote arguments isn't just that they're cliches, though they are, but that they tend to hide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dean/bad-criticism-recites-rote-arguments-the-shame-of-rote-arguments-isn/) [Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/) > [Bad criticism has followed things like comic books or TV, and they put down a medium. A medium cannot be inherently good or bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/bad-criticism-has-followed-things-like-comic-books-or-tv-and-they-put/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [When I first prepared this particular talk... I realized that my usual approach is usually critical. That is, a lot of the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/when-i-first-prepared-this-particular-talk-i-realized-that-my-usual/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [It's a healthy thing to get some bad criticism. I'm still here and I'm fine, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keeley-hawes/it-s-a-healthy-thing-to-get-some-bad-criticism-i-m-still-here-and-i-m/) [Keeley Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keeley-hawes/) > [Either criticism is no good at all (a very defensible position) or else criticism means saying about an author the very things that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/either-criticism-is-no-good-at-all-a-very-defensible-position-or-else/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Nice criticism is good when it tells you something. A lot of negative "criticism" isn't criticism at all: it's just nasty, "writerly" cliché and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/nice-criticism-is-good-when-it-tells-you-something-a-lot-of-negative/) [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) > [“Dear Julie: If I didn't feel that there is some good in your story, I wouldn't take the time to write a criticism of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/dear-julie-if-i-didn-t-feel-that-there-is-some-good-in-your-story-i/) [Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/) > [I take criticism in a good way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshara-haasan/i-take-criticism-in-a-good-way/) [Akshara Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshara-haasan/) > [Authors of published papers and editors of scientific journals can, unfortunately, be slow to come to terms with criticism, and it's good that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-gelman/authors-of-published-papers-and-editors-of-scientific-journals-can/) Andrew Gelman ## More by Gary Payton > [If he's averaging 25 points and I can contain him to 17, then I've won the battle. If he averages 12 assists and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/if-he-s-averaging-25-points-and-i-can-contain-him-to-17-then-i-ve-won/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I did a lot of things I regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-did-a-lot-of-things-i-regret/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I'm not going to sit here and dwell on whether or not I am going to the Hall of Fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-m-not-going-to-sit-here-and-dwell-on-whether-or-not-i-am-going-to/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [It is much easier to be the hunter than the hunted. When you are the one not expected to do anything, you play better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/it-is-much-easier-to-be-the-hunter-than-the-hunted-when-you-are-the/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I am going to go on with my life, and if they call me and say 'Yo, you are going to be in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-am-going-to-go-on-with-my-life-and-if-they-call-me-and-say-yo-you/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [Patrick Beverley is one of my favorites. What he does is he brings a lot of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/patrick-beverley-is-one-of-my-favorites-what-he-does-is-he-brings-a/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [Because of how I am on the court, people think I'm wild and crazy. But really, I'm a kick-back guy, so Seattle suits me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/because-of-how-i-am-on-the-court-people-think-i-m-wild-and-crazy-but/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [Coming from Oakland, Calif., I never thought I'd be a Hall of Famer. I wasn't thinking about basketball like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/coming-from-oakland-calif-i-never-thought-i-d-be-a-hall-of-famer-i/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [If Seattle could put my jersey on top of the Space Needle, they would.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/if-seattle-could-put-my-jersey-on-top-of-the-space-needle-they-would/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I don't give a damn about MVP.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-don-t-give-a-damn-about-mvp/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [If you see yourself in the paper every day and people keep talking about you, you will have a little breakdown in yourself, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/if-you-see-yourself-in-the-paper-every-day-and-people-keep-talking/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [You don't have to like me, but I'm going to tell you the truth. If you don't like what I'm saying, then go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/you-don-t-have-to-like-me-but-i-m-going-to-tell-you-the-truth-if-you/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I would go after any rookie. Any rookie with a lot of hype. I used to do it to Jason Kidd. I would go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-would-go-after-any-rookie-any-rookie-with-a-lot-of-hype-i-used-to/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I was guarding the best player and getting 25 and having eight assists, and three-four steals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-was-guarding-the-best-player-and-getting-25-and-having-eight/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [People always talk about first-ballot Hall of Famer and all that stuff, but it doesn't really make a difference. Once you get in there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/people-always-talk-about-first-ballot-hall-of-famer-and-all-that/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) [Explore all 103 Gary Payton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. 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When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. 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So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Guys like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, they'll take bad criticism in a good way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary Payton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/guys-like-kobe-bryant-lebron-james-kevin-garnett-they-ll-take-bad/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/guys-like-kobe-bryant-lebron-james-kevin-garnett-they-ll-take-bad/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/gary-payton-4951_bad_guys-like-kobe-bryant-lebron-james-kevin_65907.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/gary-payton-4951_bad_guys-like-kobe-bryant-lebron-james-kevin_65907.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/gary-payton-4951_bad_guys-like-kobe-bryant-lebron-james-kevin_65907.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Guys like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, they'll take bad criticism in a good way.” — Gary Payton", "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": "Gary Payton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Guys like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/guys-like-kobe-bryant-lebron-james-kevin-garnett-they-ll-take-bad/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/guys-like-kobe-bryant-lebron-james-kevin-garnett-they-ll-take-bad/#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 } } ] } ```