--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was playing, it was me playing…" description: "\"When I was playing, it was me playing both ends of the floor, playing offense, playing defense and I gave the ball up with assists. It wasn't like me d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/gary-payton-4951_football_when-i-was-playing-it-was-me-playing-bot_622348.jpg" --- # When I was playing, it was me playing both ends of the… ![“When I was playing, it was me playing both ends of the floor, playing offense, playing defense and I gave the ball up with assists. It wasn't like me doing one thing, scoring 25 and having three assists and one steal.” quote by Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/gary-payton-4951_football_when-i-was-playing-it-was-me-playing-bot_622348.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/gary-payton-4951_football_when-i-was-playing-it-was-me-playing-bot_622348.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/gary-payton-4951_football_when-i-was-playing-it-was-me-playing-bot_622348.jpg) > “When I was playing, it was me playing both ends of the floor, playing offense, playing defense and I gave the ball up with assists. It wasn't like me doing one thing, scoring 25 and having three assists and one steal.” [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 player emphasizes teamwork, playing both offense and defense, and sharing success through assists rather than solo scoring. **In simple terms:** Teamwork and versatility outweigh individual stats. Key Takeaway Value collaboration and all‑round contribution. Themes teamwork versatility humility leadership Mood motivational reflective Type sports leadership When to use this quote - coaching - team building - player development Key Concepts sports psychology basketball strategy Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal goals with team needs? - What role do assists play in your sport? A Different Perspective Individual glory can eclipse collective success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Scoring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scoring/) ## Related quotes > [I'd prefer to have 10 players scoring 10-15 goals than one scoring 25.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-d-prefer-to-have-10-players-scoring-10-15-goals-than-one-scoring-25/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [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/) > [This is what kids want to see. You see these Playstations, they scoring 50 and 60 with one player, that's what they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/this-is-what-kids-want-to-see-you-see-these-playstations-they-scoring/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I am sure for every striker, scoring goals gives them confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/i-am-sure-for-every-striker-scoring-goals-gives-them-confidence/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [At the end of the day, it doesn't matter who is scoring and who is not scoring. It's about winning games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-eriksen/at-the-end-of-the-day-it-doesn-t-matter-who-is-scoring-and-who-is-not/) [Christian Eriksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-eriksen/) > [The most important and the better feeling in football, for me, is scoring a goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-mata/the-most-important-and-the-better-feeling-in-football-for-me-is/) [Juan Mata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-mata/) > [People used to say that I thought I was Gareth Bale, and that's not the case at all. I'm nowhere near that level. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burke/people-used-to-say-that-i-thought-i-was-gareth-bale-and-that-s-not/) [Oliver Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burke/) > [The thing is, don't get me wrong, I still love scoring and I hate to lose but now I see myself more as making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thierry-henry/the-thing-is-don-t-get-me-wrong-i-still-love-scoring-and-i-hate-to/) [Thierry Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thierry-henry/) > [Music is my way of taking my mind away from the game. When I'm singing, you don't got anything to worry about. Don't gotta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-butler/music-is-my-way-of-taking-my-mind-away-from-the-game-when-i-m-singing/) [Jimmy Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-butler/) > [So if one day the result becomes 3-3, for me it doesn't change my mind, because it's football, it's normal. What is not normal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/so-if-one-day-the-result-becomes-3-3-for-me-it-doesn-t-change-my-mind/) [Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/) > [It's not worth scoring thousands of runs if your team keeps on losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shastri/it-s-not-worth-scoring-thousands-of-runs-if-your-team-keeps-on-losing/) [Ravi Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shastri/) > [There's more to Gareth's game than scoring goals, he's brought a lot to the changing room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-page/there-s-more-to-gareth-s-game-than-scoring-goals-he-s-brought-a-lot/) [Rob Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-page/) > [You never get fed up scoring goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/you-never-get-fed-up-scoring-goals/) [Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/) > [I think about scoring touchdowns a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davante-adams/i-think-about-scoring-touchdowns-a-lot/) [Davante Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davante-adams/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) ## More by Gary Payton > [Guys like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, they'll take bad criticism in a good way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/guys-like-kobe-bryant-lebron-james-kevin-garnett-they-ll-take-bad/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/) [Explore all 103 Gary Payton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. 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I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was playing, it was me playing both ends of the floor, playing offense, playing defense and I gave the ball up with assists. 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