---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I lost all feeling a long time ago…"
description: "\"I lost all feeling a long time ago. Basketball is basketball. It doesn't matter what floor I'm on.\" — Gilbert Arenas"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/033/gilbert-arenas-3494_basketball_i-lost-all-feeling-a-long-time-ago-baske_1582856.png"
---

#  I lost all feeling a long time ago. Basketball is…

![“I lost all feeling a long time ago. Basketball is basketball. It doesn't matter what floor I'm on.” quote by Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/033/gilbert-arenas-3494_basketball_i-lost-all-feeling-a-long-time-ago-baske_1582856.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/033/gilbert-arenas-3494_basketball_i-lost-all-feeling-a-long-time-ago-baske_1582856.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/033/gilbert-arenas-3494_basketball_i-lost-all-feeling-a-long-time-ago-baske_1582856.png)

> “I lost all feeling a long time ago. Basketball is basketball. It doesn't matter what floor I'm on.”

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker has become desensitized; basketball remains unchanged regardless of circumstances.

**In simple terms:** He feels numb, but the game stays the same.

Key Takeaway

Stay present despite emotional numbness.

Themes

sports emotional resilience identity

Mood

introspective determined

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- team sports
- personal setbacks
- performance pressure

Key Concepts

psychology athletics

Questions to Reflect On

- What does basketball mean to you beyond the game?
- How can you reconnect with feeling?

A Different Perspective

Emotional numbness may hinder enjoyment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ago Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ago-basketball-5981857/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-basketball-1603329/) [Basketball Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-doesn-773960/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Long time ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time-ago/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Lost Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost-feeling-1189670/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [Basketball is basketball. I don't think people realize that. No matter what city, overseas, D-league, park league - I just want to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/basketball-is-basketball-i-don-t-think-people-realize-that-no-matter/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [Basketball doesn't build character it reveals it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-naismith/basketball-doesn-t-build-character-it-reveals-it/)

[James Naismith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-naismith/)

> [I'm not a role model... Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-m-not-a-role-model-just-because-i-dunk-a-basketball-doesn-t-mean-i/)

[Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/)

> [Basketball doesn't give me time to be in a relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/basketball-doesn-t-give-me-time-to-be-in-a-relationship/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I love basketball, but playing basketball doesn't fully define who I am. I was always a good student, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/i-love-basketball-but-playing-basketball-doesn-t-fully-define-who-i/)

[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/)

> [Basketball is basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/basketball-is-basketball/)

[Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/)

> [I couldn't imagine not playing basketball. To me, basketball is what life is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walton/i-couldn-t-imagine-not-playing-basketball-to-me-basketball-is-what/)

[Bill Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walton/)

> [That's one thing I tell young kids is watch Chris Paul play basketball. He doesn't just play the game. He's trying to beat the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-taurasi/that-s-one-thing-i-tell-young-kids-is-watch-chris-paul-play/)

[Diana Taurasi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-taurasi/)

> [Just as basketball doesn't define who I am, neither does being gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/just-as-basketball-doesn-t-define-who-i-am-neither-does-being-gay/)

[Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/)

> [At the end of the day, you're only going to be allowed to play basketball for a short period of time. You're a human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/at-the-end-of-the-day-you-re-only-going-to-be-allowed-to-play/)

[George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/)

> [...Basketball doesn't care what color your skin is. It doesn't care what language you speak or what religion you practice. It doesn't care if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-calhoun/basketball-doesn-t-care-what-color-your-skin-is-it-doesn-t-care-what/)

[Jim Calhoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-calhoun/)

> [Basketball is basketball, but with each level, there's new challenges and new things you have to pick up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/basketball-is-basketball-but-with-each-level-there-s-new-challenges/)

[Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/)

> [I'm a firm believer in young, old, tall, short, doesn't matter. Basketball is basketball. It's the way you approach it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/i-m-a-firm-believer-in-young-old-tall-short-doesn-t-matter-basketball/)

[Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/)

> [At the end of the day, basketball is basketball. You've got a whole life to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaylen-brown/at-the-end-of-the-day-basketball-is-basketball-you-ve-got-a-whole/)

[Jaylen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaylen-brown/)

> [You can't say, 'You're a scorer, you score. You rebound, you rebound.' Basketball is more than that. Basketball is knowing the next step, knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/you-can-t-say-you-re-a-scorer-you-score-you-rebound-you-rebound/)

[Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/)

## More by Gilbert Arenas

> [I lived in Washington longer than I have lived anywhere else, so it's considered home, even though I moved back to California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/i-lived-in-washington-longer-than-i-have-lived-anywhere-else-so-it-s/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [When I was little, I asked God if I could meet my mom just one more time, and my prayer was answered in 2001.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/when-i-was-little-i-asked-god-if-i-could-meet-my-mom-just-one-more/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [It's amazing and different being a celebrity in D.C.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/it-s-amazing-and-different-being-a-celebrity-in-d-c/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [They gave high fives to all the players who say like the most obvious textbook answers in the world. It's like after each game,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/they-gave-high-fives-to-all-the-players-who-say-like-the-most-obvious/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [I don't want to get married unless they change the marriage laws. You should have to sign a marriage contract for no more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/i-don-t-want-to-get-married-unless-they-change-the-marriage-laws-you/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [If you take away the last few years, from my last year in Washington, and you think about my career, there was nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/if-you-take-away-the-last-few-years-from-my-last-year-in-washington/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [How can I tell somebody, 'Don't shoot that shot' when I'm out there chunking 'em?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/how-can-i-tell-somebody-don-t-shoot-that-shot-when-i-m-out-there/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [I never imagined that I would see my face on the cover of an EA Sports videogame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/i-never-imagined-that-i-would-see-my-face-on-the-cover-of-an-ea/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [I was in honors classes in high school. I'd get an A on every test, but I had a 1.9 grade point average. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/i-was-in-honors-classes-in-high-school-i-d-get-an-a-on-every-test-but/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [I can't take a game-winner in practice. I can't shoot free throws in practice that simulates the game. There's no crowd; there's no nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/i-can-t-take-a-game-winner-in-practice-i-can-t-shoot-free-throws-in/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [I always try to find something funny in any situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/i-always-try-to-find-something-funny-in-any-situation/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [I have the mind-set that a guard can't stick me. So I watch the bigs and see how they like to play. If you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/i-have-the-mind-set-that-a-guard-can-t-stick-me-so-i-watch-the-bigs/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [When you blink, you're on the back end of your career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/when-you-blink-you-re-on-the-back-end-of-your-career/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [I hate it when you see talented teams with a lot of scorers and they can't get along with each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/i-hate-it-when-you-see-talented-teams-with-a-lot-of-scorers-and-they/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [I used to practice those trampoline dunks back at Golden State. I can flip and everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/i-used-to-practice-those-trampoline-dunks-back-at-golden-state-i-can/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

[Explore all 128 Gilbert Arenas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

## 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 lost all feeling a long time ago. Basketball is basketball. It doesn't matter what floor I'm on.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gilbert Arenas"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/i-lost-all-feeling-a-long-time-ago-basketball-is-basketball-it-doesn/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Basketball"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/i-lost-all-feeling-a-long-time-ago-basketball-is-basketball-it-doesn/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/033/gilbert-arenas-3494_basketball_i-lost-all-feeling-a-long-time-ago-baske_1582856.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/033/gilbert-arenas-3494_basketball_i-lost-all-feeling-a-long-time-ago-baske_1582856.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/033/gilbert-arenas-3494_basketball_i-lost-all-feeling-a-long-time-ago-baske_1582856.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I lost all feeling a long time ago. Basketball is basketball. It doesn't matter what floor I'm on.” — Gilbert Arenas",
                "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": "Gilbert Arenas",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I lost all feeling a long...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/i-lost-all-feeling-a-long-time-ago-basketball-is-basketball-it-doesn/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/i-lost-all-feeling-a-long-time-ago-basketball-is-basketball-it-doesn/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
