--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you have a kid that loves basketball…" description: "\"If you have a kid that loves basketball - that eats, sleeps, drinks, and thinks basketball, and all he knows is basketball - and he gets hurt, and he's..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/gilbert-arenas-3494_back_if-you-have-a-kid-that-loves-basketball_1086455.png" --- # If you have a kid that loves basketball - that eats… ![“If you have a kid that loves basketball - that eats, sleeps, drinks, and thinks basketball, and all he knows is basketball - and he gets hurt, and he's your franchise player, you need to hold him back from himself.” quote by Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/gilbert-arenas-3494_back_if-you-have-a-kid-that-loves-basketball_1086455.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/gilbert-arenas-3494_back_if-you-have-a-kid-that-loves-basketball_1086455.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/gilbert-arenas-3494_back_if-you-have-a-kid-that-loves-basketball_1086455.png) > “If you have a kid that loves basketball - that eats, sleeps, drinks, and thinks basketball, and all he knows is basketball - and he gets hurt, and he's your franchise player, you need to hold him back from himself.” [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 quote advises that when a talented young athlete becomes overly obsessed with their sport, especially after injury, mentors should protect them from self-destructive behavior. **In simple terms:** Protect over‑focused athletes from self‑harm. Key Takeaway Guide and set limits. Themes sports mentorship health Mood cautionary motivational Type advice observational When to use this quote - coaching - injury recovery - career planning Key Concepts over‑identification risk management Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance encouragement with protection? - What signs indicate a player is self‑sabotaging? A Different Perspective Athlete may resist external control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a basketball fan, I'm a fan of greatness and I think anybody who knows anything about basketball knows great shooters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-moore/i-m-a-basketball-fan-i-m-a-fan-of-greatness-and-i-think-anybody-who/) [Maya Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-moore/) > [I think every player who truly loves basketball wants to be in the game at all times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-brunson/i-think-every-player-who-truly-loves-basketball-wants-to-be-in-the/) [Jalen Brunson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-brunson/) > [Coach Blatt is very, very knowledgeable about the game. 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