--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I look at the system here and look…" description: "\"When I look at the system here and look at my position - not just as a basketball player, but when I look around me at the values of the people and the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e9/hakeem-olajuwon-19552_africa_when-i-look-at-the-system-here-and-look_1656108.png" --- # When I look at the system here and look at my position… ![“When I look at the system here and look at my position - not just as a basketball player, but when I look around me at the values of the people and the culture and compare them with the values of where I came from - I feel so blessed to be from Africa.” quote by Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e9/hakeem-olajuwon-19552_africa_when-i-look-at-the-system-here-and-look_1656108.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e9/hakeem-olajuwon-19552_africa_when-i-look-at-the-system-here-and-look_1656108.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e9/hakeem-olajuwon-19552_africa_when-i-look-at-the-system-here-and-look_1656108.png) > “When I look at the system here and look at my position - not just as a basketball player, but when I look around me at the values of the people and the culture and compare them with the values of where I came from - I feel so blessed to be from Africa.” [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pride in African heritage and cultural values, contrasting with current environment. **In simple terms:** Proud of African roots despite new surroundings. Key Takeaway Honor your origins while embracing new opportunities. Themes culture heritage pride identity Mood proud grateful Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - team dynamics - community building - personal branding - global work Key Concepts sociology migration self‑esteem Questions to Reflect On - How does your background shape your leadership? - In what ways can you share your cultural values? A Different Perspective May underplay challenges of cultural adaptation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-player/) [Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [I feel lucky. I feel blessed. If you get blessed with some ability, I think you have to work hard at it. Michael Jordan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-feel-lucky-i-feel-blessed-if-you-get-blessed-with-some-ability-i/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [In my mind, women's basketball players are an untapped resource.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/in-my-mind-women-s-basketball-players-are-an-untapped-resource/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [You can never stop learning as a basketball player and it's my goal to keep growing every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-harris/you-can-never-stop-learning-as-a-basketball-player-and-it-s-my-goal/) [Tobias Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-harris/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/it-s-not-like-being-a-professional-basketball-player-where-you-re-in/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [When I was growing up, I drew my favorite basketball players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-ingram/when-i-was-growing-up-i-drew-my-favorite-basketball-players/) [Brandon Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-ingram/) > [I think, between me and Chris Brown, if you combined our games, you'd get, like, a real Division I basketball player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-dicky/i-think-between-me-and-chris-brown-if-you-combined-our-games-you-d/) [Lil Dicky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-dicky/) > [Alabama's a football state and you really don't get too many basketball players out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/alabama-s-a-football-state-and-you-really-don-t-get-too-many/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) > [Every little kid that steps on the court or the field has aspirations to go pro. I think being a pro basketball player is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/every-little-kid-that-steps-on-the-court-or-the-field-has-aspirations/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [Not only is Rip Hamilton an outstanding basketball player, he is also known for giving back to his community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gerlach/not-only-is-rip-hamilton-an-outstanding-basketball-player-he-is-also/) [Jim Gerlach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gerlach/) > [I'm not just here to get a paycheck and leave. I'm here to be one of the greatest basketball players to ever play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/i-m-not-just-here-to-get-a-paycheck-and-leave-i-m-here-to-be-one-of/) [Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/) > [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 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Hakeem Olajuwon > [I was doing just my duty, but that was impacting a lot of people and making them proud. So, I feel so grateful to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/i-was-doing-just-my-duty-but-that-was-impacting-a-lot-of-people-and/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [I'm shy, but sometimes my voice is so clear and strong. Your tongue moves, and the Arabic language is so beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/i-m-shy-but-sometimes-my-voice-is-so-clear-and-strong-your-tongue/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [I'm the kind of person who always wants more. I was successful materially, but I know life is much more than worldly success. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/i-m-the-kind-of-person-who-always-wants-more-i-was-successful/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [I'm the kind of person who always wants more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/i-m-the-kind-of-person-who-always-wants-more/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [My life is very simple. I like simplicity and for my time to be my own, so that I have the freedom to devote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/my-life-is-very-simple-i-like-simplicity-and-for-my-time-to-be-my-own/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [All these boundaries - Africa, Asia, Malaysia, America - are set by men. But you don't have to look at boundaries when you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/all-these-boundaries-africa-asia-malaysia-america-are-set-by-men-but/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [I love fashion as much as I love basketball! It is a great joy for me to express myself through designing my own collection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/i-love-fashion-as-much-as-i-love-basketball-it-is-a-great-joy-for-me/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [Sports is good for health and for children, it gives them manhood, courage, teaches them team work and coordination. Sports is something that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/sports-is-good-for-health-and-for-children-it-gives-them-manhood/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [Allah says in the Qur'an not to despise one another. So the criterion in Islam is not color or social status. It's who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/allah-says-in-the-qur-an-not-to-despise-one-another-so-the-criterion/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [My type of basketball is about how to create space, how to maneuver, how to get your shot off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/my-type-of-basketball-is-about-how-to-create-space-how-to-maneuver/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [The key to fashion is, you don't want to look like you're trying. You've gotta be natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/the-key-to-fashion-is-you-don-t-want-to-look-like-you-re-trying-you/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [I remember at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Shaq always wanted me to show him steps over and over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/i-remember-at-the-1996-olympics-in-atlanta-shaq-always-wanted-me-to/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [Being from Africa is the best thing that could have ever, ever happened to me. I cannot see it any other way. All of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/being-from-africa-is-the-best-thing-that-could-have-ever-ever/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [When people start comparing him with (Michael) Jordan then that's not a fair comparison. Jordan was a far more superior player in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/when-people-start-comparing-him-with-michael-jordan-then-that-s-not-a/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [I’m shy, but sometimes my voice is so clear and strong,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/i-m-shy-but-sometimes-my-voice-is-so-clear-and-strong/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) [Explore all 32 Hakeem Olajuwon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) ## More Africa quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' I'm Testy the Lion. The franchise moves to Africa, and Bernie Mac is also in the film. I loved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lister-jr/i-m-in-madagascar-2-i-m-testy-the-lion-the-franchise-moves-to-africa/) [Tom Lister, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lister-jr/) > [South Africa needs a second liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/south-africa-needs-a-second-liberation/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [In Africa, animals and the natural landscape allow local communities to support themselves, as there is a constant source of money from tourism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/in-africa-animals-and-the-natural-landscape-allow-local-communities/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [My mom is from Ghana, and my dad is from Detroit, so I would go back and forth to Africa a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-richardson/my-mom-is-from-ghana-and-my-dad-is-from-detroit-so-i-would-go-back/) [Sam Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-richardson/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/) [Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/) > [I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/i-represent-my-country-but-i-also-represent-the-continent-of-africa/) [Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/) > [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/) [Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/) > [I was learning to track rhinoceroses in Africa and tracked right up on an animal that really I thought was going to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-was-learning-to-track-rhinoceroses-in-africa-and-tracked-right-up/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [My mother is a huge fan of my work. I told her about 'Coraline' long before the film was made, and she got the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-selick/my-mother-is-a-huge-fan-of-my-work-i-told-her-about-coraline-long/) [Henry Selick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-selick/) [Browse all 1,665 Africa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I look at the system here and look at my position - not just as a basketball player, but when I look around me at the values of the people and the culture and compare them with the values of where I came from - I feel so blessed to be from Africa.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hakeem Olajuwon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/when-i-look-at-the-system-here-and-look-at-my-position-not-just-as-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Africa" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/when-i-look-at-the-system-here-and-look-at-my-position-not-just-as-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e9/hakeem-olajuwon-19552_africa_when-i-look-at-the-system-here-and-look_1656108.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e9/hakeem-olajuwon-19552_africa_when-i-look-at-the-system-here-and-look_1656108.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e9/hakeem-olajuwon-19552_africa_when-i-look-at-the-system-here-and-look_1656108.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I look at the system here and look at my position - not just as a basketball player, but when I look…” — Hakeem Olajuwon", "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": "Hakeem Olajuwon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I look at the system...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/when-i-look-at-the-system-here-and-look-at-my-position-not-just-as-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/when-i-look-at-the-system-here-and-look-at-my-position-not-just-as-a/#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 } } ] } ```