--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In Chicago, growing up there, that's how…" description: "\"In Chicago, growing up there, that's how we played. You play for something more than just yourself. You play to win, and that's all that really matters..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/iman-shumpert-2849_chicago_in-chicago-growing-up-there-that-s-how-w_3014661.jpg" --- # In Chicago, growing up there, that's how we played. You… ![“In Chicago, growing up there, that's how we played. You play for something more than just yourself. You play to win, and that's all that really matters.” quote by Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/iman-shumpert-2849_chicago_in-chicago-growing-up-there-that-s-how-w_3014661.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/iman-shumpert-2849_chicago_in-chicago-growing-up-there-that-s-how-w_3014661.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/iman-shumpert-2849_chicago_in-chicago-growing-up-there-that-s-how-w_3014661.jpg) > “In Chicago, growing up there, that's how we played. You play for something more than just yourself. You play to win, and that's all that really matters.” [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing sports is portrayed as a means to achieve personal identity and collective victory, emphasizing self‑transcendence through competition. **In simple terms:** Sports give purpose beyond self. Key Takeaway Play for purpose, not just self. Themes identity competition teamwork purpose Mood determined proud focused Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - high school basketball - professional sports - community leagues - team building - personal growth Key Concepts self‑actualization collective achievement motivation Questions to Reflect On - What does “playing for something more” mean to you? - How can win‑or‑lose focus affect teamwork? A Different Perspective May overlook sportsmanship, health, and personal balance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chicago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicago/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play to win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-to-win/) ## Related quotes > [It's basketball. At the end of the day everyone wants to win, and that's really the reason why we play is to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-sexton/it-s-basketball-at-the-end-of-the-day-everyone-wants-to-win-and-that/) [Collin Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-sexton/) > [I always want to play and to win because football's my passion; it's my life. That's why, every time we win, I'm really happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-sanchez/i-always-want-to-play-and-to-win-because-football-s-my-passion-it-s/) [Alexis Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-sanchez/) > [I'm a competitor, you know. I don't want to play just to play; I want to play to win, and I wanted to win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-m-a-competitor-you-know-i-don-t-want-to-play-just-to-play-i-want-to/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [Greater than great I am, YES haters they hate I am, WHAT playing I play to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juelz-santana/greater-than-great-i-am-yes-haters-they-hate-i-am-what-playing-i-play/) [Juelz Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juelz-santana/) > [If you don't play to win, why keep score?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vern-law/if-you-don-t-play-to-win-why-keep-score/) Vern Law > [I play to win. If I have great numbers, that's great. Obviously you feel good about it, but still, I'm playing to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-livingston/i-play-to-win-if-i-have-great-numbers-that-s-great-obviously-you-feel/) [Shaun Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-livingston/) > [If I play to win will I make it out? I'm tired of feeling my heart, Lord I just wanna scrape it out. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-krit/if-i-play-to-win-will-i-make-it-out-i-m-tired-of-feeling-my-heart/) Big Krit > [Individual records are nice to get, but before the season starts, you want to play to win the Stanley Cup!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-lafleur/individual-records-are-nice-to-get-but-before-the-season-starts-you/) [Guy Lafleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-lafleur/) > [I play to win, because I think that's when you get the most praise is when you win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-ariza/i-play-to-win-because-i-think-that-s-when-you-get-the-most-praise-is/) [Trevor Ariza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-ariza/) > [We don't really try to pay attention to the score, we just try to play to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-larson/we-don-t-really-try-to-pay-attention-to-the-score-we-just-try-to-play/) [Jordan Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-larson/) > [The true competitors, though, are the ones who always play to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/the-true-competitors-though-are-the-ones-who-always-play-to-win/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [When Brazil take part in any competition they must always play to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zico/when-brazil-take-part-in-any-competition-they-must-always-play-to-win/) [Zico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zico/) > [You play to win the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-play-to-win-the-game/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you look around you wonder do you play to win? Or are you just a bad loser?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pet-shop-boys/when-you-look-around-you-wonder-do-you-play-to-win-or-are-you-just-a/) [Pet Shop Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pet-shop-boys/) > [I get paid to play, to win, to give the city pride, so maybe everybody can forget for a little while how hard life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/i-get-paid-to-play-to-win-to-give-the-city-pride-so-maybe-everybody/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) ## More by Iman Shumpert > [Usually, if I do a good job in the plus/minus category, I know I've had a good game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/usually-if-i-do-a-good-job-in-the-plus-minus-category-i-know-i-ve-had/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [There's a lot of guys in the NBA that would hire stylists because they know they don't have their own sense of style and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/there-s-a-lot-of-guys-in-the-nba-that-would-hire-stylists-because/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [I was growing, so I had to scrunch my feet up. Now people are like: "Why do you have so many shoes." I jump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/i-was-growing-so-i-had-to-scrunch-my-feet-up-now-people-are-like-why/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [I designed it, the tailors wanted the kilt as a high joint but I wanted mine low like a Jedi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/i-designed-it-the-tailors-wanted-the-kilt-as-a-high-joint-but-i/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [I think that for my sport, the core is the most important. I mean, really in all sports, but especially in the sport I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/i-think-that-for-my-sport-the-core-is-the-most-important-i-mean/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [Some guys play so straight, and that may be their thing; like, a lot of guys are good playing like that. I can't play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/some-guys-play-so-straight-and-that-may-be-their-thing-like-a-lot-of/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [Love is one of the most powerful and most dangerous things I've ever encountered and, within the same breath, one of the most beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/love-is-one-of-the-most-powerful-and-most-dangerous-things-i-ve-ever/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [I don't feel like you should promote personally that you dress nicely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/i-don-t-feel-like-you-should-promote-personally-that-you-dress-nicely/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [I don't want the attention. I want the respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/i-don-t-want-the-attention-i-want-the-respect/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [My high threshold for pain will allow me to battle through pretty much anything if I find a way to run and slide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/my-high-threshold-for-pain-will-allow-me-to-battle-through-pretty/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [No one else on the team in college was dressing up. They were wearing sweats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/no-one-else-on-the-team-in-college-was-dressing-up-they-were-wearing/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [People sometimes think that if someone plays basketball, they have to do that one thing they're great at. But I like being able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/people-sometimes-think-that-if-someone-plays-basketball-they-have-to/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [ \[Tyson Chandler\] doesn't listen to people either. He does whatever he feels like and people will be like, "Who dressed you?" ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/tyson-chandler-doesn-t-listen-to-people-either-he-does-whatever-he/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [I don't like video games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/i-don-t-like-video-games/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [Ray Allen's diet was insane. He was trying to break it down to me what he ate and how disciplined he tries to stay.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/ray-allen-s-diet-was-insane-he-was-trying-to-break-it-down-to-me-what/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) [Explore all 148 Iman Shumpert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) ## More Chicago quotes > [I'm proud to say I had a bet with a guy from Chicago who said Chicago is windier and colder than Wyoming. Wyoming dominated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/i-m-proud-to-say-i-had-a-bet-with-a-guy-from-chicago-who-said-chicago/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“Things are more like they are now...than they have EVER been before!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uncle-arnie-mamath/things-are-more-like-they-are-now-than-they-have-ever-been-before/) Uncle Arnie Mamath > [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whenever I was flying commercial, I would land in Chicago, and they would announce, 'Get your passports out.' It happened so often, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahid-khan/whenever-i-was-flying-commercial-i-would-land-in-chicago-and-they/) [Shahid Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahid-khan/) > [I loved 'Chicago Code;' I watched that a lot. It was great because it really captured the city - I'm from Chicago, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessy-schram/i-loved-chicago-code-i-watched-that-a-lot-it-was-great-because-it/) [Jessy Schram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessy-schram/) > [As much as I want to stay on the team -- I love Chicago, I love the Bulls -- at the same time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/as-much-as-i-want-to-stay-on-the-team-i-love-chicago-i-love-the-bulls/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I'm from Chicago. And I was an actor in high school and college, and I wanted to see if I could make a run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/i-m-from-chicago-and-i-was-an-actor-in-high-school-and-college-and-i/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [“I will have both of you," he said. "My Sentinel and my city. And the GP will learn exactly how stubborn we both can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-neill/i-will-have-both-of-you-he-said-my-sentinel-and-my-city-and-the-gp/) [Chloe Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-neill/) > [You'd never think of taking a cab if you had to walk a mile down Chicago's Michigan Avenue. But in a bad city you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/you-d-never-think-of-taking-a-cab-if-you-had-to-walk-a-mile-down/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [Perhaps the most typically American place in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryce/perhaps-the-most-typically-american-place-in-america/) [James Bryce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryce/) > [I feel there's a really raw quality in the Chicago theater community that's really special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-layne/i-feel-there-s-a-really-raw-quality-in-the-chicago-theater-community/) [KiKi Layne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-layne/) > [Chicago is unique. It is the only completely corrupt city in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edward-merriam/chicago-is-unique-it-is-the-only-completely-corrupt-city-in-america/) [Charles Edward Merriam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edward-merriam/) > [Chicago, to me, is the best wrestling crowd on the planet. They are the best. They are loud, they are ruthless, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldust/chicago-to-me-is-the-best-wrestling-crowd-on-the-planet-they-are-the/) [Goldust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldust/) [Browse all 1,655 Chicago quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicago/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In Chicago, growing up there, that's how we played. You play for something more than just yourself. 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