--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, my first nine years I only…" description: "\"You know, my first nine years I only played for two teams, Chicago and New York. And the only reason I got traded from New York was the 2010 free agenc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/087/jamal-crawford-6149_chance_you-know-my-first-nine-years-i-only-play_2532041.jpg" --- # You know, my first nine years I only played for two teams… ![“You know, my first nine years I only played for two teams, Chicago and New York. And the only reason I got traded from New York was the 2010 free agency period, when they had a chance to sign LeBron and D-Wade and that whole class, and I understood that. But from there it's kind of been a roller…” quote by Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/087/jamal-crawford-6149_chance_you-know-my-first-nine-years-i-only-play_2532041.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/087/jamal-crawford-6149_chance_you-know-my-first-nine-years-i-only-play_2532041.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/087/jamal-crawford-6149_chance_you-know-my-first-nine-years-i-only-play_2532041.jpg) > “You know, my first nine years I only played for two teams, Chicago and New York. And the only reason I got traded from New York was the 2010 free agency period, when they had a chance to sign LeBron and D-Wade and that whole class, and I understood that. But from there it's kind of been a roller coaster.” [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes his early career stability and later turbulent trades, illustrating a roller‑coaster professional life **In simple terms:** My early career was stable, then became unpredictable Key Takeaway Embrace change and stay adaptable Themes sports career uncertainty adaptability Mood reflective motivational Type sports career When to use this quote - team negotiations - player trades - career planning - mental toughness Key Concepts Professional volatility resilience career dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain performance amid constant change? - What strategies help you stay grounded during career upheavals? A Different Perspective Frequent trades can disrupt personal life ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Free agency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-agency/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Roller coaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roller-coaster/) ## Related quotes > [Come on, when does it come to the point where your name can't come up in trade talks? Willie Mays got traded. Pedro Martinez…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-davis/come-on-when-does-it-come-to-the-point-where-your-name-can-t-come-up/) [Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/) > [It's crazy because I got traded for Chris Paul of all people. He was the guy who I looked up to who played for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oubre-jr/it-s-crazy-because-i-got-traded-for-chris-paul-of-all-people-he-was/) [Kelly Oubre, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oubre-jr/) > [When I first came to Atlanta, I did not want to come here; I got traded here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-korver/when-i-first-came-to-atlanta-i-did-not-want-to-come-here-i-got-traded/) [Kyle Korver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-korver/) > [Any time you get traded, initially you feel a little weird, because you got traded, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerami-grant/any-time-you-get-traded-initially-you-feel-a-little-weird-because-you/) [Jerami Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerami-grant/) > [One thing I know in baseball is you should never be comfortable where you are. It doesn't matter who you are. It's a business.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lester/one-thing-i-know-in-baseball-is-you-should-never-be-comfortable-where/) [Jon Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lester/) > [I played on teams with 24 guys pulling the rope one way and one guy pulling the other. I've seen how destructive it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-schilling/i-played-on-teams-with-24-guys-pulling-the-rope-one-way-and-one-guy/) [Curt Schilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-schilling/) > [At Ajax, Juventus, and with Holland, I have played with top teams, and now I want to use my experience to reach the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/at-ajax-juventus-and-with-holland-i-have-played-with-top-teams-and/) [Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/) > [I don't like to compare clubs or players from way back. It's different today. Your ballparks are better. In the days when I played,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-schoendienst/i-don-t-like-to-compare-clubs-or-players-from-way-back-it-s-different/) [Red Schoendienst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-schoendienst/) > [I was a studio engineer out in L.A. for about six or seven years, and I played sideman for different people, and played in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-was-a-studio-engineer-out-in-l-a-for-about-six-or-seven-years-and-i/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [He's only 4 years old, so I don't think he realized, you know, that I played so many years. Of course, we watch tapes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-lemieux/he-s-only-4-years-old-so-i-don-t-think-he-realized-you-know-that-i/) [Mario Lemieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-lemieux/) > [For 17 years, I played at the highest level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ballack/for-17-years-i-played-at-the-highest-level/) [Michael Ballack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ballack/) > [I have played in the West for 14 years. I played against Dustin Byfuglien a lot. So it's not like I've been out East…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pronger/i-have-played-in-the-west-for-14-years-i-played-against-dustin/) [Chris Pronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pronger/) > [I danced for 12 years, and I played a lot team sports: basketball, volleyball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gal-gadot/i-danced-for-12-years-and-i-played-a-lot-team-sports-basketball/) [Gal Gadot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gal-gadot/) > [Over a spell of about three years, I played a series of roles that were, for me, all very different, but most of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/over-a-spell-of-about-three-years-i-played-a-series-of-roles-that/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [For years I have played the twenty-something lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macarthur/for-years-i-have-played-the-twenty-something-lover/) [James MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macarthur/) ## More by Jamal Crawford > [You can be in shape forever, it takes one week to get out of shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/you-can-be-in-shape-forever-it-takes-one-week-to-get-out-of-shape/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [I think you just have to be more aggressive when you come off the bench.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/i-think-you-just-have-to-be-more-aggressive-when-you-come-off-the/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [You look at my career, when the fit was right, I contributed on the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/you-look-at-my-career-when-the-fit-was-right-i-contributed-on-the/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [I've always loved coach Brett Brown. I've been on record. I've been a fan of his for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/i-ve-always-loved-coach-brett-brown-i-ve-been-on-record-i-ve-been-a/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [I'm not the person that when he has an off shooting game is going to make excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/i-m-not-the-person-that-when-he-has-an-off-shooting-game-is-going-to/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [When I was younger, I used to always think making it to the NBA would be the coolest thing in the world. I'd dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-always-think-making-it-to-the-nba-would/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [I do what feels right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/i-do-what-feels-right/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [I don't want to go to a team that's only won a few amount of games, but it doesn't have to be a contender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/i-don-t-want-to-go-to-a-team-that-s-only-won-a-few-amount-of-games/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [I've been blessed enough where all the rules that come with age don't apply to me. People were saying I was old at 32.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/i-ve-been-blessed-enough-where-all-the-rules-that-come-with-age-don-t/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [When I was in college going through the draft process my dad was like, 'Hey Michael Jordan loves your game,' I'm like dad? This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/when-i-was-in-college-going-through-the-draft-process-my-dad-was-like/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [It's always special when my kids come to my games. It changes everything. You know they're there watching and you know how excited they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/it-s-always-special-when-my-kids-come-to-my-games-it-changes/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [I would get mad if Kobe was like, 'I'm not going to shoot that much tonight.' No, no, no, that's your gift. The people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/i-would-get-mad-if-kobe-was-like-i-m-not-going-to-shoot-that-much/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [Obviously, having your peers' respect is everything. I learned that a long time ago: that some people see you one way, some people see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/obviously-having-your-peers-respect-is-everything-i-learned-that-a/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [If you put it in perspective, I loved basketball before I loved everything else, you know what I mean? Before I had a girlfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/if-you-put-it-in-perspective-i-loved-basketball-before-i-loved/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [When you bring one of your top scorers, your top players off the bench, it really gives your team balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/when-you-bring-one-of-your-top-scorers-your-top-players-off-the-bench/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) [Explore all 99 Jamal Crawford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) ## More Chance quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/) Alejandro Taubas > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [If you’re worrying about the past, you’ve got a good chance of screwing up the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-a-tullman/if-you-re-worrying-about-the-past-you-ve-got-a-good-chance-of/) [Howard A. Tullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-a-tullman/) > [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) [Browse all 12,460 Chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know, my first nine years I only played for two teams, Chicago and New York. And the only reason I got traded from New York was the 2010 free agency period, when they had a chance to sign LeBron and D-Wade and that whole class, and I understood that. 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