--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're just dunking by yourself, it's…" description: "\"If you're just dunking by yourself, it's really nothing special. You have to dunk on someone - then you feel like you're demoralizing them.\" — JaVale M..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/javale-mcgee-5750_dunk_if-you-re-just-dunking-by-yourself-it-s_2966602.jpg" --- # If you're just dunking by yourself, it's really nothing… ![“If you're just dunking by yourself, it's really nothing special. You have to dunk on someone - then you feel like you're demoralizing them.” quote by JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/javale-mcgee-5750_dunk_if-you-re-just-dunking-by-yourself-it-s_2966602.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/javale-mcgee-5750_dunk_if-you-re-just-dunking-by-yourself-it-s_2966602.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/javale-mcgee-5750_dunk_if-you-re-just-dunking-by-yourself-it-s_2966602.jpg) > “If you're just dunking by yourself, it's really nothing special. You have to dunk on someone - then you feel like you're demoralizing them.” [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dunking alone lacks impact; performing against an opponent adds competitive meaning and emotional payoff. **In simple terms:** Competition gives actions meaning. Key Takeaway Seek challenges, not just actions. Themes sports competition motivation Mood energetic determined Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - team sports - personal training - coaching - performance reviews Key Concepts psychology of sport social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Why do we value competition? - How does rivalry affect self‑esteem? A Different Perspective Solo feats can still be personally rewarding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dunking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dunking/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) ## Related quotes > [I don't wanna be labeled as just a defensive player or a rim protector or someone who can dunk. I feel like I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-don-t-wanna-be-labeled-as-just-a-defensive-player-or-a-rim/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [I haven't been able to slam-dunk the basketball for the past five years. Or, for the thirty-eight years before that, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-haven-t-been-able-to-slam-dunk-the-basketball-for-the-past-five/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [My 11th-grade summer, going into my senior year, is when I started dunking consistently. Before then, I'd probably get one dunk out of 25 tries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ja-morant/my-11th-grade-summer-going-into-my-senior-year-is-when-i-started/) [Ja Morant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ja-morant/) > [When I dunk, I put something on it. I want the ball to hit the floor before I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/when-i-dunk-i-put-something-on-it-i-want-the-ball-to-hit-the-floor/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [To be honest, I was never really jumping that high when I was younger. I had to work on it. I didnt dunk for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/to-be-honest-i-was-never-really-jumping-that-high-when-i-was-younger/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [Not being in the dunk contest isn't going to stop me from dunking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-collins/not-being-in-the-dunk-contest-isn-t-going-to-stop-me-from-dunking/) [John Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-collins/) > [I love dunking and it's so motivating to be in the dunk contest because I enjoy putting on a show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-love-dunking-and-it-s-so-motivating-to-be-in-the-dunk-contest/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [I've always been a high-percentage shooter, obviously because I'm dunking and laying the ball up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/i-ve-always-been-a-high-percentage-shooter-obviously-because-i-m/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [I don't need to be a banger. I dunk on people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/i-don-t-need-to-be-a-banger-i-dunk-on-people/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [You bring a car out, you're going to win any dunk contest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/you-bring-a-car-out-you-re-going-to-win-any-dunk-contest/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [I'm not really a flashy dunker or a show dunker unless somebody's in front of me. That's the only time I really get wide-eyed:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/i-m-not-really-a-flashy-dunker-or-a-show-dunker-unless-somebody-s-in/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [Sports are basically our way of feeling sorry for ourselves. Most men can't become athletes. We're watching guys who actually made it. We see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/sports-are-basically-our-way-of-feeling-sorry-for-ourselves-most-men/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [I mean, dunking is fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-mean-dunking-is-fun/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I'm kind of mobile like a guard, so when I'm dunking it doesn't look like a big guy dunking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-m-kind-of-mobile-like-a-guard-so-when-i-m-dunking-it-doesn-t-look/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [It's not about making the most shots or even dunking the ball or any of that. It's about being consistent every day you step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/it-s-not-about-making-the-most-shots-or-even-dunking-the-ball-or-any/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) ## More by JaVale McGee > [I've always loved blocking shots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/i-ve-always-loved-blocking-shots/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [I'll stay in the studio for 12 hours at a time, just producing music and making records. It doesn't feel like 'Oh man I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/i-ll-stay-in-the-studio-for-12-hours-at-a-time-just-producing-music/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [It's all love in L.A. The fans are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/it-s-all-love-in-l-a-the-fans-are-great/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [Rondo is great with the steals, also on offense with the passing and court vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/rondo-is-great-with-the-steals-also-on-offense-with-the-passing-and/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [If you can't breathe, you can't do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/if-you-can-t-breathe-you-can-t-do-nothing/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [People try to bring negativity into my life, but it's crazy how I deflect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/people-try-to-bring-negativity-into-my-life-but-it-s-crazy-how-i/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [Whatever happens, however fast it's supposed to happen, it'll happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/whatever-happens-however-fast-it-s-supposed-to-happen-it-ll-happen/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [When I do things, I just fully commit to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/when-i-do-things-i-just-fully-commit-to-it/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [As a kid, you always wanna play for either the Lakers or Boston just for the rivalry alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/as-a-kid-you-always-wanna-play-for-either-the-lakers-or-boston-just/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [I'm not really a confrontational person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/i-m-not-really-a-confrontational-person/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [I feel like people think that I have mental lapses and I'm injury-prone, which isn't true. You just don't know me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/i-feel-like-people-think-that-i-have-mental-lapses-and-i-m-injury/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [I don't do anything malicious or anything in a negative manner. I'm all about positivity and making people smile is positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/i-don-t-do-anything-malicious-or-anything-in-a-negative-manner-i-m/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [It's just a reassuring feeling, a confidence-builder I guess, knowing that you're going into a situation wanted as an option, like you're really wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/it-s-just-a-reassuring-feeling-a-confidence-builder-i-guess-knowing/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [It's definitely a grind. Come to the gym early, leave late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/it-s-definitely-a-grind-come-to-the-gym-early-leave-late/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [I don't think people realize that I produce like 90 percent of all my music, except for the songs that I co-produce with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/i-don-t-think-people-realize-that-i-produce-like-90-percent-of-all-my/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) [Explore all 100 JaVale McGee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) ## More Dunk quotes > [Boys have a tendency to jump around a lot more than girls. Boys have that desire to want to dunk way more than girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/boys-have-a-tendency-to-jump-around-a-lot-more-than-girls-boys-have/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [We're young. We like to run. J.R. and those guys, they want to dunk and I want to see 'em dunk. So it works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-paul/we-re-young-we-like-to-run-j-r-and-those-guys-they-want-to-dunk-and-i/) [Chris Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-paul/) > [When you can't dunk anymore, you have to find a way to make it into the news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-ginobili/when-you-can-t-dunk-anymore-you-have-to-find-a-way-to-make-it-into/) [Manu Ginobili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-ginobili/) > [My first dunk was actually in sixth grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-carter/my-first-dunk-was-actually-in-sixth-grade/) [Vince Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-carter/) > [I just don't want to go to the All-Star game to be in the dunk contest and go home. I want to be there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-jordan/i-just-don-t-want-to-go-to-the-all-star-game-to-be-in-the-dunk/) [DeAndre Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-jordan/) > [In New York, the dunk is not the thing. To break somebody down and shoot a J-that's as big as a dunk in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/in-new-york-the-dunk-is-not-the-thing-to-break-somebody-down-and/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [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/) > [Can I still dunk... Are you stupid?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/can-i-still-dunk-are-you-stupid/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [People came to the All-Star Game to see the dunk contest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-wilkins/people-came-to-the-all-star-game-to-see-the-dunk-contest/) [Dominique Wilkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-wilkins/) > [Skills Challenge tonight! You guys tuning in? Who you picking for the dunk contest?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/skills-challenge-tonight-you-guys-tuning-in-who-you-picking-for-the/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [How much will y'all give me if I slam dunk this thing into the trash can?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/how-much-will-y-all-give-me-if-i-slam-dunk-this-thing-into-the-trash/) [Danny Mcbride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [I would've said yes before I saw Aaron Gordon do what he did. And Zach LaVine went nuts as well. I think Gordon should've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kerr/i-would-ve-said-yes-before-i-saw-aaron-gordon-do-what-he-did-and-zach/) [Steve Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kerr/) > [I can never dunk, but I can always find a way to score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-darren/i-can-never-dunk-but-i-can-always-find-a-way-to-score/) Jeremy Darren > [Something you can control is your effort and your energy and playing defense. And for me that's always been a catalyst for my game,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-caruso/something-you-can-control-is-your-effort-and-your-energy-and-playing/) [Alex Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-caruso/) > [I can't afford to do the highlight dunk and miss it because, if I do that, I'll be sitting right on the bench beside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zion-williamson/i-can-t-afford-to-do-the-highlight-dunk-and-miss-it-because-if-i-do/) [Zion Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zion-williamson/) Browse all 135 Dunk quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're just dunking by yourself, it's really nothing special. 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