---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't expect this - to be 19, be a…"
description: "\"I didn't expect this - to be 19, be a rookie, playing this much and having a kid. It's a lot, but, I mean, I'm enjoying it.\" — Jayson Tatum"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/jayson-tatum-8565_expect_i-didn-t-expect-this-to-be-19-be-a-rooki_1538417.jpg"
---

#  I didn't expect this - to be 19, be a rookie, playing this…

![“I didn't expect this - to be 19, be a rookie, playing this much and having a kid. It's a lot, but, I mean, I'm enjoying it.” quote by Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/jayson-tatum-8565_expect_i-didn-t-expect-this-to-be-19-be-a-rooki_1538417.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/jayson-tatum-8565_expect_i-didn-t-expect-this-to-be-19-be-a-rooki_1538417.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/jayson-tatum-8565_expect_i-didn-t-expect-this-to-be-19-be-a-rooki_1538417.jpg)

> “I didn't expect this - to be 19, be a rookie, playing this much and having a kid. It's a lot, but, I mean, I'm enjoying it.”

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Unexpected success at a young age brings excitement and responsibility, yet enjoyment remains key.

**In simple terms:** Youthful success feels overwhelming.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the journey and enjoy it.

Themes

sports growth responsibility joy

Mood

optimistic reflective

Type

personal inspirational

When to use this quote

- professional debut
- parenting
- public life
- personal goals

Key Concepts

career development mental health balance

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you stay grounded?
- What keeps you motivated?

A Different Perspective

Pressure can be intense; burnout risk.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[19 Rookie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/19-rookie-5724447/) [Didn Expect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-expect/) [Expect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expect/) [Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Rookie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rookie/) [Rookie Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rookie-playing-5724448/)

## Related quotes

> [I wanted to make a place for filmmakers and artists to come and 'do their stuff,' but I didn't expect it to have had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-anderson/i-wanted-to-make-a-place-for-filmmakers-and-artists-to-come-and-do/)

[Tom Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-anderson/)

> [I didn't expect I will get the Arjuna at 18 years. I thought 19.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/i-didn-t-expect-i-will-get-the-arjuna-at-18-years-i-thought-19/)

[Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/)

> [I didn't expect people would embrace 'Ang Probinsyano' the way they did during its first year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-martin/i-didn-t-expect-people-would-embrace-ang-probinsyano-the-way-they-did/)

[Coco Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-martin/)

> [Living in the 'Bigg Boss' house is a roller-coaster ride. I didn't expect to reach the finals. But I was sure that I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hina-khan/living-in-the-bigg-boss-house-is-a-roller-coaster-ride-i-didn-t/)

[Hina Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hina-khan/)

> [I didn't expect to get it at all. I just went along to the audition for the experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dannii-minogue/i-didn-t-expect-to-get-it-at-all-i-just-went-along-to-the-audition/)

[Dannii Minogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dannii-minogue/)

> [If somebody was to ask me who is the best rookie, I would tell them I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/if-somebody-was-to-ask-me-who-is-the-best-rookie-i-would-tell-them-i/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [Anytime I play another rookie, there's that extra edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/anytime-i-play-another-rookie-there-s-that-extra-edge/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [Going into my rookie year I expect to play well and I expect to win a lot of games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-burrow/going-into-my-rookie-year-i-expect-to-play-well-and-i-expect-to-win-a/)

[Joe Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-burrow/)

> [I've done it for a long time and I didn't expect it to be any different here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-warner/i-ve-done-it-for-a-long-time-and-i-didn-t-expect-it-to-be-any/)

[Kurt Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-warner/)

> [Falling inlove with you is something I didn't expect . But being inlove with you is something I couldn't stop ..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/falling-inlove-with-you-is-something-i-didn-t-expect-but-being-inlove/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I didn't expect to be dropped by England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rio-ferdinand/i-didn-t-expect-to-be-dropped-by-england/)

[Rio Ferdinand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rio-ferdinand/)

> [That worked great! Thank you so much. What next?" "I don't know. I didn't expect you to live through it." "Oh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/that-worked-great-thank-you-so-much-what-next-i-don-t-know-i-didn-t/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

> [I didn't expect to be doing a whole bunch of Amber Browns. And because it was just one book, and the father had moved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-danziger/i-didn-t-expect-to-be-doing-a-whole-bunch-of-amber-browns-and-because/)

[Paula Danziger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-danziger/)

> [I was born with this talent, so I've just worked hard, and now it's gone well for me. But I'm not going to lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riyad-mahrez/i-was-born-with-this-talent-so-i-ve-just-worked-hard-and-now-it-s/)

[Riyad Mahrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riyad-mahrez/)

> [I trained in internal medicine, and I expected most of my time would be spent on diabetes or heart disease or cancer. What I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/i-trained-in-internal-medicine-and-i-expected-most-of-my-time-would/)

[Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/)

## More by Jayson Tatum

> [All I used to want to do was shoot fadeaways like Kobe because he was my favorite player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/all-i-used-to-want-to-do-was-shoot-fadeaways-like-kobe-because-he-was/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [I remember placing the New Era cap on my head at the 2017 NBA draft - that moment changed my life. I'm excited to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/i-remember-placing-the-new-era-cap-on-my-head-at-the-2017-nba-draft/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [Obviously understand what's at stake, and keep going. You just have to keep going, keep playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/obviously-understand-what-s-at-stake-and-keep-going-you-just-have-to/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [I love Coach K's passion to coach his players and to coach the game. I examined and watched the interaction between him and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/i-love-coach-k-s-passion-to-coach-his-players-and-to-coach-the-game-i/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [I got to go to practice one day, shoot around, and rebound for LeBron James. That was still an unreal experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/i-got-to-go-to-practice-one-day-shoot-around-and-rebound-for-lebron/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [Every time I shoot, I think it's going in. I get upset when it doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/every-time-i-shoot-i-think-it-s-going-in-i-get-upset-when-it-doesn-t/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [Meeting Kobe, it was of the greatest feelings ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/meeting-kobe-it-was-of-the-greatest-feelings-ever/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [I grew up watching LeBron and asking him to follow me back on Twitter, going to his camps. So just to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/i-grew-up-watching-lebron-and-asking-him-to-follow-me-back-on-twitter/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [When I play bad, I don't get too down on myself. When I play good, I don't get too hot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/when-i-play-bad-i-don-t-get-too-down-on-myself-when-i-play-good-i-don/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [I've always lived with my mom. My whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/i-ve-always-lived-with-my-mom-my-whole-life/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [I think that's when I have the most fun: when things are on the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/i-think-that-s-when-i-have-the-most-fun-when-things-are-on-the-line/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [I don't know how to handle all the trade talks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/i-don-t-know-how-to-handle-all-the-trade-talks/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [Guys are going to be physical, especially with me being the young guy. That tends to happen a lot. It's just guys trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/guys-are-going-to-be-physical-especially-with-me-being-the-young-guy/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [Thin crust, provolone cheese, marinara sauce - it's just a St. Louis thing. That's what I grew up eating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/thin-crust-provolone-cheese-marinara-sauce-it-s-just-a-st-louis-thing/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

> [My mom tried to not let me see how much we were struggling, but I noticed it. I think that's what made me work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/my-mom-tried-to-not-let-me-see-how-much-we-were-struggling-but-i/)

[Jayson Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

[Explore all 80 Jayson Tatum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/)

## More Expect quotes

> [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/)

[David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/)

> [If you expect the worst from a person you can never be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/if-you-expect-the-worst-from-a-person-you-can-never-be-disappointed/)

[Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/)

> [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/)

[Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/)

> [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/)

[Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/)

> [Beare with evill, and expect good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/beare-with-evill-and-expect-good/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/therefore-you-also-must-be-ready-for-the-son-of-man-is-coming-at-an/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [People expect more and more every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-boosie/people-expect-more-and-more-every-time/)

[Lil Boosie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-boosie/)

> [“Love is promising to give someone everything and not expect anything in return.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-hart/love-is-promising-to-give-someone-everything-and-not-expect-anything/)

[Emma Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-hart/)

> [I wanted to make a place for filmmakers and artists to come and 'do their stuff,' but I didn't expect it to have had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-anderson/i-wanted-to-make-a-place-for-filmmakers-and-artists-to-come-and-do/)

[Tom Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-anderson/)

> [Parents should have perfect control over their own spirits, and with mildness and yet firmness bend the will of the child until it shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/parents-should-have-perfect-control-over-their-own-spirits-and-with/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [“When you have a relationship with Jesus, you learn to expect something different everyday of your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mlungisi-simelane/when-you-have-a-relationship-with-jesus-you-learn-to-expect-something/)

[Mlungisi Simelane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mlungisi-simelane/)

> [I didn't expect I will get the Arjuna at 18 years. I thought 19.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/i-didn-t-expect-i-will-get-the-arjuna-at-18-years-i-thought-19/)

[Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/)

> [“Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-who-we-are-isn-t-so-much-about-what-we-do-but-rather-what-we-re/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“Sometimes when you least expect it, hope wiggles into your heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-plourde/sometimes-when-you-least-expect-it-hope-wiggles-into-your-heart/)

[Lynn Plourde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-plourde/)

> [I laid my life on the line, so I expect nothing less from you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-day-to-remember/i-laid-my-life-on-the-line-so-i-expect-nothing-less-from-you/)

[A Day To Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-day-to-remember/)

[Browse all 2,143 Expect quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expect/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I didn't expect this - to be 19, be a rookie, playing this much and having a kid. It's a lot, but, I mean, I'm enjoying it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jayson Tatum"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/i-didn-t-expect-this-to-be-19-be-a-rookie-playing-this-much-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Expect"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/i-didn-t-expect-this-to-be-19-be-a-rookie-playing-this-much-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/jayson-tatum-8565_expect_i-didn-t-expect-this-to-be-19-be-a-rooki_1538417.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/jayson-tatum-8565_expect_i-didn-t-expect-this-to-be-19-be-a-rooki_1538417.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/jayson-tatum-8565_expect_i-didn-t-expect-this-to-be-19-be-a-rooki_1538417.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I didn't expect this - to be 19, be a rookie, playing this much and having a kid. It's a lot, but, I mean…” — Jayson Tatum",
                "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": "Jayson Tatum",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-tatum/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I didn't expect this - to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/i-didn-t-expect-this-to-be-19-be-a-rookie-playing-this-much-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-tatum/i-didn-t-expect-this-to-be-19-be-a-rookie-playing-this-much-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```