--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not playing for other people; if I…" description: "\"I'm not playing for other people; if I start thinking in those terms I would put too much pressure on myself. I play basketball because that is what I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/jeremy-lin-7478_basketball_i-m-not-playing-for-other-people-if-i-st_617166.jpg" --- # I'm not playing for other people; if I start thinking in… ![“I'm not playing for other people; if I start thinking in those terms I would put too much pressure on myself. I play basketball because that is what I love to do.” quote by Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/jeremy-lin-7478_basketball_i-m-not-playing-for-other-people-if-i-st_617166.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/jeremy-lin-7478_basketball_i-m-not-playing-for-other-people-if-i-st_617166.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/jeremy-lin-7478_basketball_i-m-not-playing-for-other-people-if-i-st_617166.jpg) > “I'm not playing for other people; if I start thinking in those terms I would put too much pressure on myself. I play basketball because that is what I love to do.” [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing for personal joy avoids external pressure and keeps motivation pure. **In simple terms:** Play for love, not others' expectations. Key Takeaway Focus on intrinsic motivation. Themes motivation self personal growth intrinsic motivation pressure Mood determined focused Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - team sports - personal goals - career decisions Key Concepts self-determination autonomy mindset Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay true to your passion? - What pressures do you feel from fans? A Different Perspective External expectations can still influence performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-love-625078/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-basketball/) [Playing People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-people/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Pressure Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure-play-504635/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) ## Related quotes > [I play basketball for love and money, and they come in interchangeable order, depending on how things are going when you ask the question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-heinsohn/i-play-basketball-for-love-and-money-and-they-come-in-interchangeable/) [Tom Heinsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-heinsohn/) > [Now I'm a free agent, literally and figuratively. I've reached that enviable state in life in which I can do pretty much what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/now-i-m-a-free-agent-literally-and-figuratively-i-ve-reached-that/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [Over the years Ive learned that just because you follow God, it doesnt mean you win every game or get what you want athletically.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/over-the-years-ive-learned-that-just-because-you-follow-god-it-doesnt/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [Under pressure, I play best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-prince-boateng/under-pressure-i-play-best/) [Kevin-Prince Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-prince-boateng/) > [I will put pressure on myself to play good every game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/memphis-depay/i-will-put-pressure-on-myself-to-play-good-every-game/) [Memphis Depay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/memphis-depay/) > [I don't have pressure on me. I just put pressure on myself to play hard every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanley-ramirez/i-don-t-have-pressure-on-me-i-just-put-pressure-on-myself-to-play/) [Hanley Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanley-ramirez/) > [Just because I had a good game doesn't change who I am, my identity is in Christ and not in basketball, I love playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/just-because-i-had-a-good-game-doesn-t-change-who-i-am-my-identity-is/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [Basketball will always be my first love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-drummond/basketball-will-always-be-my-first-love/) [Andre Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-drummond/) > [God loves me, and that he has the perfect plan for me. His plan will take me through a lots of ups and downs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/god-loves-me-and-that-he-has-the-perfect-plan-for-me-his-plan-will/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [And when other people see me play basketball...the way I treat my teammates, the opponents, the refs, that's all a reflection of God's image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/and-when-other-people-see-me-play-basketball-the-way-i-treat-my/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [You don't know what pressure is until you play for five bucks with only two bucks in your pocket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-trevino/you-don-t-know-what-pressure-is-until-you-play-for-five-bucks-with/) [Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-trevino/) > [You are under pressure when you play to avoid relegation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/you-are-under-pressure-when-you-play-to-avoid-relegation/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [I put so much pressure on myself to play perfect golf because I felt like I had to play perfect golf to win tournaments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-hovland/i-put-so-much-pressure-on-myself-to-play-perfect-golf-because-i-felt/) [Viktor Hovland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-hovland/) > [With Serbia, there will always be pressure. We are the kind of players and people who do not know how to live without pressure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusan-tadic/with-serbia-there-will-always-be-pressure-we-are-the-kind-of-players/) [Dusan Tadic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusan-tadic/) > [There is no added pressure to play a Swede.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-wilander/there-is-no-added-pressure-to-play-a-swede/) [Mats Wilander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-wilander/) ## More by Jeremy Lin > [If you look back at my story, it doesn’t matter where you look, but God’s fingerprints are all over the place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/if-you-look-back-at-my-story-it-doesn-t-matter-where-you-look-but-god/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [There is so much temptation to hold on to my career even more now. To try to micromanage and dictate every little aspect. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/there-is-so-much-temptation-to-hold-on-to-my-career-even-more-now-to/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [Well, I'm not here to live up to anyone else's expectations-I'm here to live up to mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/well-i-m-not-here-to-live-up-to-anyone-else-s-expectations-i-m-here/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [I won't let any of my friends become a fan. To me, you're either a friend or you're a fan. That doesn't mean my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/i-won-t-let-any-of-my-friends-become-a-fan-to-me-you-re-either-a/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [Having small group once a week gives me a lot of encouragement and accountability. Even though I go to church, I dont really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/having-small-group-once-a-week-gives-me-a-lot-of-encouragement-and/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [Over the years Ive learned that just because you follow God, it doesnt mean you win every game or get what you want athletically.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/over-the-years-ive-learned-that-just-because-you-follow-god-it-doesnt/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [When I'm on the court, I try to play with all my emotion and heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/when-i-m-on-the-court-i-try-to-play-with-all-my-emotion-and-heart/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [You don't get better if you win all the time. You look at yourself more when you lose,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/you-don-t-get-better-if-you-win-all-the-time-you-look-at-yourself/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [I think one of the most rewarding experiences in life is to see people come to Christ and make lifestyle changes. When that happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/i-think-one-of-the-most-rewarding-experiences-in-life-is-to-see/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [I've surrendered that to God. I'm not in a battle with what everybody else thinks anymore,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/i-ve-surrendered-that-to-god-i-m-not-in-a-battle-with-what-everybody/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [I was a big Michael Jordan fan growing up. I don't feel my game resembles his though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/i-was-a-big-michael-jordan-fan-growing-up-i-don-t-feel-my-game/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [I love eating junk food. I'm a huge snacker, chips and candy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/i-love-eating-junk-food-i-m-a-huge-snacker-chips-and-candy/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [All these people, all these things came into my life, and theyre all blessings from God. And now that I look back, I realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/all-these-people-all-these-things-came-into-my-life-and-theyre-all/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [Everyone looks me and says, 'I'm not going to let that Asian kid embarrass me. I'm going to go at him.' That's how it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/everyone-looks-me-and-says-i-m-not-going-to-let-that-asian-kid/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [When you think about your relationship with Christ, it really just affects every aspect of your life. I think a lot of people try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/when-you-think-about-your-relationship-with-christ-it-really-just/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) [Explore all 91 Jeremy Lin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [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/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [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/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not playing for other people; if I start thinking in those terms I would put too much pressure on myself. 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