--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just because I had a good game doesn't…" description: "\"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 basketball and it's my job but a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/jeremy-lin-7478_basketball_just-because-i-had-a-good-game-doesn-t-c_1839795.jpg" --- # Just because I had a good game doesn't change who I am, my… ![“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 basketball and it's my job but at the same time I recognize that I'm a sinner and that's not gonna change regardless of how well I play on the court” quote by Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/jeremy-lin-7478_basketball_just-because-i-had-a-good-game-doesn-t-c_1839795.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/jeremy-lin-7478_basketball_just-because-i-had-a-good-game-doesn-t-c_1839795.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/jeremy-lin-7478_basketball_just-because-i-had-a-good-game-doesn-t-c_1839795.jpg) > “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 basketball and it's my job but at the same time I recognize that I'm a sinner and that's not gonna change regardless of how well I play on the court” [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. Personal identity is rooted in faith, not athletic performance; success on the court doesn't alter one's spiritual self. **In simple terms:** Identity is spiritual, not athletic. Key Takeaway Prioritize faith over sport achievements. Themes faith identity humility athletics Mood inspirational reflective Type motivational spiritual When to use this quote - coaching - public speaking - mentorship - personal development Key Concepts spirituality self-concept role models Questions to Reflect On - How can athletes balance faith and sport? - What practices keep identity grounded? A Different Perspective Athletic identity can dominate self-perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Playing basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-basketball/) [Who i am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-i-am/) ## Related quotes > [My identity is in Christ, not in basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/my-identity-is-in-christ-not-in-basketball/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [What's the reason I'm playing basketball? I do it because I love it, I do it because of my family, and that's it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-antetokounmpo/what-s-the-reason-i-m-playing-basketball-i-do-it-because-i-love-it-i/) [Giannis Antetokounmpo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-antetokounmpo/) > [I love playing basketball more than I love getting fined and getting suspended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/i-love-playing-basketball-more-than-i-love-getting-fined-and-getting/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [I always try to have fun, because that's why I like playing basketball; I love it. And sometimes it's hard when you lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-rubio/i-always-try-to-have-fun-because-that-s-why-i-like-playing-basketball/) [Ricky Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-rubio/) > [I understand religion is a walk, it's a journey. And I fully recognize that I'm a sinner, just like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-understand-religion-is-a-walk-it-s-a-journey-and-i-fully-recognize/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Sannyas is celebration of life, and sin is natural: natural in the sense that you are unconscious - what else can you do? In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/sannyas-is-celebration-of-life-and-sin-is-natural-natural-in-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/i-m-not-playing-for-other-people-if-i-start-thinking-in-those-terms-i/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [I love basketball, but playing basketball doesn't fully define who I am. I was always a good student, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/i-love-basketball-but-playing-basketball-doesn-t-fully-define-who-i/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [“Taking on the identity of Christ is a significant concept that helps define who we are as God’s people. Out of many, we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-parsley/taking-on-the-identity-of-christ-is-a-significant-concept-that-helps/) [Ross Parsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-parsley/) > [“We do not behave out of our identity, we behave out of our understanding of our identity in Christ.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-hendrix/we-do-not-behave-out-of-our-identity-we-behave-out-of-our/) [Shelley Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-hendrix/) > [I put my identity in what Christ says, who He thinks I am and who I know that He says I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-lawrence/i-put-my-identity-in-what-christ-says-who-he-thinks-i-am-and-who-i/) [Trevor Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-lawrence/) > [Failure to deal with the presence of sin can often be traced back to spiritual amnesia – forgetting our new, true, real identity. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/failure-to-deal-with-the-presence-of-sin-can-often-be-traced-back-to/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [Sometimes people base their identity on their gifting. But our identity is in Christ and ultimately has no relation to whatever gift the Spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/sometimes-people-base-their-identity-on-their-gifting-but-our/) [Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/) > [“Our identity is in Christ, not in our work, our accomplishments or our own good works. Our provision is from God alone, not our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddick-van-zyl/our-identity-is-in-christ-not-in-our-work-our-accomplishments-or-our/) [Paddick Van Zyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddick-van-zyl/) > [“Let a clear understanding of your identity In Christ shed light on all the ways you can live out your purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/let-a-clear-understanding-of-your-identity-in-christ-shed-light-on/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) ## 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": "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 basketball and it's my job but at the same time I recognize that I'm a sinner and that's not gonna change regardless of how well I play on the court", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeremy Lin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/just-because-i-had-a-good-game-doesn-t-change-who-i-am-my-identity-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/just-because-i-had-a-good-game-doesn-t-change-who-i-am-my-identity-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/jeremy-lin-7478_basketball_just-because-i-had-a-good-game-doesn-t-c_1839795.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/jeremy-lin-7478_basketball_just-because-i-had-a-good-game-doesn-t-c_1839795.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/jeremy-lin-7478_basketball_just-because-i-had-a-good-game-doesn-t-c_1839795.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Just because I had a good game doesn't change who I am, my identity is in Christ and not in basketball, I…” — Jeremy Lin", "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": "Jeremy Lin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Just because I had a good...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/just-because-i-had-a-good-game-doesn-t-change-who-i-am-my-identity-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/just-because-i-had-a-good-game-doesn-t-change-who-i-am-my-identity-is/#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 } } ] } ```