--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm surprised when the ball doesn't go…" description: "\"I'm surprised when the ball doesn't go into the hoop. I think I should make every shot.\" — Jerry West" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/jerry-west-7315_go_i-m-surprised-when-the-ball-doesn-t-go-i_1066006.jpg" --- # I'm surprised when the ball doesn't go into the hoop. I… ![“I'm surprised when the ball doesn't go into the hoop. I think I should make every shot.” quote by Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/jerry-west-7315_go_i-m-surprised-when-the-ball-doesn-t-go-i_1066006.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/jerry-west-7315_go_i-m-surprised-when-the-ball-doesn-t-go-i_1066006.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/jerry-west-7315_go_i-m-surprised-when-the-ball-doesn-t-go-i_1066006.jpg) > “I'm surprised when the ball doesn't go into the hoop. I think I should make every shot.” [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses surprise when outcomes differ from expectations and feels compelled to achieve perfection in every attempt. **In simple terms:** Surprised when things go wrong, wants to be perfect. Key Takeaway Accept imperfections, focus on effort. Themes sports perfectionism expectations Mood reflective determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - games - practice - training - competition Key Concepts self‑expectation performance pressure Questions to Reflect On - How does striving for perfection affect your enjoyment? - What realistic standards can you set? A Different Perspective Perfection is unattainable; stress can hinder performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ball Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-doesn-357295/) [Doesn Hoop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesn-hoop-2628966/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Hoop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hoop/) [Hoop Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hoop-think-2628964/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Shot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shot/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Surprised Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised-ball-2628965/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) ## Related quotes > [My biggest thing I've learned is just putting time into getting ready. When we're young, you just go on the court and just hoop.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-biggest-thing-i-ve-learned-is-just-putting-time-into-getting-ready/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [The golf ball doesn't care about know how hard you're working, or how many hours you slept that night. It only matters, what speed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-hovland/the-golf-ball-doesn-t-care-about-know-how-hard-you-re-working-or-how/) [Viktor Hovland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-hovland/) > [When the effort is in question, the ball goes in different directions and the ball doesn't always bounce your way. When you're playing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-allen/when-the-effort-is-in-question-the-ball-goes-in-different-directions/) [Ray Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-allen/) > [I love playing team ball, but that doesn't happen when most players are in the last year of their deals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzen-wright/i-love-playing-team-ball-but-that-doesn-t-happen-when-most-players/) [Lorenzen Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzen-wright/) > [There are some days when the ball doesn't want go in, but our goal is to win every game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcelo/there-are-some-days-when-the-ball-doesn-t-want-go-in-but-our-goal-is/) [Marcelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcelo/) > [If you're open in certain spots, you just shoot the ball. It doesn't matter if you're good from that spot or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kentavious-caldwell-pope/if-you-re-open-in-certain-spots-you-just-shoot-the-ball-it-doesn-t/) [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kentavious-caldwell-pope/) > [If you can score the ball, it doesn't really how big or small you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-ingram/if-you-can-score-the-ball-it-doesn-t-really-how-big-or-small-you-are/) [Brandon Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-ingram/) > [We hate square passes and back passes. Just having the ball ourselves doesn't make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralf-rangnick/we-hate-square-passes-and-back-passes-just-having-the-ball-ourselves/) [Ralf Rangnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralf-rangnick/) > [ \[A knuckleball is\] a curve ball that doesn't give a damn. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-cannon/a-knuckleball-is-a-curve-ball-that-doesn-t-give-a-damn/) [Jimmy Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-cannon/) > [I always said that Messi has some talent that no one has. I mean, he has the ball and his speed controlling the ball.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-pique/i-always-said-that-messi-has-some-talent-that-no-one-has-i-mean-he/) [Gerard Pique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-pique/) > [I'm easy to adapt to. I'm not going to come in and say I need this shot, I need the ball here or there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-beal/i-m-easy-to-adapt-to-i-m-not-going-to-come-in-and-say-i-need-this/) [Bradley Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-beal/) > [What goes around comes around like a hool-a-hoop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/what-goes-around-comes-around-like-a-hool-a-hoop/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [A child walked by, rolling a metal hoop that made a sound of autumn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasunari-kawabata/a-child-walked-by-rolling-a-metal-hoop-that-made-a-sound-of-autumn/) [Yasunari Kawabata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasunari-kawabata/) > [I like to hoop but I don't want to be remembered for one thing, like 'oh he just plays basketball.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-tucker/i-like-to-hoop-but-i-don-t-want-to-be-remembered-for-one-thing-like/) [P. J. Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-tucker/) > [I'm the little dog who goes the wrong way-under the hoop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-levine/i-m-the-little-dog-who-goes-the-wrong-way-under-the-hoop/) [Jack Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-levine/) ## More by Jerry West > [As you get older, every chance to win a championship is more crucial, because you are going to have less and less of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/as-you-get-older-every-chance-to-win-a-championship-is-more-crucial/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Many people, men in particular, just can't not be active. I guess our minds demand that we seek other challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/many-people-men-in-particular-just-can-t-not-be-active-i-guess-our/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [I've always been really nationalistic, and I had a brother killed in Korea. And I think the 'Star Spangled Banner,' even today - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/i-ve-always-been-really-nationalistic-and-i-had-a-brother-killed-in/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [I don't live in the past. And besides, there are too many times in my career to remember specific events, because I played so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/i-don-t-live-in-the-past-and-besides-there-are-too-many-times-in-my/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [You can't ever totally know what's inside of someone else, or see the kind of will someone like Magic has. You have to rely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/you-can-t-ever-totally-know-what-s-inside-of-someone-else-or-see-the/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [“Suddenly Sue shrieked as only four-year-old girls can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/suddenly-sue-shrieked-as-only-four-year-old-girls-can/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [The support this city and our fans have shown the Grizzlies made my decision to stay in Memphis an easy one. Memphis deserves a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/the-support-this-city-and-our-fans-have-shown-the-grizzlies-made-my/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [I always wanted the ball in my hands with a game on the line, as I think any real competitor does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/i-always-wanted-the-ball-in-my-hands-with-a-game-on-the-line-as-i/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Some guys lay their fannies out there every night - they play the game at such a high level, and they give so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/some-guys-lay-their-fannies-out-there-every-night-they-play-the-game/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [You need to possess more than a little nastiness to play basketball at the highest level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/you-need-to-possess-more-than-a-little-nastiness-to-play-basketball/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Personalities seem in many cases to dominate the lucrative endorsement market. But that doesn't upset me. What upsets me is when not enough attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/personalities-seem-in-many-cases-to-dominate-the-lucrative/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [You get so addicted to winning that you don't want that feeling to stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/you-get-so-addicted-to-winning-that-you-don-t-want-that-feeling-to/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [We talk about players of yesteryear, guys who could play or couldn't play, and I think it's ridiculous to try to even compare people...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/we-talk-about-players-of-yesteryear-guys-who-could-play-or-couldn-t/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [As a player all you can do is play within yourself, even in the context of a team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/as-a-player-all-you-can-do-is-play-within-yourself-even-in-the/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [There's been so many unbelievable players in Los Angeles, maybe the best of the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/there-s-been-so-many-unbelievable-players-in-los-angeles-maybe-the/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) [Explore all 92 Jerry West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) ## More Go quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/) [Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/) > [Intel has a very complete process that I go through any time I want to sell that ensures I have no insider information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-krzanich/intel-has-a-very-complete-process-that-i-go-through-any-time-i-want/) [Brian Krzanich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-krzanich/) > [Some shows just go away - and that's fine. They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [I go out there and I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-chubb/i-go-out-there-and-i-work/) [Nick Chubb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-chubb/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [As much as you want to improve or help the team, as a centre-back your job is to go under the radar and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrone-mings/as-much-as-you-want-to-improve-or-help-the-team-as-a-centre-back-your/) [Tyrone Mings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrone-mings/) > [I don't know what successful journaling really looks like... 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