--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I played college basketball. When I first…" description: "\"I played college basketball. When I first decided I was going to play football, there were a lot of people telling me that I wasn't going to make it.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/jimmy-graham-17075_basketball_i-played-college-basketball-when-i-first_2568390.jpg" --- # I played college basketball. When I first decided I was… ![“I played college basketball. When I first decided I was going to play football, there were a lot of people telling me that I wasn't going to make it.” quote by Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/jimmy-graham-17075_basketball_i-played-college-basketball-when-i-first_2568390.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/jimmy-graham-17075_basketball_i-played-college-basketball-when-i-first_2568390.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/jimmy-graham-17075_basketball_i-played-college-basketball-when-i-first_2568390.jpg) > “I played college basketball. When I first decided I was going to play football, there were a lot of people telling me that I wasn't going to make it.” [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He faced doubt when switching sports, yet persisted despite skeptics. **In simple terms:** He kept trying even when others doubted him. Key Takeaway Believe in your path despite criticism. Themes determination sports career change Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - college basketball - transition to football - training - team dynamics Key Concepts resilience self‑belief overcoming doubt Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you when others doubt you? - How can you turn skepticism into fuel? A Different Perspective Critics may underestimate effort needed for a successful switch. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [College basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-basketball/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-football/) ## Related quotes > [I'm one of those people who can't watch themselves do anything. I could never watch myself wrestle. 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She was a really good player back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-beal/for-me-coming-up-the-first-i-had-ever-heard-of-basketball-it-was-from/) [Bradley Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-beal/) > [I never was the front man in any bands I played in when I was in college, and I always learned music by myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vincent-mcmorrow/i-never-was-the-front-man-in-any-bands-i-played-in-when-i-was-in/) [James Vincent McMorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vincent-mcmorrow/) > [I must have played every college and university at least three times, and that goes for most of the clubs. I'd be on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/i-must-have-played-every-college-and-university-at-least-three-times/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [At Kentucky, the environment and the coaching staff is going to prepare you for the next level, but the way we played in college...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-knox/at-kentucky-the-environment-and-the-coaching-staff-is-going-to/) [Kevin Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-knox/) > [I think the other thing that's interesting about the women's peloton is that if you ask what their background is most have played college…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/i-think-the-other-thing-that-s-interesting-about-the-women-s-peloton/) [Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/) > [It's always cool to go back to where you played in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-mack/it-s-always-cool-to-go-back-to-where-you-played-in-college/) [Khalil Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-mack/) ## More by Jimmy Graham > [I don't care if you're purple. If you're making a catch or going to go down, you could be silver. I couldn't care less,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/i-don-t-care-if-you-re-purple-if-you-re-making-a-catch-or-going-to-go/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [For me, I think one of the biggest battles is mentally. You have good days, and you have bad days. Randomly, you'll feel good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/for-me-i-think-one-of-the-biggest-battles-is-mentally-you-have-good/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [Every one tells me that I'm a pretty fast eater. I'll sit down to a dinner, and I'll finish in two minutes while everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/every-one-tells-me-that-i-m-a-pretty-fast-eater-i-ll-sit-down-to-a/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [Logistically, moving from Miami and New Orleans all the way to Seattle isn't the easiest thing. Really, for my dog, she was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/logistically-moving-from-miami-and-new-orleans-all-the-way-to-seattle/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [We play a contact sport, and it's aggressive, and you have to be aggressive in everything you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/we-play-a-contact-sport-and-it-s-aggressive-and-you-have-to-be/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [I love my body. I take good care of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/i-love-my-body-i-take-good-care-of-it/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [Whenever you don't catch a ball in a game, you really find out who loves you and who doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/whenever-you-don-t-catch-a-ball-in-a-game-you-really-find-out-who/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [I don't have chips on my shoulders, I have bricks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/i-don-t-have-chips-on-my-shoulders-i-have-bricks/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [I loved 'Top Gun.' I watched it all growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/i-loved-top-gun-i-watched-it-all-growing-up/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [Learning how to walk again was a process for me. It was some of the darker days of my life, but I've had many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/learning-how-to-walk-again-was-a-process-for-me-it-was-some-of-the/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [I'm the type of guy who, right as I'm taking off, I'm deciding, 'Hey, where do I want to go today?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/i-m-the-type-of-guy-who-right-as-i-m-taking-off-i-m-deciding-hey/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [It just feels amazing to have that moment when you realize things are coming together for your team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/it-just-feels-amazing-to-have-that-moment-when-you-realize-things-are/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [I've always been athletic and fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/i-ve-always-been-athletic-and-fast/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [It can get pretty hectic in New Orleans whenever I go shopping. So I'll fly to Houston, buy my groceries, and then come back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/it-can-get-pretty-hectic-in-new-orleans-whenever-i-go-shopping-so-i/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [I'm a multi-racial person - I'm black and white - and growing up in North Carolina, I've dealt with a lot of racism. Growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/i-m-a-multi-racial-person-i-m-black-and-white-and-growing-up-in-north/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) [Explore all 38 Jimmy Graham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) ## 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. 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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 played college basketball. 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