--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I almost went with basketball over tennis." description: "\"I almost went with basketball over tennis.\" — John Isner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ee/john-isner-4856_almost_i-almost-went-with-basketball-over-tenni_770961.jpg" --- # I almost went with basketball over tennis. ![“I almost went with basketball over tennis.” quote by John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ee/john-isner-4856_almost_i-almost-went-with-basketball-over-tenni_770961.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ee/john-isner-4856_almost_i-almost-went-with-basketball-over-tenni_770961.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ee/john-isner-4856_almost_i-almost-went-with-basketball-over-tenni_770961.jpg) > “I almost went with basketball over tennis.” [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He considered choosing basketball over tennis before committing to the sport. **In simple terms:** He almost picked basketball instead of tennis. Key Takeaway Follow your true passion. Themes decision career sport Mood reflective thoughtful Type personal motivational When to use this quote - career planning - athletic training - life decisions Key Concepts choice theory personal identity Questions to Reflect On - What factors guided your final choice? - Do you ever wonder about the other path? A Different Perspective Regret may linger if not fully explored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Almost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/almost/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball Tennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-tennis-4173772/) [Over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over/) [Tennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tennis/) [Went](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went/) [Went Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-basketball-2745320/) ## Related quotes > [I love various sports, including basketball, tennis and billiards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yani-tseng/i-love-various-sports-including-basketball-tennis-and-billiards/) [Yani Tseng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yani-tseng/) > [I like shoes that, no matter where I am, if I see a basketball or tennis court, I can tie them up and play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-kyrgios/i-like-shoes-that-no-matter-where-i-am-if-i-see-a-basketball-or/) [Nick Kyrgios](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-kyrgios/) > [Growing up in Terre Haute, Indiana, there's not a whole lot to do. What I did was I just went to the basketball court…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-oden/growing-up-in-terre-haute-indiana-there-s-not-a-whole-lot-to-do-what/) [Greg Oden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-oden/) > [I worked every day - Christmas Eve, birthdays - trying to become a great basketball player. Everywhere I went, I had a basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mason-jr/i-worked-every-day-christmas-eve-birthdays-trying-to-become-a-great/) [Harvey Mason, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mason-jr/) > [Especially growing up in Atlanta, I saw it firsthand - nobody really wanted to play tennis. You went to basketball or football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eubanks/especially-growing-up-in-atlanta-i-saw-it-firsthand-nobody-really/) [Christopher Eubanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eubanks/) > [My mom used to be a basketball player so I was really into it. Plus of course my height made it easier for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/my-mom-used-to-be-a-basketball-player-so-i-was-really-into-it-plus-of/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [Almost went vegan, but no, I didn't go vegan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malik-jackson/almost-went-vegan-but-no-i-didn-t-go-vegan/) [Malik Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malik-jackson/) > [Up until I was a junior at Georgia, I felt that when all was said and done, I'd at least have a college degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/up-until-i-was-a-junior-at-georgia-i-felt-that-when-all-was-said-and/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [In a tiebreaker, you generally have a lot of adrenaline running through. It's all about just holding your serve, trying to hold two serves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/in-a-tiebreaker-you-generally-have-a-lot-of-adrenaline-running/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [My favorite tournament is the U.S. Open because the atmosphere is great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/my-favorite-tournament-is-the-u-s-open-because-the-atmosphere-is-great/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [The best thing about being 6'9'' is that it helps with my tennis game, especially with my serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/the-best-thing-about-being-6-9-is-that-it-helps-with-my-tennis-game/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [For many years, tennis was the most important thing in my life. That was great. Nothing wrong with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/for-many-years-tennis-was-the-most-important-thing-in-my-life-that/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [There are a lot of things that go on between the lines of a tennis court, mentally, physically and whatnot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/there-are-a-lot-of-things-that-go-on-between-the-lines-of-a-tennis/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [You know, Slams are tough. It's the most physical, in my opinion. You're playing three out of five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/you-know-slams-are-tough-it-s-the-most-physical-in-my-opinion-you-re/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [Back in East St. Louis, tennis wasn't the real thing. If you weren't playing baseball, basketball, football, you were kind of on the outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-connors/back-in-east-st-louis-tennis-wasn-t-the-real-thing-if-you-weren-t/) [Jimmy Connors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-connors/) ## More by John Isner > [You know, Slams are tough. It's the most physical, in my opinion. You're playing three out of five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/you-know-slams-are-tough-it-s-the-most-physical-in-my-opinion-you-re/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [There are a lot of things that go on between the lines of a tennis court, mentally, physically and whatnot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/there-are-a-lot-of-things-that-go-on-between-the-lines-of-a-tennis/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [For many years, tennis was the most important thing in my life. That was great. Nothing wrong with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/for-many-years-tennis-was-the-most-important-thing-in-my-life-that/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [The best thing about being 6'9'' is that it helps with my tennis game, especially with my serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/the-best-thing-about-being-6-9-is-that-it-helps-with-my-tennis-game/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [My favorite tournament is the U.S. Open because the atmosphere is great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/my-favorite-tournament-is-the-u-s-open-because-the-atmosphere-is-great/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [Any time you get to come to New York and be near New York City, that is a very cool opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/any-time-you-get-to-come-to-new-york-and-be-near-new-york-city-that/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [I know where I'm ranked, but I don't look at it that much, I don't study it that much. You really can't look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-know-where-i-m-ranked-but-i-don-t-look-at-it-that-much-i-don-t/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [I always ask for the exit row when flying. Airlines are pretty accommodating and most of the time I'll get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-always-ask-for-the-exit-row-when-flying-airlines-are-pretty/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [You're going to lose points and gain points throughout the year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/you-re-going-to-lose-points-and-gain-points-throughout-the-year/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [People seem to think when you lose a match it's because you are not working hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/people-seem-to-think-when-you-lose-a-match-it-s-because-you-are-not/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [A lot of times when I'm confident and relaxed on the court, I'm going to be a pretty tough out. But when I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/a-lot-of-times-when-i-m-confident-and-relaxed-on-the-court-i-m-going/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [When I fly overseas, I usually fly business class. If not, my knees are going to be at my chin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/when-i-fly-overseas-i-usually-fly-business-class-if-not-my-knees-are/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [I was always a late bloomer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-was-always-a-late-bloomer/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [I can't beat guys consistently playing like I'm 5-foot-10.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-can-t-beat-guys-consistently-playing-like-i-m-5-foot-10/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [The good wins are still great, and you are on cloud nine when that happens, but the losses sting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/the-good-wins-are-still-great-and-you-are-on-cloud-nine-when-that/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) [Explore all 105 John Isner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) ## More Almost quotes > [My mother worked in the white world, but I lived almost exclusively in a black world. I don't think I had ever seen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/my-mother-worked-in-the-white-world-but-i-lived-almost-exclusively-in/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Music is almost like a therapy for me. It helps keep me centered and think straight. Before I discovered it, I was walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/music-is-almost-like-a-therapy-for-me-it-helps-keep-me-centered-and/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [My favourite designers always create a strong silhouette, like McQueen and Tom Ford and Alaia. I like structured things that you can throw on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liberty-ross/my-favourite-designers-always-create-a-strong-silhouette-like-mcqueen/) [Liberty Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liberty-ross/) > [Harry Truman wrote scathing letters, but he almost never sent them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/harry-truman-wrote-scathing-letters-but-he-almost-never-sent-them/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [It's almost inevitable there's going to be an escalation on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-luther/it-s-almost-inevitable-there-s-going-to-be-an-escalation-on-both-sides/) [Bill Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-luther/) > [I like men who are very cool but who are also so brilliant that they are almost insane. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-like-men-who-are-very-cool-but-who-are-also-so-brilliant-that-they/) [Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/) > [If you watch wrestling, you now know the hip-hop culture is being represented with wrestling. For the longest time, the cultures have almost been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/if-you-watch-wrestling-you-now-know-the-hip-hop-culture-is-being/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) > [Almost every Monday I have a charity thing. I like that. I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-berra/almost-every-monday-i-have-a-charity-thing-i-like-that-i-do/) [Yogi Berra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-berra/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Almost immediately, I remember right when Tikrit even fell, a few days after Baghdad fell, there was talks of insurgency, there was talks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farnaz-fassihi/almost-immediately-i-remember-right-when-tikrit-even-fell-a-few-days/) [Farnaz Fassihi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farnaz-fassihi/) > [While it is often true that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, it seems like Yahoo's almost obsessive focus on Google is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-swisher/while-it-is-often-true-that-the-enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend-it/) [Kara Swisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-swisher/) > [I'd had episodes before, but I swept them under the carpet. This time, I couldn't do that because everyone knew. 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