--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I discovered early on that the player who…" description: "\"I discovered early on that the player who learned the fundamentals of basketball is going to have a much better chance of succeeding and rising through..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61b/john-wooden-420_basketball_i-discovered-early-on-that-the-player-wh_269420.png" --- # I discovered early on that the player who learned the… ![“I discovered early on that the player who learned the fundamentals of basketball is going to have a much better chance of succeeding and rising through the levels of competition than the player who was content to do things his own way. A player should be interested in learning why things are done…” quote by John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61b/john-wooden-420_basketball_i-discovered-early-on-that-the-player-wh_269420.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61b/john-wooden-420_basketball_i-discovered-early-on-that-the-player-wh_269420.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61b/john-wooden-420_basketball_i-discovered-early-on-that-the-player-wh_269420.png) > “I discovered early on that the player who learned the fundamentals of basketball is going to have a much better chance of succeeding and rising through the levels of competition than the player who was content to do things his own way. A player should be interested in learning why things are done a certain way. The reasons behind the teaching often go a long way to helping develop the skill.” [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mastering fundamentals gives a player a stronger foundation for success than relying on intuition alone. **In simple terms:** Learn basics before improvising. Key Takeaway Focus on fundamentals first. Themes skill development discipline learning coaching Mood instructive reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - sports training - music practice - academic study - career advancement Key Concepts education expertise growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance fundamentals with innovation? - When should you deviate from taught methods? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on fundamentals can stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up in a small town in Illinois, and my dad was a basketball coach. Thanks to him, I have excellent fundamentals in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-grew-up-in-a-small-town-in-illinois-and-my-dad-was-a-basketball/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [I play basketball; I actually like the triangle. It opens things up if you know how to move without the ball and know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephon-marbury/i-play-basketball-i-actually-like-the-triangle-it-opens-things-up-if/) [Stephon Marbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephon-marbury/) > [I was teaching, which I didn't love or hate; it was just OK. I was OK with it, and the hours were good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carson/i-was-teaching-which-i-didn-t-love-or-hate-it-was-just-ok-i-was-ok/) [David Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carson/) > [When I was young, I had to learn the fundamentals of basketball. You can have all the physical ability in the world, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/when-i-was-young-i-had-to-learn-the-fundamentals-of-basketball-you/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [They taught us because they wanted to pass the knowledge on and educate young musicians. It was not because they had to teach because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-vitous/they-taught-us-because-they-wanted-to-pass-the-knowledge-on-and/) [Miroslav Vitous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-vitous/) > [ They \[the teachers at European conservatories\] taught us because they wanted to pass the knowledge on and educate young musicians. It was not because… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-vitous/they-the-teachers-at-european-conservatories-taught-us-because-they/) [Miroslav Vitous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-vitous/) > [I’ve grown a lot as a player. I learned a lot, and I just have to keep building on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-matthews/i-ve-grown-a-lot-as-a-player-i-learned-a-lot-and-i-just-have-to-keep/) Jake Matthews > [Every season is a challenge and now I am a more complete player. I have learned at the highest level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-varane/every-season-is-a-challenge-and-now-i-am-a-more-complete-player-i/) [Raphael Varane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-varane/) > [Every great player has learned the two Cs: how to concentrate and how to maintain composure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-nelson/every-great-player-has-learned-the-two-cs-how-to-concentrate-and-how/) [Byron Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-nelson/) > [I think that every guy who has come through New England would say that he gained a lot of knowledge and experience that made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/i-think-that-every-guy-who-has-come-through-new-england-would-say/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [Hell, I'm going to play pro basketball. I'm going to maybe be famous. I'm going to write books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/hell-i-m-going-to-play-pro-basketball-i-m-going-to-maybe-be-famous-i/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [I always tell the kids, basketball is not going to be there forever, get a good education and make good choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-drummond/i-always-tell-the-kids-basketball-is-not-going-to-be-there-forever/) [Andre Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-drummond/) > [“If basketball was going to enable Bradley to make friends, to prove that a banker's son is as good as the next fellow, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcphee/if-basketball-was-going-to-enable-bradley-to-make-friends-to-prove/) [John McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcphee/) > [My father was always pushing me to become a basketball player. In Africa, when you're a kid, every kid loves to play soccer, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/my-father-was-always-pushing-me-to-become-a-basketball-player-in/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [The only thing that matters in college basketball is going to the Final Four.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-boeheim/the-only-thing-that-matters-in-college-basketball-is-going-to-the/) [Jim Boeheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-boeheim/) ## More by John Wooden > [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/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it. -John wooden”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-so-important-who-starts-the-game-but-who-finishes-it-john/) [John wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“I remain convinced to this day that compassion like that—sincerely caring for your players and maintaining an active interest in their lives, concerns, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-remain-convinced-to-this-day-that-compassion-like-that-sincerely/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I'm not going to say I was opposed to the Vietnam War. I'm going to say I'm opposed to war. But I'm also opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-m-not-going-to-say-i-was-opposed-to-the-vietnam-war-i-m-going-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating...too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/being-a-role-model-is-the-most-powerful-form-of-educating-too-often/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Each of us has a huge capacity to learn and to achieve. Being ever alert makes the task of becoming all we are capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/each-of-us-has-a-huge-capacity-to-learn-and-to-achieve-being-ever/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Stay the course. When thwarted try again; harder; smarter. Persevere relentlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/stay-the-course-when-thwarted-try-again-harder-smarter-persevere/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Love is the most powerful four letter word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/love-is-the-most-powerful-four-letter-word/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [It takes 10 hands to score a basket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-takes-10-hands-to-score-a-basket/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [The best competition I have is against myself to become better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/the-best-competition-i-have-is-against-myself-to-become-better/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not, the habits you are developing now will be with you for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/whether-you-know-it-or-not-whether-you-like-it-or-not-the-habits-you/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Intensity makes you stronger. Emotionalism makes you weaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/intensity-makes-you-stronger-emotionalism-makes-you-weaker/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Reputation is what others perceive you as being, and their opinion may be right or wrong. Character, however, is what you really are, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/reputation-is-what-others-perceive-you-as-being-and-their-opinion-may/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) [Explore all 578 John Wooden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## 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 discovered early on that the player who learned the fundamentals of basketball is going to have a much better chance of succeeding and rising through the levels of competition than the player who was content to do things his own way. 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