--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a basketball player, I want to play." description: "\"I'm a basketball player, I want to play.\" — Jonas Valanciunas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/jonas-valanciunas-6169_ball-player_i-m-a-basketball-player-i-want-to-play-1_174560.jpg" --- # I'm a basketball player, I want to play. ![“I'm a basketball player, I want to play.” quote by Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/jonas-valanciunas-6169_ball-player_i-m-a-basketball-player-i-want-to-play-1_174560.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/jonas-valanciunas-6169_ball-player_i-m-a-basketball-player-i-want-to-play-1_174560.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/jonas-valanciunas-6169_ball-player_i-m-a-basketball-player-i-want-to-play-1_174560.jpg) > “I'm a basketball player, I want to play.” [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A desire to participate drives a player to seek opportunity on the court. **In simple terms:** He wants to play basketball. Key Takeaway Pursue your passion actively. Themes sports ambition teamwork Mood determined energetic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - tryouts - practice sessions - team meetings - career planning Key Concepts goal setting motivation Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to secure a chance? - How does playing fulfill you? A Different Perspective Lack of opportunity can hinder expression of desire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-player/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [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 always wanted to be a basketball player until I discovered Pizza Pockets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boi-1da/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-basketball-player-until-i-discovered-pizza/) [Boi-1da](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boi-1da/) > [It's not like being a professional basketball player where you're in a big house. Maybe three, four or five guys make a couple million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/it-s-not-like-being-a-professional-basketball-player-where-you-re-in/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [Every little kid that steps on the court or the field has aspirations to go pro. I think being a pro basketball player is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/every-little-kid-that-steps-on-the-court-or-the-field-has-aspirations/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [Not only is Rip Hamilton an outstanding basketball player, he is also known for giving back to his community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gerlach/not-only-is-rip-hamilton-an-outstanding-basketball-player-he-is-also/) [Jim Gerlach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gerlach/) > [I want the younger kids, the basketball players in high school and college to hear from me and let them know that when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-want-the-younger-kids-the-basketball-players-in-high-school-and/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [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/) > [When you are a good player you want to play every week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/when-you-are-a-good-player-you-want-to-play-every-week/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [My older brothers were both basketball players so I just grew up around the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brook-lopez/my-older-brothers-were-both-basketball-players-so-i-just-grew-up/) [Brook Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brook-lopez/) > [When I was growing up, I drew my favorite basketball players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-ingram/when-i-was-growing-up-i-drew-my-favorite-basketball-players/) [Brandon Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-ingram/) > [I think, between me and Chris Brown, if you combined our games, you'd get, like, a real Division I basketball player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-dicky/i-think-between-me-and-chris-brown-if-you-combined-our-games-you-d/) [Lil Dicky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-dicky/) > [Alabama's a football state and you really don't get too many basketball players out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/alabama-s-a-football-state-and-you-really-don-t-get-too-many/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) > [I'm a basketball player, so I want to do whatever I've got to do to be on the floor and I'm prepared for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrese-haliburton/i-m-a-basketball-player-so-i-want-to-do-whatever-i-ve-got-to-do-to-be/) [Tyrese Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrese-haliburton/) > [I'm not just here to get a paycheck and leave. I'm here to be one of the greatest basketball players to ever play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/i-m-not-just-here-to-get-a-paycheck-and-leave-i-m-here-to-be-one-of/) [Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/) > [A lot of scouts and people are enamored with athleticism and youth. So they take that any day over mature, high-quality basketball players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/a-lot-of-scouts-and-people-are-enamored-with-athleticism-and-youth-so/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) ## More by Jonas Valanciunas > [That's my job, to be inside the paint. I have to be comfortable. That's my home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/that-s-my-job-to-be-inside-the-paint-i-have-to-be-comfortable-that-s/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [Do I want the ball more? No, I'm good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/do-i-want-the-ball-more-no-i-m-good/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [I've got to find a way to see the open pass, find a way to see open teammates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-ve-got-to-find-a-way-to-see-the-open-pass-find-a-way-to-see-open/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [When you sit down and look at your game, you try to find the areas where you can improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/when-you-sit-down-and-look-at-your-game-you-try-to-find-the-areas/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [I've been raised not to back down from physicality. I have been working physical jobs when I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-ve-been-raised-not-to-back-down-from-physicality-i-have-been/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [I'm looking forward to getting better, to be a better player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-m-looking-forward-to-getting-better-to-be-a-better-player/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [I always play for my country when I can. It's a big honor for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-always-play-for-my-country-when-i-can-it-s-a-big-honor-for-me/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [I always looked at it like the sky's the limit, that I'm never happy with myself, always trying to do more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-always-looked-at-it-like-the-sky-s-the-limit-that-i-m-never-happy/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [The goal is to be the best frontcourt in the NBA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/the-goal-is-to-be-the-best-frontcourt-in-the-nba/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [I'm a chill person and a good-hearted guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-m-a-chill-person-and-a-good-hearted-guy/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [I like fishing. We do all kinds of fun fishing trips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-like-fishing-we-do-all-kinds-of-fun-fishing-trips/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [I'm taking them when I have a chance and when my spacing gives it to me. Doesn't matter - could be one, three, four.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-m-taking-them-when-i-have-a-chance-and-when-my-spacing-gives-it-to/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [I don't want to do crazy things, I want to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-don-t-want-to-do-crazy-things-i-want-to-win/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [I'm trying to take experience out of every minute I spend on the court, trying to learn something new, to know about basketball more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-m-trying-to-take-experience-out-of-every-minute-i-spend-on-the/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [I have pride every time to play for Lithuania; I feel that Lithuania is something inside my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-have-pride-every-time-to-play-for-lithuania-i-feel-that-lithuania/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) [Explore all 99 Jonas Valanciunas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) ## More Ball player quotes > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [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 have friends in other industries but if I am training for a wrestling match, I would turn to the best wrestler to train,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-aries/i-have-friends-in-other-industries-but-if-i-am-training-for-a/) [Austin Aries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-aries/) > [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/) > [I competed every day as a professional football player... You've got to like competing. That's how your team gets better, when you have competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-competed-every-day-as-a-professional-football-player-you-ve-got-to/) [Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/) > [“I can’t wait to knock you up and have a whole team of little baseball players around this place!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sterling/i-can-t-wait-to-knock-you-up-and-have-a-whole-team-of-little-baseball/) [J. Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sterling/) > [MOST AMAZING FOOTBALL PLAYER IN THE ENTIRE WORLD && IN REAL MADRID](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-amazing-football-player-in-the-entire-world-in-real-madrid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My older brothers were both basketball players so I just grew up around the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brook-lopez/my-older-brothers-were-both-basketball-players-so-i-just-grew-up/) [Brook Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brook-lopez/) > [I'm a basketball player, so I want to do whatever I've got to do to be on the floor and I'm prepared for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrese-haliburton/i-m-a-basketball-player-so-i-want-to-do-whatever-i-ve-got-to-do-to-be/) [Tyrese Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrese-haliburton/) > [“Seeing yourself in print is such an amazing concept: you can get so much attention without having to actually show up somewhere. While others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeing-yourself-in-print-is-such-an-amazing-concept-you-can-get-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People say baseball players should go out and have fun. No way. To me, baseball is pressure, I always feel it. This is work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-eckersley/people-say-baseball-players-should-go-out-and-have-fun-no-way-to-me/) [Dennis Eckersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-eckersley/) > [Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-a-country-whose-main-exports-are-hockey-players-and-cold/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [“The great thing about baseball players, from the point of view of personal hygiene, is how seldom they break a sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-great-thing-about-baseball-players-from-the-point-of-view-of/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [A lot of scouts and people are enamored with athleticism and youth. So they take that any day over mature, high-quality basketball players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/a-lot-of-scouts-and-people-are-enamored-with-athleticism-and-youth-so/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [I'm a baseball player. I've done this my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/i-m-a-baseball-player-i-ve-done-this-my-whole-life/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) Browse all 1,395 Ball player quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a basketball player, I want to play.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonas Valanciunas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-m-a-basketball-player-i-want-to-play/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ball player" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-m-a-basketball-player-i-want-to-play/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/jonas-valanciunas-6169_ball-player_i-m-a-basketball-player-i-want-to-play-1_174560.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/jonas-valanciunas-6169_ball-player_i-m-a-basketball-player-i-want-to-play-1_174560.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/jonas-valanciunas-6169_ball-player_i-m-a-basketball-player-i-want-to-play-1_174560.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm a basketball player, I want to play.” — Jonas Valanciunas", "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": "Jonas Valanciunas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm a basketball player, I want...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-m-a-basketball-player-i-want-to-play/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-m-a-basketball-player-i-want-to-play/#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 } } ] } ```