--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think I was a good enough coach…" description: "\"I don't think I was a good enough coach to help an NBA team win a game when I first got to that league.\" — Kelvin Sampson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/kelvin-sampson-5185_coach_i-don-t-think-i-was-a-good-enough-coach_2114604.png" --- # I don't think I was a good enough coach to help an NBA… ![“I don't think I was a good enough coach to help an NBA team win a game when I first got to that league.” quote by Kelvin Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/kelvin-sampson-5185_coach_i-don-t-think-i-was-a-good-enough-coach_2114604.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/kelvin-sampson-5185_coach_i-don-t-think-i-was-a-good-enough-coach_2114604.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/kelvin-sampson-5185_coach_i-don-t-think-i-was-a-good-enough-coach_2114604.png) > “I don't think I was a good enough coach to help an NBA team win a game when I first got to that league.” [Kelvin Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-sampson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acknowledges early self‑doubt about his coaching abilities when entering the NBA. **In simple terms:** He felt unqualified at first. Key Takeaway Accept early doubts, focus on growth. Themes self‑doubt coaching confidence Mood reflective determined Type advice motivational When to use this quote - first NBA season - team preparation - player development Key Concepts leadership growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - How did you overcome initial insecurity? - What steps can new coaches take to build confidence? A Different Perspective Self‑doubt can hinder performance if not addressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coach/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Mentorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentorship/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [I believe as a coach you can only do so much to help a player. Can't help someone who does not want to improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-as-a-coach-you-can-only-do-so-much-to-help-a-player-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I definitely admire Blair Walsh the most. He's actually a pretty close friend of mine. 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When I get to a team where you have one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/at-first-i-wanted-to-be-a-good-player-in-the-nba-when-i-get-to-a-team/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [To be the leader of any NBA team, it's a blessing. But it's tough to get up in the morning, go to practice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-schroder/to-be-the-leader-of-any-nba-team-it-s-a-blessing-but-it-s-tough-to/) [Dennis Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-schroder/) > [I've always wanted to make it to the NBA and be on a team, so whatever team drafts me I'm going to be happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-barrett/i-ve-always-wanted-to-make-it-to-the-nba-and-be-on-a-team-so-whatever/) [RJ Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rj-barrett/) > [I can't think of any NBA team over the last few years that lost three starters. And we replaced them basically with three guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-t-think-of-any-nba-team-over-the-last-few-years-that-lost-three/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I still wanted to get into the NBA. I was still on the team, I was a starting point guard and I was on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-montgomery/i-still-wanted-to-get-into-the-nba-i-was-still-on-the-team-i-was-a/) [Ryan Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-montgomery/) ## More by Kelvin Sampson > [One of the ways to use your depth is to play with speed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-sampson/one-of-the-ways-to-use-your-depth-is-to-play-with-speed/) [Kelvin Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-sampson/) > [I've had kind of a nondescript college career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-sampson/i-ve-had-kind-of-a-nondescript-college-career/) [Kelvin Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-sampson/) > [I didn't realize the difference between coaching college and coaching the NBA. It's a totally different animal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-sampson/i-didn-t-realize-the-difference-between-coaching-college-and-coaching/) [Kelvin Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-sampson/) > [It was never my intent to come back to college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-sampson/it-was-never-my-intent-to-come-back-to-college/) [Kelvin Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-sampson/) > [Nobody believed in us. Everybody made fun of Houston basketball. 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Don't quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-sampson/you-re-not-a-loser-in-anything-until-you-quit-don-t-quit/) [Kelvin Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-sampson/) > [When I was at Oklahoma, I always felt like I had to control the game because we didn't have great scorers. So, I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-sampson/when-i-was-at-oklahoma-i-always-felt-like-i-had-to-control-the-game/) [Kelvin Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-sampson/) > [Washington State was a tough recruiting spot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-sampson/washington-state-was-a-tough-recruiting-spot/) [Kelvin Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-sampson/) > [I liked coaching in an underdog situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-sampson/i-liked-coaching-in-an-underdog-situation/) [Kelvin Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-sampson/) [Explore all 103 Kelvin Sampson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-sampson/) ## More Coach quotes > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. 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I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. It got so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-was-just-putting-way-too-much-pressure-on-myself-i-was-just-trying/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [A lot of the kids gave a lot of positive feedback about if I ever became a coach, they would love to play in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/a-lot-of-the-kids-gave-a-lot-of-positive-feedback-about-if-i-ever/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [I think it's very important to have contact with the players that I will coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerardo-martino/i-think-it-s-very-important-to-have-contact-with-the-players-that-i/) [Gerardo Martino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerardo-martino/) > [Of course, it's always fun when you're winning and you have a great coach, great organization, great trainers, great strength staff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-gurley/of-course-it-s-always-fun-when-you-re-winning-and-you-have-a-great/) [Todd Gurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-gurley/) > [No one likes a change of coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-azpilicueta/no-one-likes-a-change-of-coach/) [Cesar Azpilicueta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-azpilicueta/) > [As far as being a coach, it's always fascinated me. 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