--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think, from just playing street ball…" description: "\"I think, from just playing street ball and stuff like that, I was always able to play up with the older guys, and I think that got me physically and me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/kemba-walker-5848_basketball_i-think-from-just-playing-street-ball-an_1721606.jpg" --- # I think, from just playing street ball and stuff like… ![“I think, from just playing street ball and stuff like that, I was always able to play up with the older guys, and I think that got me physically and mentally prepared to play on a high level of basketball.” quote by Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/kemba-walker-5848_basketball_i-think-from-just-playing-street-ball-an_1721606.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/kemba-walker-5848_basketball_i-think-from-just-playing-street-ball-an_1721606.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/kemba-walker-5848_basketball_i-think-from-just-playing-street-ball-an_1721606.jpg) > “I think, from just playing street ball and stuff like that, I was always able to play up with the older guys, and I think that got me physically and mentally prepared to play on a high level of basketball.” [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early informal play builds confidence and skills that translate to higher-level competition. **In simple terms:** Playing with older kids helps growth. Key Takeaway Seek challenging play early. Themes sports development mentorship skill acquisition Mood motivational reflective Type personal athletic When to use this quote - youth leagues - school teams - training camps - college scouting Key Concepts growth mindset peer learning Questions to Reflect On - What formal training complements street play? - How does age diversity affect learning? A Different Perspective Overreliance on informal play may miss structured coaching. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street/) ## Related quotes > [The street is where we all learn. I played organized football growing up as well, but when that was over, I went right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/the-street-is-where-we-all-learn-i-played-organized-football-growing/) [Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/) > [When you're a kid, you're the leader of an eighth-grade basketball team or a JV basketball team, right? That's no different than trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-poole/when-you-re-a-kid-you-re-the-leader-of-an-eighth-grade-basketball/) [Jordan Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-poole/) > [I just think we're all high-level basketball players, best in the world. And no matter the outside circumstance, we still have to play basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-just-think-we-re-all-high-level-basketball-players-best-in-the/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [I was the head girl in school and also a national level basketball player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urvashi-rautela/i-was-the-head-girl-in-school-and-also-a-national-level-basketball/) [Urvashi Rautela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urvashi-rautela/) > [I approach football like a street-ball game, like I'm playing with the fellas in the yard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simeon-rice/i-approach-football-like-a-street-ball-game-like-i-m-playing-with-the/) [Simeon Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simeon-rice/) > [I'm a real street-ball player. I like to do silly tricks and show off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-blue/i-m-a-real-street-ball-player-i-like-to-do-silly-tricks-and-show-off/) [Josh Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-blue/) > [I'd call the play-by-play of the action when me and my friends played street ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-eisen/i-d-call-the-play-by-play-of-the-action-when-me-and-my-friends-played/) [Rich Eisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-eisen/) > [In street ball, you really don't care about playing defense, unless it's some kind of flashy steal or a big block where you bat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-davis/in-street-ball-you-really-don-t-care-about-playing-defense-unless-it/) [Baron Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-davis/) > [I played a lot at the school across the street from my house. That's how I started, really. Playing street basketball and challenging the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-davis/i-played-a-lot-at-the-school-across-the-street-from-my-house-that-s/) [Baron Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-davis/) > [Since I was two or three years old, I remember always being with the ball. I would see kids playing on the street, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/since-i-was-two-or-three-years-old-i-remember-always-being-with-the/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [As a kid, I played my share of football in the street or in a vacant lot. When we were playing in the street,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-sanders/as-a-kid-i-played-my-share-of-football-in-the-street-or-in-a-vacant-2/) [Barry Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-sanders/) > [I don't think City would be too happy if I got injured playing street football, so I don't do it anymore. I train more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-foden/i-don-t-think-city-would-be-too-happy-if-i-got-injured-playing-street/) [Phil Foden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-foden/) > [As a kid, when the neighbors were out playing street hockey or tackle football, my friends and I were in my basement with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-omega/as-a-kid-when-the-neighbors-were-out-playing-street-hockey-or-tackle/) [Kenny Omega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-omega/) > [I owe a lot to playing on the street. And what was even better than playing on the street was playing football with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinho/i-owe-a-lot-to-playing-on-the-street-and-what-was-even-better-than/) [Robinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinho/) > [When I was about 16, I got my ball taken off me by the police for playing in the street - which is pathetic really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/when-i-was-about-16-i-got-my-ball-taken-off-me-by-the-police-for/) [Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/) ## More by Kemba Walker > [What's going on in my life, I never bring it to the basketball court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/what-s-going-on-in-my-life-i-never-bring-it-to-the-basketball-court/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [I'm tired of not being in the playoffs... I hate watching them on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/i-m-tired-of-not-being-in-the-playoffs-i-hate-watching-them-on-tv/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [You see guys who are on elite teams. I don't want to do that. I want to create something special here in Charlotte, something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/you-see-guys-who-are-on-elite-teams-i-don-t-want-to-do-that-i-want-to/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [I'd rather be the underdog than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/i-d-rather-be-the-underdog-than-anything/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [Connecticut is home for life. I'm so glad I chose to go to school here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/connecticut-is-home-for-life-i-m-so-glad-i-chose-to-go-to-school-here/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [NBA players are intense competitors, and it is truly humbling to know that my peers see me as someone who exhibits sportsmanship and respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/nba-players-are-intense-competitors-and-it-is-truly-humbling-to-know/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [I'm not supposed to be here. A lot of people from where I'm from don't make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/i-m-not-supposed-to-be-here-a-lot-of-people-from-where-i-m-from-don-t/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [Charlotte means a lot to me. This city has embraced me - allowed me to be who I am, allowed me to grow as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/charlotte-means-a-lot-to-me-this-city-has-embraced-me-allowed-me-to/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [My belief in God has been helping me play the way I'm playing. But for the most part, I've just been working on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/my-belief-in-god-has-been-helping-me-play-the-way-i-m-playing-but-for/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [I know teams are gameplanning against me, trying to not let me shoot pull-ups, basically trying to take me out of the game as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/i-know-teams-are-gameplanning-against-me-trying-to-not-let-me-shoot/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [I'm about working, getting better, and proving people wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/i-m-about-working-getting-better-and-proving-people-wrong/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [I felt like the best player on the court every night in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/i-felt-like-the-best-player-on-the-court-every-night-in-college/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [If the play is drawn up for me, you better believe I'm going to go and try to win the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/if-the-play-is-drawn-up-for-me-you-better-believe-i-m-going-to-go-and/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [Now I'm just a threat. I'm a threat out there. Guys are running out at me, and I'm able to either give them a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/now-i-m-just-a-threat-i-m-a-threat-out-there-guys-are-running-out-at/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [I've played at MSG at basically every level of my career, starting from high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/i-ve-played-at-msg-at-basically-every-level-of-my-career-starting/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) [Explore all 100 Kemba Walker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) ## 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 think, from just playing street ball and stuff like that, I was always able to play up with the older guys, and I think that got me physically and mentally prepared to play on a high level of basketball.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kemba Walker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/i-think-from-just-playing-street-ball-and-stuff-like-that-i-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/i-think-from-just-playing-street-ball-and-stuff-like-that-i-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/kemba-walker-5848_basketball_i-think-from-just-playing-street-ball-an_1721606.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/kemba-walker-5848_basketball_i-think-from-just-playing-street-ball-an_1721606.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/kemba-walker-5848_basketball_i-think-from-just-playing-street-ball-an_1721606.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think, from just playing street ball and stuff like that, I was always able to play up with the older…” — Kemba Walker", "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": "Kemba Walker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think, from just playing street...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/i-think-from-just-playing-street-ball-and-stuff-like-that-i-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/i-think-from-just-playing-street-ball-and-stuff-like-that-i-was/#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 } } ] } ```