--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you play, you get an opportunity to…" description: "\"When you play, you get an opportunity to hone your craft.\" — Kenny Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a02/kenny-smith-2406_craft_when-you-play-you-get-an-opportunity-to_1106515.png" --- # When you play, you get an opportunity to hone your craft. ![“When you play, you get an opportunity to hone your craft.” quote by Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a02/kenny-smith-2406_craft_when-you-play-you-get-an-opportunity-to_1106515.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a02/kenny-smith-2406_craft_when-you-play-you-get-an-opportunity-to_1106515.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a02/kenny-smith-2406_craft_when-you-play-you-get-an-opportunity-to_1106515.png) > “When you play, you get an opportunity to hone your craft.” [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing provides a practical arena to refine skills through experience. **In simple terms:** Play to improve your craft. Key Takeaway Seek practice opportunities. Themes skill development practice growth Mood motivational focused Type coaching inspirational When to use this quote - sports training - musical rehearsal - public speaking - coding bootcamps Key Concepts deliberate practice learning theory Questions to Reflect On - What specific skill are you honing now? - How can you measure improvement? A Different Perspective Practice without reflection may reinforce bad habits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craft/) [Hone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hone/) [Hone Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hone-craft-736227/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Opportunity Hone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity-hone-2926996/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-opportunity-1443883/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [All I've done since I was young was hone my craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logic/all-i-ve-done-since-i-was-young-was-hone-my-craft/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logic/) > [You just want to hone your craft, whatever it may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-cross/you-just-want-to-hone-your-craft-whatever-it-may-be/) [Christopher Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-cross/) > [I've always been one to do the work and just hone my craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/i-ve-always-been-one-to-do-the-work-and-just-hone-my-craft/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [You have to continue to hone your craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-michaels/you-have-to-continue-to-hone-your-craft/) [Shawn Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-michaels/) > [I hone my craft. I keep going. I light a little fire under myself. I look around for roles that will challenge me. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-louderman/i-hone-my-craft-i-keep-going-i-light-a-little-fire-under-myself-i/) [Taylor Louderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-louderman/) > [You spend most of your life working and trying to hone your craft, working on your chops, working on your writing, and you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geddy-lee/you-spend-most-of-your-life-working-and-trying-to-hone-your-craft/) [Geddy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geddy-lee/) > [You have to hone your craft, but you also have to be born with a certain amount of talent, and I never took the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-warren/you-have-to-hone-your-craft-but-you-also-have-to-be-born-with-a/) [Diane Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-warren/) > [The best part of being on a television series for all those years is that you really get to hone your craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kanaly/the-best-part-of-being-on-a-television-series-for-all-those-years-is/) [Steve Kanaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kanaly/) > [People like me for who I am, I don't wanna change that, if anything I just wanna hone my craft and get better at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tones-and-i/people-like-me-for-who-i-am-i-don-t-wanna-change-that-if-anything-i/) [Tones and I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tones-and-i/) > [“When you hone your craft you position yourself to soar to new heights.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/when-you-hone-your-craft-you-position-yourself-to-soar-to-new-heights/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [It was a play of opportunity. It's certainly something that he can do. He has the wherewithal to do that. It's a concern when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-miles/it-was-a-play-of-opportunity-it-s-certainly-something-that-he-can-do/) [Les Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-miles/) > [Just growing up, my dad always told me the most important point of the game is the extra point. A lot of people take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berry/just-growing-up-my-dad-always-told-me-the-most-important-point-of-the/) [Eric Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berry/) > [It doesn't matter what happened in the season or what happened the last play, there's always an opportunity to make the next play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-thielen/it-doesn-t-matter-what-happened-in-the-season-or-what-happened-the/) [Adam Thielen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-thielen/) > [If you practice every play, every opportunity like a starter and like you're going to make plays come game time, that's what you fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-agholor/if-you-practice-every-play-every-opportunity-like-a-starter-and-like/) [Nelson Agholor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-agholor/) > [For everyone, the World Cup is important. It doesn't matter if you are 21, going for your first one, or 35 and going for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/for-everyone-the-world-cup-is-important-it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-are/) [Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/) ## More by Kenny Smith > [The approach of intellect or noesis will forever be an effete and limited sort of thing by contrast with the vigor and color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-approach-of-intellect-or-noesis-will-forever-be-an-effete-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [One can hardly appreciate how academia has perverted its highest tasks and "ideals" without pondering long and hard the implications of Jacques Barzun's House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/one-can-hardly-appreciate-how-academia-has-perverted-its-highest/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [When academics claim a topic is obsolete, they mean merely they are tired of flogging it with their cliches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/when-academics-claim-a-topic-is-obsolete-they-mean-merely-they-are/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [If you look at the NBA, it's the richest and wealthiest group of African-American men in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/if-you-look-at-the-nba-it-s-the-richest-and-wealthiest-group-of/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [In late modernity we grow more and more accustomed to politicians and public figures who are indebted to their appetites for their "values," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/in-late-modernity-we-grow-more-and-more-accustomed-to-politicians-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [How infinitely happier and more grateful is the whole personality or spirit when it finds something nourishing in art or writing or thinking, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/how-infinitely-happier-and-more-grateful-is-the-whole-personality-or/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [There are a lot more famous fathers out there than me with daughters who wouldn't mind singing careers... but the talent and the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/there-are-a-lot-more-famous-fathers-out-there-than-me-with-daughters/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [Games like 'Call of Duty' and 'NBA Baller Beats' have so much to them. I was more of the 'Pac-Man' generation where we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/games-like-call-of-duty-and-nba-baller-beats-have-so-much-to-them-i/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [The Rockets have a philosophy of what they think their coach should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-rockets-have-a-philosophy-of-what-they-think-their-coach-should-be/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [I've played more park games than NBA games, and I had a 10-year NBA career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/i-ve-played-more-park-games-than-nba-games-and-i-had-a-10-year-nba/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [I'm always the neutral guy, man. I'm able to bring people together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/i-m-always-the-neutral-guy-man-i-m-able-to-bring-people-together/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [People compose the schedules they do out of the priorities they have; and someone who says otherwise is deceiving himself about what he really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/people-compose-the-schedules-they-do-out-of-the-priorities-they-have/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [There's hasn't been a day in my life since I was 9 years old that I haven't touched a basketball or done something connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/there-s-hasn-t-been-a-day-in-my-life-since-i-was-9-years-old-that-i/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [You can have your own thought process about things, but you still need to include and co-exist with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/you-can-have-your-own-thought-process-about-things-but-you-still-need/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [NCAA is looking at how to do a better job enforcing their rules instead of looking at why the predatorial environment is created. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/ncaa-is-looking-at-how-to-do-a-better-job-enforcing-their-rules/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) [Explore all 168 Kenny Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) ## More Craft quotes > [As I progressed in the firm, I learnt the craft, and as I learnt my craft, my partners and the firm threw up different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punit-renjen/as-i-progressed-in-the-firm-i-learnt-the-craft-and-as-i-learnt-my/) [Punit Renjen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punit-renjen/) > [Learn your craft. You want to be a doctor or a teacher - it's very important to learn your craft and indulge in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-horry/learn-your-craft-you-want-to-be-a-doctor-or-a-teacher-it-s-very/) [Robert Horry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-horry/) > [What I didn't know that by sticking to craft we would blow open some doors that I never saw opened before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lipton/what-i-didn-t-know-that-by-sticking-to-craft-we-would-blow-open-some/) [James Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lipton/) > [All the craft skills that I have, I feel like I developed and honed in drama school. It's the most important thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/all-the-craft-skills-that-i-have-i-feel-like-i-developed-and-honed-in/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [“There is something deeply satisfying in shaping something with your hands. Proper artificing is like a song made solid. It is an act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/there-is-something-deeply-satisfying-in-shaping-something-with-your/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I have a lot of fun working and training and learning and trying to figure out the different aspects of my craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/i-have-a-lot-of-fun-working-and-training-and-learning-and-trying-to/) [Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/) > [I probably learned most of my craft from singing to the radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-b-schmit/i-probably-learned-most-of-my-craft-from-singing-to-the-radio/) [Timothy B. Schmit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-b-schmit/) > [The key to acting - from what little I know about that wonderful craft - is listening, and interacting with the other person in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/the-key-to-acting-from-what-little-i-know-about-that-wonderful-craft/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [It is by losing himself in the objective, in inquiry, creation, and craft, that a man becomes something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/it-is-by-losing-himself-in-the-objective-in-inquiry-creation-and/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [“The instruction here is not for every kind of writer - not for the writer of nurse books or thrillers or porno or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/the-instruction-here-is-not-for-every-kind-of-writer-not-for-the/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [I take a pretty expansive view of craft, which is to say I don't see craft as just being technique - it's also process;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-take-a-pretty-expansive-view-of-craft-which-is-to-say-i-don-t-see/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [“Writing is a craft, being an author is work, and having readers and a following is a gift.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-kannengieser/writing-is-a-craft-being-an-author-is-work-and-having-readers-and-a/) [Michael J. Kannengieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-kannengieser/) > [You need to know your craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorena-garcia/you-need-to-know-your-craft/) [Lorena Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorena-garcia/) > [I have developed my eye as a cinematographer through the craft of operating. When I am not operating, I am often anxious, uncertain, restless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-richardson/i-have-developed-my-eye-as-a-cinematographer-through-the-craft-of/) [Robert Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-richardson/) > [Muscle is good, but craft is better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wace/muscle-is-good-but-craft-is-better/) [Wace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wace/) [Browse all 514 Craft quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craft/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you play, you get an opportunity to hone your craft.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kenny Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/when-you-play-you-get-an-opportunity-to-hone-your-craft/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Craft" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/when-you-play-you-get-an-opportunity-to-hone-your-craft/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a02/kenny-smith-2406_craft_when-you-play-you-get-an-opportunity-to_1106515.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a02/kenny-smith-2406_craft_when-you-play-you-get-an-opportunity-to_1106515.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a02/kenny-smith-2406_craft_when-you-play-you-get-an-opportunity-to_1106515.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you play, you get an opportunity to hone your craft.” — Kenny Smith", "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": "Kenny Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you play, you get an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/when-you-play-you-get-an-opportunity-to-hone-your-craft/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/when-you-play-you-get-an-opportunity-to-hone-your-craft/#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 } } ] } ```