--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn’t fall in love with it just…" description: "\"I didn’t fall in love with it just because it was me playing. I fell in love with it because I’ve got guys like this – like these guys every single day..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/kevin-durant-2143_basketball_i-didn-t-fall-in-love-with-it-just-becau_2423306.png" --- # I didn’t fall in love with it just because it was me… ![“I didn’t fall in love with it just because it was me playing. I fell in love with it because I’ve got guys like this – like these guys every single day that push me to be the best that I can be.” quote by Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/kevin-durant-2143_basketball_i-didn-t-fall-in-love-with-it-just-becau_2423306.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/kevin-durant-2143_basketball_i-didn-t-fall-in-love-with-it-just-becau_2423306.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/kevin-durant-2143_basketball_i-didn-t-fall-in-love-with-it-just-becau_2423306.png) > “I didn’t fall in love with it just because it was me playing. I fell in love with it because I’ve got guys like this – like these guys every single day that push me to be the best that I can be.” [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He credits his teammates for his passion, highlighting the importance of community and competition in personal growth. **In simple terms:** Team support fuels personal drive. Key Takeaway Seek supportive peers, give back. Themes sports motivation teamwork Mood motivational grateful Type inspirational sports When to use this quote - training sessions - team meetings - personal goal setting Key Concepts Mentorship peer influence self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - Who inspires you to improve? - How can you inspire others? A Different Perspective May overlook individual agency; success also depends on personal effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Best players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-players/) [Every single day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-single-day/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Fall in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall-in-love/) [Fall Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall-love/) [Falling in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-in-love/) [Fell Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fell-love/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Guys Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guys-like/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Like Guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-guys/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mvp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mvp/) [NBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Playing Fell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-fell-6140004/) ## Related quotes > [Jeremy, Perry, Andre, Steve and Reggie, Grant, You guys make me so much better without you even knowing man. 'Cause I know I set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/jeremy-perry-andre-steve-and-reggie-grant-you-guys-make-me-so-much/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [I was the second-best player in high school. I was the second pick in the draft. I've been second in the MVP voting three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-was-the-second-best-player-in-high-school-i-was-the-second-pick-in/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [I'm more of a lead by example, and then when I feel like it's needed I'll step in and talk to guys. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-more-of-a-lead-by-example-and-then-when-i-feel-like-it-s-needed-i/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [For me, I like to show what guys are like when no one is looking and how we really are, and that we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ayer/for-me-i-like-to-show-what-guys-are-like-when-no-one-is-looking-and/) [David Ayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ayer/) > [Football is all about opinions. You have some guys who like you and some guys who don't. That is the way it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mctominay/football-is-all-about-opinions-you-have-some-guys-who-like-you-and/) [Scott McTominay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mctominay/) > [Also, I'm obviously a big Tom Brady fan. Everybody loves him. I just like guys like that who have worked hard to get where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-taylor/also-i-m-obviously-a-big-tom-brady-fan-everybody-loves-him-i-just/) [Zac Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-taylor/) > [“He's like a God. You worship the gods, but you don't go out with them. You only like guys like that from a distance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/he-s-like-a-god-you-worship-the-gods-but-you-don-t-go-out-with-them/) [cynthia hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [I like the guys that like football. And the guys that like football, they all like me back. And the ones that don't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/i-like-the-guys-that-like-football-and-the-guys-that-like-football/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [The way I look at it within myself, why not? Why can't I be the MVP of the League? Why can't I be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/the-way-i-look-at-it-within-myself-why-not-why-can-t-i-be-the-mvp-of/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [Westbrook: 10 triple-doubles and carrying that team, injury-prone, into the playoffs. LeBron being the best player in the world. But I think right now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jackson/westbrook-10-triple-doubles-and-carrying-that-team-injury-prone-into/) [Mark Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jackson/) > [MVP is the best player in the league. I think that's too big for me. When people call me the MVP, I'm a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-soriano/mvp-is-the-best-player-in-the-league-i-think-that-s-too-big-for-me/) [Rafael Soriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-soriano/) > [And last, my mom. I don’t think you know what you did. You had my brother when you were 18 years old. Three years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/and-last-my-mom-i-don-t-think-you-know-what-you-did-you-had-my/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [I play because I have fun. The vets of this team, I just wanted to say thanks to them. You guys mean so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-play-because-i-have-fun-the-vets-of-this-team-i-just-wanted-to-say/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [Last but not least my family. My brother Tony, I love you. Thank you for beating me up when I was a kid. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/last-but-not-least-my-family-my-brother-tony-i-love-you-thank-you-for/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [Or I could see Fish, Just a button up, Like a Mayor, Like a President, Just demands so much from his teammates, Has played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/or-i-could-see-fish-just-a-button-up-like-a-mayor-like-a-president/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) ## More by Kevin Durant > [I just want to grow spiritually with the Lord,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-just-want-to-grow-spiritually-with-the-lord/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [You know, I think more people should watch women's basketball. It'd do so much for the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/you-know-i-think-more-people-should-watch-women-s-basketball-it-d-do/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [Or I could see Fish, Just a button up, Like a Mayor, Like a President, Just demands so much from his teammates, Has played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/or-i-could-see-fish-just-a-button-up-like-a-mayor-like-a-president/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [I don’t watch a lot of other basketball away from the gym. But I do look at LeBron’s box score. I want to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-don-t-watch-a-lot-of-other-basketball-away-from-the-gym-but-i-do/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [If I come to work every day and do my job, work as hard as I can, be a great teammate, the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/if-i-come-to-work-every-day-and-do-my-job-work-as-hard-as-i-can-be-a/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [It's fun that I get to live out my dream every single day. It's a blessing. I can't lose sight of that and I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/it-s-fun-that-i-get-to-live-out-my-dream-every-single-day-it-s-a/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [Last but not least my family. My brother Tony, I love you. Thank you for beating me up when I was a kid. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/last-but-not-least-my-family-my-brother-tony-i-love-you-thank-you-for/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [I play because I have fun. The vets of this team, I just wanted to say thanks to them. You guys mean so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-play-because-i-have-fun-the-vets-of-this-team-i-just-wanted-to-say/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [I'm just more content with myself. Like, if I've got something to say, I want to get it off of my chest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-m-just-more-content-with-myself-like-if-i-ve-got-something-to-say-i/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [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 last, my mom. I don’t think you know what you did. You had my brother when you were 18 years old. Three years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/and-last-my-mom-i-don-t-think-you-know-what-you-did-you-had-my/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [Russell... I love you. I thank you so much man. You made me better. You know, Your work ethic. I always wanted to compete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/russell-i-love-you-i-thank-you-so-much-man-you-made-me-better-you/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [I'm just trying to grow. That's one thing I told myself is, 'Don't worry about who people say is the best player'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-m-just-trying-to-grow-that-s-one-thing-i-told-myself-is-don-t-worry/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [People always think women meet us in the hotel lobby, but it's the opposite. The majority of the time, you go out to eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/people-always-think-women-meet-us-in-the-hotel-lobby-but-it-s-the/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [I'm here to shine a bright light. I'm not here to be a guy of death. I just like 'KD' better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-m-here-to-shine-a-bright-light-i-m-not-here-to-be-a-guy-of-death-i/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) [Explore all 183 Kevin Durant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) ## 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 didn’t fall in love with it just because it was me playing. 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