--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have always been confident in my skills…" description: "\"I have always been confident in my skills and once the game got going I knew I was probably the best player on the floor most of the time whether it wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/larry-bird-8994_best-players_i-have-always-been-confident-in-my-skill_378939.jpg" --- # I have always been confident in my skills and once the… ![“I have always been confident in my skills and once the game got going I knew I was probably the best player on the floor most of the time whether it was junior high, high school or college. I knew I had control of the game.” quote by Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/larry-bird-8994_best-players_i-have-always-been-confident-in-my-skill_378939.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/larry-bird-8994_best-players_i-have-always-been-confident-in-my-skill_378939.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/larry-bird-8994_best-players_i-have-always-been-confident-in-my-skill_378939.jpg) > “I have always been confident in my skills and once the game got going I knew I was probably the best player on the floor most of the time whether it was junior high, high school or college. I knew I had control of the game.” [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Confidence in skill leads to dominance, but overconfidence can blind self‑assessment. **In simple terms:** He felt he was the best player most of the time. Key Takeaway Stay confident but stay humble and open to feedback. Themes confidence leadership performance Mood motivational pragmatic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - coaching sessions - team meetings - personal development workshops Key Concepts self‑efficacy team dynamics competition Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports your confidence? - How do you handle moments of doubt? A Different Perspective Excessive confidence may ignore weaknesses and hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-players/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Confident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confident/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Junior high](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/junior-high/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [You can't show up at the bedside and then turn on your skills. You have to keep your game sharp all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/you-can-t-show-up-at-the-bedside-and-then-turn-on-your-skills-you/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [I trust my skills and my game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayank-agarwal/i-trust-my-skills-and-my-game/) [Mayank Agarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayank-agarwal/) > [“knew that when you control information, or manipulate it, you don’t need force to keep people under your thumb. They stay there willingly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/knew-that-when-you-control-information-or-manipulate-it-you-don-t-2/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Claire knew she was in control of her actions, she could choose to fight or complain. Her plan was for self-preservation until she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleatha-romig/claire-knew-she-was-in-control-of-her-actions-she-could-choose-to/) [Aleatha Romig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleatha-romig/) > [At the time, nobody knew what it was. It had no name. When everything else is out of your control, you can control your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-dey/at-the-time-nobody-knew-what-it-was-it-had-no-name-when-everything/) Susan Dey > [I knew I could control one thing, and that is my time and my hours and my effort and my efficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-seacrest/i-knew-i-could-control-one-thing-and-that-is-my-time-and-my-hours-and/) [Ryan Seacrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-seacrest/) > [I'm super confident in my skills going to the ground against anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/i-m-super-confident-in-my-skills-going-to-the-ground-against-anyone/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [All I knew was I just wanted to make music, I wasn't thinking about label politics or what that means. It was really much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd/all-i-knew-was-i-just-wanted-to-make-music-i-wasn-t-thinking-about/) [Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd/) > [I'm very confident in my skills and my abilities. I know what I can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-m-very-confident-in-my-skills-and-my-abilities-i-know-what-i-can-do/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [The key is to really have tremendously high expectations and to teach kids how to be self sufficient and confident and give them the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-weihenmayer/the-key-is-to-really-have-tremendously-high-expectations-and-to-teach/) [Erik Weihenmayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-weihenmayer/) > [Being afraid on the court, means you're not confident of your skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/being-afraid-on-the-court-means-you-re-not-confident-of-your-skills/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [If you prepare well and tick all the boxes, if you're confident about your skills, you will be calm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardik-pandya/if-you-prepare-well-and-tick-all-the-boxes-if-you-re-confident-about/) [Hardik Pandya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardik-pandya/) > [Everybody in the world has to compromise. I don't know one person that gets everything they want, so the politicians are going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/everybody-in-the-world-has-to-compromise-i-don-t-know-one-person-that/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I hate school at that time. Now, little did I know that actually if I had stayed in school I would've actually really liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/i-hate-school-at-that-time-now-little-did-i-know-that-actually-if-i/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [I remember once in junior high school, on a Friday, my mom came home from work and said to my brother and I, 'You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-dejoria/i-remember-once-in-junior-high-school-on-a-friday-my-mom-came-home/) [John Paul DeJoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-dejoria/) ## More by Larry Bird > [If there was a payment to the bank due, and we needed shoes, she'd get the shoes, and then deal with them guys at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/if-there-was-a-payment-to-the-bank-due-and-we-needed-shoes-she-d-get/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [I just shoot until I feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/i-just-shoot-until-i-feel-good/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [If you tell a teammate you're ready to play as tough as you're able to, you'd better go out there and do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/if-you-tell-a-teammate-you-re-ready-to-play-as-tough-as-you-re-able/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [Basketball has been my life and I worked at it so hard because I enjoyed it so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/basketball-has-been-my-life-and-i-worked-at-it-so-hard-because-i/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [When I was a player, I didn't expect my teammates to play the way I did. I did expect them to work hard every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/when-i-was-a-player-i-didn-t-expect-my-teammates-to-play-the-way-i/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [I've always been interested in jobs in the NBA. But I've been in this for 20 years and it might be time to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-jobs-in-the-nba-but-i-ve-been-in-this/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [You can make all the excuses you want, but if you're not mentally tough and you're not prepared to play every night, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/you-can-make-all-the-excuses-you-want-but-if-you-re-not-mentally/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [“I've got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/i-ve-got-a-theory-that-if-you-give-100-percent-all-of-the-time/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [I don't think that once you get to one level, you can relax. You've got to keep pushing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/i-don-t-think-that-once-you-get-to-one-level-you-can-relax-you-ve-got/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [You never make any of the shots you never take. 87% of the ones you do take, you'll miss too. I make 110% of my shots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/you-never-make-any-of-the-shots-you-never-take-87-of-the-ones-you-do/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [The best player I ever played with was Dennis Johnson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/the-best-player-i-ever-played-with-was-dennis-johnson/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [I mean, the greatest athletes in the world are African-American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/i-mean-the-greatest-athletes-in-the-world-are-african-american/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [Strength is not nearly as important as desire. I don't think you can teach anyone desire. I think it's a gift. I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/strength-is-not-nearly-as-important-as-desire-i-don-t-think-you-can/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [Basketball was always a game to me. One of the greatest things in life for me was to be able to play what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/basketball-was-always-a-game-to-me-one-of-the-greatest-things-in-life/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/a-winner-is-someone-who-recognizes-his-god-given-talents-works-his/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) [Explore all 76 Larry Bird quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) ## More Best players quotes > [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. His contribution as a goal threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-have-nothing-but-praise-for-the-boy-he-is-easily-the-best-player-in/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [Ruben Neves is by far one of the best players I've ever played with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-coady/ruben-neves-is-by-far-one-of-the-best-players-i-ve-ever-played-with/) [Conor Coady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-coady/) > [I liked starting. I liked matching up with the best of the best players who got the start. Taking on that challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-ingles/i-liked-starting-i-liked-matching-up-with-the-best-of-the-best/) [Joe Ingles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-ingles/) > [Obviously, at PSG, they have the best players in the world. Being with that group has really made me strong. I have watched the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-weah/obviously-at-psg-they-have-the-best-players-in-the-world-being-with/) [Timothy Weah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-weah/) > [To me, Messi, Neymar and Suarez are among the three best players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-silva/to-me-messi-neymar-and-suarez-are-among-the-three-best-players-in-the/) [Thiago Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-silva/) > [One thing I think you have to do here at Wisconsin is maximize your personnel. From the standpoint of getting our best players out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-bielema/one-thing-i-think-you-have-to-do-here-at-wisconsin-is-maximize-your/) [Bret Bielema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-bielema/) > [I just want to play against the best players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-hovland/i-just-want-to-play-against-the-best-players-in-the-world/) [Viktor Hovland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-hovland/) > [When you're a manager, we sometimes speak too much about tactics, but the most difficult thing for a manager is to get the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ander-herrera/when-you-re-a-manager-we-sometimes-speak-too-much-about-tactics-but/) [Ander Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ander-herrera/) > [I don't work this hard just to be the best player. I do it to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-mcpeak/i-don-t-work-this-hard-just-to-be-the-best-player-i-do-it-to-win/) Holly McPeak > [ The best player I ever played against was Paolo Maldini. We \[Arsenal\] played against Milan in the European Supercup \[in 1995\]. Maldini marked me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merson/the-best-player-i-ever-played-against-was-paolo-maldini-we-arsenal/) [Paul Merson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merson/) > [Lionel Messi is the best player ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-souness/lionel-messi-is-the-best-player-ever/) [Graeme Souness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-souness/) > [At some point, everyone who is playing, their dream is to be in the NBA, because that's where all the best players are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-calderon/at-some-point-everyone-who-is-playing-their-dream-is-to-be-in-the-nba/) [Jose Calderon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-calderon/) > [I look at some of the best players around the world and sometimes I do try and bat like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-smith/i-look-at-some-of-the-best-players-around-the-world-and-sometimes-i/) [Steve Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-smith/) > [Personally, I've always got along great with Mesut, found him extremely pleasant as a human being. He always supported me and was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-reus/personally-i-ve-always-got-along-great-with-mesut-found-him-extremely/) [Marco Reus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-reus/) [Browse all 434 Best players quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-players/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have always been confident in my skills and once the game got going I knew I was probably the best player on the floor most of the time whether it was junior high, high school or college. 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