--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We never played ball for money. We played…" description: "\"We never played ball for money. We played because it was fun and I was good at it. But a lot of guys get paid big money to play this game, and I have a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/larry-johnson-6488_basketball_we-never-played-ball-for-money-we-played_969281.jpg" --- # We never played ball for money. We played because it was… ![“We never played ball for money. We played because it was fun and I was good at it. But a lot of guys get paid big money to play this game, and I have a family I want to help out. But basketball will always be a game to me.” quote by Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/larry-johnson-6488_basketball_we-never-played-ball-for-money-we-played_969281.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/larry-johnson-6488_basketball_we-never-played-ball-for-money-we-played_969281.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/larry-johnson-6488_basketball_we-never-played-ball-for-money-we-played_969281.jpg) > “We never played ball for money. We played because it was fun and I was good at it. But a lot of guys get paid big money to play this game, and I have a family I want to help out. But basketball will always be a game to me.” [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He played basketball for love, not money, but now supports his family through the sport. **In simple terms:** Played for fun, now plays for family. Key Takeaway Balance passion with responsibility. Themes sports family motivation Mood reflective determined Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - coaching - family budgeting - career transition Key Concepts professionalism legacy financial pressure Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep joy in work? - What sacrifices are worth making for family? A Different Perspective Money can change the nature of enjoyment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-game/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) ## Related quotes > [When we played Real Madrid and won 5-3 it was soaking wet and the ball ended up weighing a kilo. It didn't have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eusebio/when-we-played-real-madrid-and-won-5-3-it-was-soaking-wet-and-the/) [Eusebio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eusebio/) > [The only football players in my time were fellows who really loved to play football. They were not in it for the money. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-grange/the-only-football-players-in-my-time-were-fellows-who-really-loved-to/) [Red Grange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-grange/) > [Now I know I ain't the richest, but I still wanna ball. Put money over bitches but we still underdogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole/now-i-know-i-ain-t-the-richest-but-i-still-wanna-ball-put-money-over/) [J Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole/) > [I want to play ball. It's never been about the money for me, but I do have a family I've got to take of.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordarrelle-patterson/i-want-to-play-ball-it-s-never-been-about-the-money-for-me-but-i-do/) [Cordarrelle Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordarrelle-patterson/) > [After a basketball game, you're gonna be physically tired, but more mentally. Playoff time comes around, you have it all in your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/after-a-basketball-game-you-re-gonna-be-physically-tired-but-more/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [People love to say we get paid a lot of money to play a game, but it stopped being a game when you start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-schilling/people-love-to-say-we-get-paid-a-lot-of-money-to-play-a-game-but-it/) [Curt Schilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-schilling/) > [I get paid a lot of money to play a game with the greatest players in the world. What could be better than that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-edmonds/i-get-paid-a-lot-of-money-to-play-a-game-with-the-greatest-players-in/) [Jim Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-edmonds/) > [If I can't play for big money, I play for a little money. And if I can't play for a little money, I stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-riggs/if-i-can-t-play-for-big-money-i-play-for-a-little-money-and-if-i-can/) [Bobby Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-riggs/) > [I would never play an extra year for money. I play the game because I love it. I just so happen to get paid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-would-never-play-an-extra-year-for-money-i-play-the-game-because-i/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [The player option allows me to, hopefully, sign a lucrative deal in my prime, before retirement. If you're in a situation where you've played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-dinwiddie/the-player-option-allows-me-to-hopefully-sign-a-lucrative-deal-in-my/) [Spencer Dinwiddie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-dinwiddie/) > [I've never needed to play for money. I play because I love football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-pirlo/i-ve-never-needed-to-play-for-money-i-play-because-i-love-football/) [Andrea Pirlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-pirlo/) > [The money thing, that's money, I don't play this for money, I play for the love of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zion-williamson/the-money-thing-that-s-money-i-don-t-play-this-for-money-i-play-for/) [Zion Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zion-williamson/) > [But if I didn't have to make money, I would still play my horn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/but-if-i-didn-t-have-to-make-money-i-would-still-play-my-horn/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [I make too much money to play a game I love to ever feel sorry for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-beckett/i-make-too-much-money-to-play-a-game-i-love-to-ever-feel-sorry-for/) [Josh Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-beckett/) > [Whoever wants to pay me money to play the game of football, I'll play for 'em, it doesn't matter to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-burrow/whoever-wants-to-pay-me-money-to-play-the-game-of-football-i-ll-play/) [Joe Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-burrow/) ## More by Larry Johnson > [No one man can rise above the masses or the condition of his people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/no-one-man-can-rise-above-the-masses-or-the-condition-of-his-people/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [My main goal is to win me a championship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/my-main-goal-is-to-win-me-a-championship/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [What I hate more than sitting out is being on the floor and not being 100 percent. You know you can make this move,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/what-i-hate-more-than-sitting-out-is-being-on-the-floor-and-not-being/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [I think we sometimes think, 'it is just preseason. These games are for the fans mostly.' It's for ourselves to get in shape and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/i-think-we-sometimes-think-it-is-just-preseason-these-games-are-for/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [I think I'm caught up in playing in New York. Here, my mind is cluttered worrying about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/i-think-i-m-caught-up-in-playing-in-new-york-here-my-mind-is/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [After a basketball game, you're gonna be physically tired, but more mentally. Playoff time comes around, you have it all in your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/after-a-basketball-game-you-re-gonna-be-physically-tired-but-more/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [But when a black player calls a white owner a slave master that's dangerous. It's one thing to say an owner is a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/but-when-a-black-player-calls-a-white-owner-a-slave-master-that-s/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [I picked it up just for relaxation. I can sit down and get into the game and escape that it's a big game tomorrow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/i-picked-it-up-just-for-relaxation-i-can-sit-down-and-get-into-the/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [If I don't like a person and a person doesn't like me fine, that's mutual respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/if-i-don-t-like-a-person-and-a-person-doesn-t-like-me-fine-that-s/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [I remember in Charlotte, they looked to me every day. I'm 30 now. And now it's, 'Let's just win.' Maybe when I was 26…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/i-remember-in-charlotte-they-looked-to-me-every-day-i-m-30-now-and/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [I feel I was born to play basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/i-feel-i-was-born-to-play-basketball/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [In Charlotte, I thought we were on the right track. It didn't happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/in-charlotte-i-thought-we-were-on-the-right-track-it-didn-t-happen/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [I want to play 11, 12 years right here and then retire - and win us some national championships, and be the Michael Jordan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/i-want-to-play-11-12-years-right-here-and-then-retire-and-win-us-some/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [When it comes to the younger generation, anything on the floor I'll criticize - not playing hard, not doing this, fighting, not giving your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/when-it-comes-to-the-younger-generation-anything-on-the-floor-i-ll/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [I can remember my jersey being the No. 1 seller for like two years, and I think it was the color of the jersey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/i-can-remember-my-jersey-being-the-no-1-seller-for-like-two-years-and/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) [Explore all 99 Larry Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) ## 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": "We never played ball for money. 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