--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Certain guys, Los Angeles can turn you…" description: "\"Certain guys, Los Angeles can turn you into something different. But me, I just want to play basketball.\" — Larry Nance, Jr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/larry-nance-jr-6213_basketball_certain-guys-los-angeles-can-turn-you-in_602549.jpg" --- # Certain guys, Los Angeles can turn you into something… ![“Certain guys, Los Angeles can turn you into something different. But me, I just want to play basketball.” quote by Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/larry-nance-jr-6213_basketball_certain-guys-los-angeles-can-turn-you-in_602549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/larry-nance-jr-6213_basketball_certain-guys-los-angeles-can-turn-you-in_602549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/larry-nance-jr-6213_basketball_certain-guys-los-angeles-can-turn-you-in_602549.jpg) > “Certain guys, Los Angeles can turn you into something different. But me, I just want to play basketball.” [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Los Angeles can change a person's identity, but the speaker wants to stay true to his passion for basketball. **In simple terms:** LA may reshape you, but I just want to play basketball. Key Takeaway Stay focused on your true passion. Themes identity passion city influence personal choice Mood determined reflective Type motivational personal. When to use this quote - moving to a new city - career decisions - team dynamics Key Concepts self‑determination environmental pressure career focus Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep your core goals amid changing surroundings? - What pressures does a big city place on personal identity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Los angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/los-angeles/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-basketball/) ## Related quotes > [I just want to go out there and play basketball, do it at a high level, put us in a position to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-beal/i-just-want-to-go-out-there-and-play-basketball-do-it-at-a-high-level/) [Bradley Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-beal/) > [I don't really look for the spotlight, I don't look for any of that stuff. I just want to play basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-barrett/i-don-t-really-look-for-the-spotlight-i-don-t-look-for-any-of-that/) [RJ Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rj-barrett/) > [My dad never pushed me to play basketball. I tried it, and I was pretty rag-tag for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/my-dad-never-pushed-me-to-play-basketball-i-tried-it-and-i-was-pretty/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [My dad had always encouraged me to play basketball, he didn't push me too much at first - he wanted me to try out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/my-dad-had-always-encouraged-me-to-play-basketball-he-didn-t-push-me/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [The natural thing in Africa is to start playing soccer at 8 or 9. You go outside and you play like kids play basketball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/the-natural-thing-in-africa-is-to-start-playing-soccer-at-8-or-9-you/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I believe in order to coach, you've got to start at the ground level. The same way I learned how to play basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metta-world-peace/i-believe-in-order-to-coach-you-ve-got-to-start-at-the-ground-level/) [Metta World Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metta-world-peace/) > [Over the years Ive learned that just because you follow God, it doesnt mean you win every game or get what you want athletically.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/over-the-years-ive-learned-that-just-because-you-follow-god-it-doesnt/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [It's a blessing to play basketball, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-caruso/it-s-a-blessing-to-play-basketball-man/) [Alex Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-caruso/) > [That's why I play basketball. To play a lot of minutes, and to help my team win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zion-williamson/that-s-why-i-play-basketball-to-play-a-lot-of-minutes-and-to-help-my/) [Zion Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zion-williamson/) > [I lived to play basketball. Growing up as a kid, Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics were my favorite team. The way they played,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walton/i-lived-to-play-basketball-growing-up-as-a-kid-bill-russell-and-the/) [Bill Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walton/) > [I really didn't want to play basketball for the longest time, but I just wouldn't stop growing. But I always wanted to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-really-didn-t-want-to-play-basketball-for-the-longest-time-but-i/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I'm living my dream, getting to play in the NBA, getting to play basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-george/i-m-living-my-dream-getting-to-play-in-the-nba-getting-to-play/) [Paul George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-george/) > [I wanted to have a career in sports when I was young, but I had to give up the idea. I'm only six feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/i-wanted-to-have-a-career-in-sports-when-i-was-young-but-i-had-to/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I play basketball hard-nosed and if you're not on my team, during that 48 minutes we're enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-play-basketball-hard-nosed-and-if-you-re-not-on-my-team-during-that/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [I just started growing. And everyone said, 'You should probably play basketball.' So I said, 'All right. I'll give it a shot.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bennett/i-just-started-growing-and-everyone-said-you-should-probably-play/) [Anthony Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bennett/) ## More by Larry Nance, Jr > [My first concert ever was my freshman year of high school, at Blossom, and it was Lil Wayne and Young Money. It was wild.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/my-first-concert-ever-was-my-freshman-year-of-high-school-at-blossom/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [Channing Frye is the biggest video game nerd you'll ever meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/channing-frye-is-the-biggest-video-game-nerd-you-ll-ever-meet/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [Teams desperately don't want me off the dribble in the lane. For me, if I can shoot well enough to have them close out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/teams-desperately-don-t-want-me-off-the-dribble-in-the-lane-for-me-if/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [Getting to play with Kobe was awesome and just seeing Shaq, anytime, is unreal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/getting-to-play-with-kobe-was-awesome-and-just-seeing-shaq-anytime-is/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [My main goal is the man I'm guarding doesn't score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/my-main-goal-is-the-man-i-m-guarding-doesn-t-score/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [With LeBron, anything is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/with-lebron-anything-is-possible/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [Obviously growing up in my house I knew I wanted to play sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/obviously-growing-up-in-my-house-i-knew-i-wanted-to-play-sports/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [In the NBA, you're supposed to be an ultra-competitor. If you're not, you shouldn't be here. And even if it might actually be 'delusional'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/in-the-nba-you-re-supposed-to-be-an-ultra-competitor-if-you-re-not/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [Everybody's good at what they're good at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/everybody-s-good-at-what-they-re-good-at/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [Well, I love any and all Bruno Mars. I don't feel bad about that. I also love some Maroon 5 every now and again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/well-i-love-any-and-all-bruno-mars-i-don-t-feel-bad-about-that-i-also/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [When a team gets into the mindset of, Alright, I've got a good shot... he's got a better one, they're going to be tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/when-a-team-gets-into-the-mindset-of-alright-i-ve-got-a-good-shot-he/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [I went from the skinniest, worst basketball player you could ever imagine coming from my family to the starting high school center, a Division…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/i-went-from-the-skinniest-worst-basketball-player-you-could-ever/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [If the offense isn't going, my defense is always going to be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/if-the-offense-isn-t-going-my-defense-is-always-going-to-be-there/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [I don't necessarily care how much I score. I don't care how many rebounds - obviously I need those - but I need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/i-don-t-necessarily-care-how-much-i-score-i-don-t-care-how-many/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [Playing with LeBron is pretty awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/playing-with-lebron-is-pretty-awesome/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) [Explore all 99 Larry Nance, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) ## 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": "Certain guys, Los Angeles can turn you into something different. 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