--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I just wanted to play basketball." description: "\"I just wanted to play basketball.\" — Lauri Markkanen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/lauri-markkanen-6521_basketball_i-just-wanted-to-play-basketball-831268_831268.jpg" --- # I just wanted to play basketball. ![“I just wanted to play basketball.” quote by Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/lauri-markkanen-6521_basketball_i-just-wanted-to-play-basketball-831268_831268.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/lauri-markkanen-6521_basketball_i-just-wanted-to-play-basketball-831268_831268.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/lauri-markkanen-6521_basketball_i-just-wanted-to-play-basketball-831268_831268.jpg) > “I just wanted to play basketball.” [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A simple desire to play basketball drives purpose and joy. **In simple terms:** Wanting to play fuels passion. Key Takeaway Follow your pure love for the game. Themes sports passion purpose Mood enthusiastic reflective Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - youth sports - personal training - career decisions Key Concepts Intrinsic motivation joy focus Questions to Reflect On - What does playing mean beyond sport? - How to balance love and professional growth? A Different Perspective Passion can blind to broader opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Just Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-wanted/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-basketball/) [Wanted Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-play/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't really seek attention. I just wanted to play the game well and go home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/i-didn-t-really-seek-attention-i-just-wanted-to-play-the-game-well/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [I am just one of those people that kept myself to myself, I just wanted to play football and that's all I ever wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-bridge/i-am-just-one-of-those-people-that-kept-myself-to-myself-i-just/) [Wayne Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-bridge/) > [Normally we'd draw the curtain here, but I just wanted to see what he'd play next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-fischer/normally-we-d-draw-the-curtain-here-but-i-just-wanted-to-see-what-he/) [Bobby Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-fischer/) > [I've always just wanted to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/i-ve-always-just-wanted-to-play-football/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [For as long as I could remember, I've wanted to play basketball at the University of North Carolina. Funny thing is, there was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/for-as-long-as-i-could-remember-i-ve-wanted-to-play-basketball-at-the/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-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/) > [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 wanted to be as good of a basketball player as I could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-just-wanted-to-be-as-good-of-a-basketball-player-as-i-could/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Lauri Markkanen > [Of course when you voice your opinions, there are going to be negative things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/of-course-when-you-voice-your-opinions-there-are-going-to-be-negative/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [You have to play hard every night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/you-have-to-play-hard-every-night/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I'm a big hockey guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-m-a-big-hockey-guy/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I think I always find something to work on... You always find stuff you can do better. It might be a little tough sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-think-i-always-find-something-to-work-on-you-always-find-stuff-you/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [Being in the right system utilizes my strengths, being on the move is getting me to my right spots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/being-in-the-right-system-utilizes-my-strengths-being-on-the-move-is/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I'm doing everything in my power to perform to the best of my abilities on the floor. And we'll see where that takes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-m-doing-everything-in-my-power-to-perform-to-the-best-of-my/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [When things are not going your way, it's hard. But it made me better going through that struggle. I had to fight through it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/when-things-are-not-going-your-way-it-s-hard-but-it-made-me-better/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I didn't dream of playing college or playing in the NBA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-didn-t-dream-of-playing-college-or-playing-in-the-nba/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [Individual accolades are gonna take care of themselves when we put the work in as a team.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/individual-accolades-are-gonna-take-care-of-themselves-when-we-put/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I mean, dunking is fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-mean-dunking-is-fun/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I've had good games. I've had bad games. I don't know if I've had a really long period of time where I can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-ve-had-good-games-i-ve-had-bad-games-i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-had-a/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I knew the NBA was going to be tougher than college, so that's why I say I knew it would be a challenge. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-knew-the-nba-was-going-to-be-tougher-than-college-so-that-s-why-i/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I've heard a lot of stories about guys not going to class in college, especially second semester. That wasn't me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-ve-heard-a-lot-of-stories-about-guys-not-going-to-class-in-college/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I don't think we're here just to have a good time... We're trying to win games and play meaningful games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-don-t-think-we-re-here-just-to-have-a-good-time-we-re-trying-to-win/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [You can't put your head down and give up. You just keep working and better times are ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/you-can-t-put-your-head-down-and-give-up-you-just-keep-working-and/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) [Explore all 99 Lauri Markkanen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) ## 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 just wanted to play basketball.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lauri Markkanen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-just-wanted-to-play-basketball/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-just-wanted-to-play-basketball/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/lauri-markkanen-6521_basketball_i-just-wanted-to-play-basketball-831268_831268.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/lauri-markkanen-6521_basketball_i-just-wanted-to-play-basketball-831268_831268.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/lauri-markkanen-6521_basketball_i-just-wanted-to-play-basketball-831268_831268.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I just wanted to play basketball.” — Lauri Markkanen", "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": "Lauri Markkanen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I just wanted to play basketball.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-just-wanted-to-play-basketball/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-just-wanted-to-play-basketball/#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 } } ] } ```