--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once you become a professional athlete or…" description: "\"Once you become a professional athlete or once you do anything well, then you're automatically a role model ... I have no problem being a role model. I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ad/lebron-james-1130_athlete_once-you-become-a-professional-athlete-o_285965.jpg" --- # Once you become a professional athlete or once you do… ![“Once you become a professional athlete or once you do anything well, then you're automatically a role model ... I have no problem being a role model. I love it. I have kids looking up to me and hopefully I inspire these kids to do good things.” quote by LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ad/lebron-james-1130_athlete_once-you-become-a-professional-athlete-o_285965.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ad/lebron-james-1130_athlete_once-you-become-a-professional-athlete-o_285965.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ad/lebron-james-1130_athlete_once-you-become-a-professional-athlete-o_285965.jpg) > “Once you become a professional athlete or once you do anything well, then you're automatically a role model ... I have no problem being a role model. I love it. I have kids looking up to me and hopefully I inspire these kids to do good things.” [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Professional athletes are often seen as role models; he embraces this, aiming to inspire youth positively. **In simple terms:** Athletes can be role models and he likes that. Key Takeaway Use your platform to inspire others. Themes leadership inspiration responsibility Mood motivational proud Type advice personal When to use this quote - sports mentorship - community outreach - media appearances Key Concepts role modeling public influence Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay authentic while being a role model? - What actions best inspire kids? A Different Perspective Fame can pressure athletes into unwanted expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Being a role model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-role-model/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Professional athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-athlete/) [Role model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-model/) [Role models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-models/) ## Related quotes > [I don't believe professional athletes should be role models. I believe parents should be role models...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-don-t-believe-professional-athletes-should-be-role-models-i-believe/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [Working with all of these kids is great. It doesn't get any better than this, to come down and inspire kids who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/working-with-all-of-these-kids-is-great-it-doesn-t-get-any-better/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [Being a role model is a privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allyson-felix/being-a-role-model-is-a-privilege/) [Allyson Felix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allyson-felix/) > [No, I like being a role model because I know how much comfort my musical idols brought me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-manson/no-i-like-being-a-role-model-because-i-know-how-much-comfort-my/) [Shirley Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-manson/) > [My biggest thing about being a role model is whatever I'm preaching, I'm practicing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gigi-hadid/my-biggest-thing-about-being-a-role-model-is-whatever-i-m-preaching-i/) [Gigi Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gigi-hadid/) > [So when it comes to being a role model to women, I think it's because of the way that I feel about myself, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzo/so-when-it-comes-to-being-a-role-model-to-women-i-think-it-s-because/) [Lizzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzo/) > [Whether or not you have children yourself, you are a parent to the next generation. If we can only stop thinking of children as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-sophia-kasl/whether-or-not-you-have-children-yourself-you-are-a-parent-to-the/) [Charlotte Sophia Kasl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-sophia-kasl/) > [I think you have to embrace being a role model because you are in the public eye, and whether you like it or not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-bynes/i-think-you-have-to-embrace-being-a-role-model-because-you-are-in-the/) [Amanda Bynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-bynes/) > [I am really looking forward to being a role model for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janel-parrish/i-am-really-looking-forward-to-being-a-role-model-for-girls/) [Janel Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janel-parrish/) > [Role modeling is the most basic responsibility of parents. Parents are handing life's scripts to their children, scripts that in all likelihood will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/role-modeling-is-the-most-basic-responsibility-of-parents-parents-are/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I take being a role model seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladainian-tomlinson/i-take-being-a-role-model-seriously/) [LaDainian Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladainian-tomlinson/) > [Everybody talks about being a role model. But if you look up the word 'role' in a dictionary, it describes playing a part. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/everybody-talks-about-being-a-role-model-but-if-you-look-up-the-word/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating...too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/being-a-role-model-is-the-most-powerful-form-of-educating-too-often/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [In terms of being a role model, I didn't start out to be one. I don't go to work every day with that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/in-terms-of-being-a-role-model-i-didn-t-start-out-to-be-one-i-don-t/) [Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/) > [My heritage is something that I have always been aware of, however, some would say that there is a disproportionately low number of Asians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-adrian/my-heritage-is-something-that-i-have-always-been-aware-of-however/) Nathan Adrian ## More by LeBron James > [We were playing every game to win, we just happened to win 27 in a row. Our motto was to try and go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/we-were-playing-every-game-to-win-we-just-happened-to-win-27-in-a-row/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [It puts a smile on my face to be compared to a legend. Year by year, as you play basketball, you've got to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/it-puts-a-smile-on-my-face-to-be-compared-to-a-legend-year-by-year-as/) [Lebron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [It's a lot of talent sitting in suits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/it-s-a-lot-of-talent-sitting-in-suits/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [Being the only man in the household with my mom definitely helped me grow up fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/being-the-only-man-in-the-household-with-my-mom-definitely-helped-me/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [I love the success of my teammates more than my individual achievements. I've just always cared more about that since I started playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/i-love-the-success-of-my-teammates-more-than-my-individual/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [Volleyball, I could be pretty good. After a few practices I could be that striker, or whatever they call it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/volleyball-i-could-be-pretty-good-after-a-few-practices-i-could-be/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [The man above has given me some unbelievable abilities to play the game of basketball. I just try to take advantage of it every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/the-man-above-has-given-me-some-unbelievable-abilities-to-play-the/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [Losing a basketball game hurts but when you see what you've been through, you look on it and say well if this is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/losing-a-basketball-game-hurts-but-when-you-see-what-you-ve-been/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [Well, of course you question it, especially when you get to this point. I always look at it would I rather not make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/well-of-course-you-question-it-especially-when-you-get-to-this-point/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [I like criticism. It makes you strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/i-like-criticism-it-makes-you-strong/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [You can't be afraid to fail. It's the only way you succeed - you're not gonna succeed all the time, and I know that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/you-can-t-be-afraid-to-fail-it-s-the-only-way-you-succeed-you-re-not/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [I love watching track and field - the 4x100 relay, the 100-(meter) dash, the 200-(meter) dash. To see what they're able to do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/i-love-watching-track-and-field-the-4x100-relay-the-100-meter-dash/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [There are some teams and logos you see, no matter where you are in the world, and you know exactly who they are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/there-are-some-teams-and-logos-you-see-no-matter-where-you-are-in-the/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [Messi is the best player in the world. If he's not already, he'll be the best footballer of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/messi-is-the-best-player-in-the-world-if-he-s-not-already-he-ll-be/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [I spoil a lot of people with my play,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/i-spoil-a-lot-of-people-with-my-play/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) [Explore all 285 LeBron James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) ## More Athlete quotes > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-don-t-want-to-say-names-but-there-are-certain-companies-i-won-t/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/treat-yourself-like-an-overweight-out-of-shape-person-and-that-s-what/) [Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/) [Browse all 2,455 Athlete quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once you become a professional athlete or once you do anything well, then you're automatically a role model ... I have no problem being a role model. I love it. 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