--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never really had a chance to know the…" description: "\"I never really had a chance to know the players individually... I thought when they were on the floor, they worked hard. But I never really got to know..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/923/lenny-wilkens-31665_chance_i-never-really-had-a-chance-to-know-the_2425488.png" --- # I never really had a chance to know the players… ![“I never really had a chance to know the players individually... I thought when they were on the floor, they worked hard. But I never really got to know them.” quote by Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/923/lenny-wilkens-31665_chance_i-never-really-had-a-chance-to-know-the_2425488.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/923/lenny-wilkens-31665_chance_i-never-really-had-a-chance-to-know-the_2425488.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/923/lenny-wilkens-31665_chance_i-never-really-had-a-chance-to-know-the_2425488.png) > “I never really had a chance to know the players individually... I thought when they were on the floor, they worked hard. But I never really got to know them.” [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He never truly knew individual players, only their collective effort on the court **In simple terms:** He valued team effort over personal familiarity Key Takeaway Focus on collective performance over individual details Themes sports teamwork anonymity Mood analytical thoughtful Type sports philosophical When to use this quote - team meetings - player scouting - media interviews - fan engagement Key Concepts Coaching group dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does anonymity affect team cohesion? - What are the benefits of focusing on collective effort? A Different Perspective Lack of personal insight may limit deeper connections ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/players/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't work on the killing floor. I worked in the section where you break the meat down and package it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marg-helgenberger/i-didn-t-work-on-the-killing-floor-i-worked-in-the-section-where-you/) [Marg Helgenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marg-helgenberger/) > [I think I try to look out for the best interest of the players individually, the team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-flores/i-think-i-try-to-look-out-for-the-best-interest-of-the-players/) [Brian Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-flores/) > [I know so many players who say they wouldn't entertain coaching, until they retire that is, and then they want to take their coaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-taylor/i-know-so-many-players-who-say-they-wouldn-t-entertain-coaching-until/) [Gordon Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-taylor/) > [You should get to know your players, Burt. He tested 98% in protective instincts. I said you could thank me later -- it's later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-blind-side/you-should-get-to-know-your-players-burt-he-tested-98-in-protective/) [The Blind Side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-blind-side/) > [The one thing that has gotten worse for sports media is access. We hardly get to see, talk to and most of all get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-adande/the-one-thing-that-has-gotten-worse-for-sports-media-is-access-we/) J. A. Adande > [Hiddink really taught me a lot. We talked every day at Anzhi and I saw how he dealt with difficult situations, how he always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/hiddink-really-taught-me-a-lot-we-talked-every-day-at-anzhi-and-i-saw/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [And that's why, you know, it's players like Randy Moss that unfortunately put a stain on the entire league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boomer-esiason/and-that-s-why-you-know-it-s-players-like-randy-moss-that/) [Boomer Esiason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boomer-esiason/) > [I love playing for my country. I see it as the biggest privilege of my career, so there's no way I'm going to volunteer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-terry/i-love-playing-for-my-country-i-see-it-as-the-biggest-privilege-of-my/) [John Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-terry/) > [I know players on every team and we talk all the time. They tell me during the game, 'We're not going to give you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-gurley/i-know-players-on-every-team-and-we-talk-all-the-time-they-tell-me/) [Todd Gurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-gurley/) > [I know players-wise, it's tough to come in and lose a lot of games and not feel like you're underachieving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-huerter/i-know-players-wise-it-s-tough-to-come-in-and-lose-a-lot-of-games-and/) [Kevin Huerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-huerter/) > [A coach needs time to get to know the players, the environment, the fans and the culture of the club. You can't solve everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/a-coach-needs-time-to-get-to-know-the-players-the-environment-the/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [Well, it speaks to the character of the players more than anything. Bob Myers and his staff have done an incredible job of putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kerr/well-it-speaks-to-the-character-of-the-players-more-than-anything-bob/) [Steve Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kerr/) > [I come across people in politics who would never make it in an NFL locker room. We know of players who can't stay on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-allred/i-come-across-people-in-politics-who-would-never-make-it-in-an-nfl/) [Colin Allred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-allred/) > [I'm not really that bothered by appearance. I know a few players who go off doing stuff in the mirror ages before they go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/i-m-not-really-that-bothered-by-appearance-i-know-a-few-players-who/) [Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/) > [I actually love 'Saturday Night Live,' like a sports fan watches their favorite team to see how they're doing. I know the players and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/i-actually-love-saturday-night-live-like-a-sports-fan-watches-their/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) ## More by Lenny Wilkens > [“Athletes, we were supposed to just be there, and in class I made it a point that I was prepared for every exam, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/athletes-we-were-supposed-to-just-be-there-and-in-class-i-made-it-a/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [I always felt that I was as good as the next person, and I didn't care what they had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/i-always-felt-that-i-was-as-good-as-the-next-person-and-i-didn-t-care/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [I learned early that if I wanted to achieve anything in life, I'd have to do it myself. I learned that I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/i-learned-early-that-if-i-wanted-to-achieve-anything-in-life-i-d-have/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [If you fail the first time that's just a chance to start over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/if-you-fail-the-first-time-that-s-just-a-chance-to-start-over-again/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [If you want it, you've got to give it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/if-you-want-it-you-ve-got-to-give-it/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [The most important quality I look for in a player is accountability. You've got to be accountable for who you are. It's too easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/the-most-important-quality-i-look-for-in-a-player-is-accountability/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [If you can't go through it, find a way around it. Don't spend all your time banging your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/if-you-can-t-go-through-it-find-a-way-around-it-don-t-spend-all-your/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [Meadowlark Lemon's book Trust Your Next Shot is written by a remarkable person. I have had the pleasure of knowing Meadowlark for quite some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/meadowlark-lemon-s-book-trust-your-next-shot-is-written-by-a/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [If you can't go through it, find a way around it. Don't spend all your time banging your head against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/if-you-can-t-go-through-it-find-a-way-around-it-don-t-spend-all-your-2/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [I told Zollie Volchok we needed an ultrasound machine and he asked me why we needed music in the locker room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/i-told-zollie-volchok-we-needed-an-ultrasound-machine-and-he-asked-me/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [Show people how to have success and then you can push their expectations up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/show-people-how-to-have-success-and-then-you-can-push-their/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [Intimidation doesn't last very long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/intimidation-doesn-t-last-very-long/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [I worry about the things I can affect, and the things I have no control over I move by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/i-worry-about-the-things-i-can-affect-and-the-things-i-have-no/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [We should never discourage young people from dreaming dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/we-should-never-discourage-young-people-from-dreaming-dreams/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [The American dream, to me, means having the opportunity to achieve, because I don't think you should be guaranteed anything other than opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/the-american-dream-to-me-means-having-the-opportunity-to-achieve/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) [Explore all 16 Lenny Wilkens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) ## More Chance quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/) Alejandro Taubas > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [If you’re worrying about the past, you’ve got a good chance of screwing up the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-a-tullman/if-you-re-worrying-about-the-past-you-ve-got-a-good-chance-of/) [Howard A. Tullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-a-tullman/) > [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) [Browse all 12,460 Chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never really had a chance to know the players individually... I thought when they were on the floor, they worked hard. 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