--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like playing against guys because of…" description: "\"I like playing against guys because of their athleticism and understanding of the game.\" — Lisa Leslie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaa/lisa-leslie-17216_athleticism_i-like-playing-against-guys-because-of-t_1627720.jpg" --- # I like playing against guys because of their athleticism… ![“I like playing against guys because of their athleticism and understanding of the game.” quote by Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaa/lisa-leslie-17216_athleticism_i-like-playing-against-guys-because-of-t_1627720.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaa/lisa-leslie-17216_athleticism_i-like-playing-against-guys-because-of-t_1627720.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaa/lisa-leslie-17216_athleticism_i-like-playing-against-guys-because-of-t_1627720.jpg) > “I like playing against guys because of their athleticism and understanding of the game.” [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing against athletic opponents sharpens one's own skill and deepens game insight through challenging competition. **In simple terms:** Facing strong players improves your game understanding. Key Takeaway Seek out high‑skill competition. Themes sports competition skill development Mood motivated analytical Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - practice games - tournaments - training drills - team selection Key Concepts learning theory performance psychology Questions to Reflect On - What benefits do you gain from challenging opponents? - How do you balance competition with recovery? A Different Perspective Constant high‑level competition may cause burnout without balance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athleticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athleticism/) [Athleticism Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athleticism-understanding-357040/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Guys Athleticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guys-athleticism-357038/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Playing Guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-guys-357039/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-game-339677/) ## Related quotes > [Some of these guys have all the athleticism in the world. I'm tough, and I just keep coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/some-of-these-guys-have-all-the-athleticism-in-the-world-i-m-tough/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [I think you have a great understanding of the game of football the more you go through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-herbert/i-think-you-have-a-great-understanding-of-the-game-of-football-the/) [Justin Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-herbert/) > [I'm just getting older and I'm understanding the game and I'm more experienced in the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-m-just-getting-older-and-i-m-understanding-the-game-and-i-m-more/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [I believe that I've got a unique knowledge and understanding of this game, and I'm able to see it differently than a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-warner/i-believe-that-i-ve-got-a-unique-knowledge-and-understanding-of-this/) [Kurt Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-warner/) > [I have a bit of understanding of the game having batted for so many years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardik-pandya/i-have-a-bit-of-understanding-of-the-game-having-batted-for-so-many/) [Hardik Pandya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardik-pandya/) > [I now have a better understanding of my game than what it was in 2013 in my first year in Test cricket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shikhar-dhawan/i-now-have-a-better-understanding-of-my-game-than-what-it-was-in-2013/) [Shikhar Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shikhar-dhawan/) > [I have the idea that when you put yourself through hard, detailed training, and you put a lot of attention into all the little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukasz-fabianski/i-have-the-idea-that-when-you-put-yourself-through-hard-detailed/) [Lukasz Fabianski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukasz-fabianski/) > [Having a clear-cut plan, understanding what your game is and playing to your strength is what needs to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayank-agarwal/having-a-clear-cut-plan-understanding-what-your-game-is-and-playing/) [Mayank Agarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayank-agarwal/) > [I work on crossing the ball at pace. That's something that is not easy. And my first touch has improved, as has my understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-walcott/i-work-on-crossing-the-ball-at-pace-that-s-something-that-is-not-easy/) [Theo Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-walcott/) > [The way I play is not predicated on how far I can run and how fast I can get there. It's understanding the game.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-clark/the-way-i-play-is-not-predicated-on-how-far-i-can-run-and-how-fast-i/) [Ryan Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-clark/) > [Pep has so much charisma that always makes you give more than 100 per cent, not only in matches, but in training too. His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkay-gundogan/pep-has-so-much-charisma-that-always-makes-you-give-more-than-100-per/) [Ilkay Gundogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkay-gundogan/) > [Football is not really a complicated game. It's important to have an understanding of the game but the beauty of people like Martin O'Neill,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sutton/football-is-not-really-a-complicated-game-it-s-important-to-have-an/) [Chris Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sutton/) > [But for me as a player, I pride myself on understanding the game and having a really good soccer IQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-labbe/but-for-me-as-a-player-i-pride-myself-on-understanding-the-game-and/) [Stephanie Labbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-labbe/) > [There's a reason why some of these older guys get better as they play. And I think I've gotten better anticipating and understanding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kelce/there-s-a-reason-why-some-of-these-older-guys-get-better-as-they-play/) [Jason Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kelce/) > [Every game reveals exactly where you are. We should have a good understanding after every game why we either won or lost that game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-thibodeau/every-game-reveals-exactly-where-you-are-we-should-have-a-good/) [Tom Thibodeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-thibodeau/) ## More by Lisa Leslie > [Boys have a tendency to jump around a lot more than girls. Boys have that desire to want to dunk way more than girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/boys-have-a-tendency-to-jump-around-a-lot-more-than-girls-boys-have/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [You just don't want to get pigeon-holed into one position. That's why even though I start out at center, I may play small forward,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/you-just-don-t-want-to-get-pigeon-holed-into-one-position-that-s-why/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [I think it's great for the women to show that they are women and be feminine. And that's something that I've always promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/i-think-it-s-great-for-the-women-to-show-that-they-are-women-and-be/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [I played on an all-boys team in the 8th grade, but they wouldnt throw me the ball even though I was on their team.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/i-played-on-an-all-boys-team-in-the-8th-grade-but-they-wouldnt-throw/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [I encourage girls to play sports and play hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/i-encourage-girls-to-play-sports-and-play-hard/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [Until now, until I actually got into law class, I just never thought of it as being an interest for me, but it's really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/until-now-until-i-actually-got-into-law-class-i-just-never-thought-of/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [If, by the way I play, I can be a role model or encourage someone else, that would be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/if-by-the-way-i-play-i-can-be-a-role-model-or-encourage-someone-else/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [Right now I'm 185, which is really good for me yet very hard for me to maintain. My weight seems high for the average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/right-now-i-m-185-which-is-really-good-for-me-yet-very-hard-for-me-to/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [My success has surpassed my childhood dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/my-success-has-surpassed-my-childhood-dreams/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [I'm probably taller than 90% of the men I meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/i-m-probably-taller-than-90-of-the-men-i-meet/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [Well, the first quality of being a good leader is you have to be able to follow. See, a good leader cant just be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/well-the-first-quality-of-being-a-good-leader-is-you-have-to-be-able/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [It's really not about the money. It's just about educating yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/it-s-really-not-about-the-money-it-s-just-about-educating-yourself/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [Manu Ginobili is just a baller dude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/manu-ginobili-is-just-a-baller-dude/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [I've grown so much since 1996. I think that was the turning point of when I started to go to church every Sunday and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/i-ve-grown-so-much-since-1996-i-think-that-was-the-turning-point-of/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [I've never proclaimed myself to be a shooter. But I am definitely a scorer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/i-ve-never-proclaimed-myself-to-be-a-shooter-but-i-am-definitely-a/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) [Explore all 37 Lisa Leslie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) ## More Athleticism quotes > [A lot of scouts and people are enamored with athleticism and youth. So they take that any day over mature, high-quality basketball players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/a-lot-of-scouts-and-people-are-enamored-with-athleticism-and-youth-so/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [When I come to a baseball game, I appreciate the athleticism of these top-tier athletes. When they come to our shows, it's the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-kingston/when-i-come-to-a-baseball-game-i-appreciate-the-athleticism-of-these/) [Kofi Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-kingston/) > [Punting is an underrated art because of the strategy, skill and athleticism involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-bayless/punting-is-an-underrated-art-because-of-the-strategy-skill-and/) [Skip Bayless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-bayless/) > [I like to compare the two to a quarterback and a lineman. Being a brakeman is very physical and success is mostly determined by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elana-meyers/i-like-to-compare-the-two-to-a-quarterback-and-a-lineman-being-a/) [Elana Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elana-meyers/) > [Comedy and drama are like two different sports; they both require athleticism but they're different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/comedy-and-drama-are-like-two-different-sports-they-both-require/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [In terms of playing, of course, Europe is definitely more finesse than playing in the WNBA. I think they're more skilled in terms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cappie-pondexter/in-terms-of-playing-of-course-europe-is-definitely-more-finesse-than/) [Cappie Pondexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cappie-pondexter/) > [The prime necessities for success in life are money, athleticism, tailor made clothes and a charming smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-prime-necessities-for-success-in-life-are-money-athleticism/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [You want to know why I am the perfect champion? Because you can take the strength of John Cena; the intelligence of Triple H;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-orton/you-want-to-know-why-i-am-the-perfect-champion-because-you-can-take/) [Randy Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-orton/) > [I would say the first thing that enabled me to play 17 years is that I was not gifted as an athlete, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jackson/i-would-say-the-first-thing-that-enabled-me-to-play-17-years-is-that/) [Mark Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jackson/) > [Experience wise you've got to give it to the Bella Twins but in terms of just overall effort, athleticism, and just work ethic, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrus/experience-wise-you-ve-got-to-give-it-to-the-bella-twins-but-in-terms/) [Tyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrus/) > [I find that the work I do as an actor that's most challenging commands an athleticism or, certainly, a physicality. And also a rigor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-find-that-the-work-i-do-as-an-actor-that-s-most-challenging/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [Ken Heitz got drafted by the Bucks the same year I did. He went to their camp just for the experience, then dropped out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/ken-heitz-got-drafted-by-the-bucks-the-same-year-i-did-he-went-to/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [When I was younger I could depend a little bit more on my athleticism and my strength and all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/when-i-was-younger-i-could-depend-a-little-bit-more-on-my-athleticism/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [I've been blessed with the athleticism that I've got. I've worked a little bit to try and fine-tune certain aspects - my pace, leap,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-calvert-lewin/i-ve-been-blessed-with-the-athleticism-that-i-ve-got-i-ve-worked-a/) [Dominic Calvert-Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-calvert-lewin/) > [My athleticism will go away some day. I'm gonna be old one of these days, so I'm going to be able to use those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-drummond/my-athleticism-will-go-away-some-day-i-m-gonna-be-old-one-of-these/) [Andre Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-drummond/) [Browse all 97 Athleticism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athleticism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like playing against guys because of their athleticism and understanding of the game.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lisa Leslie" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/i-like-playing-against-guys-because-of-their-athleticism-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Athleticism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/i-like-playing-against-guys-because-of-their-athleticism-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaa/lisa-leslie-17216_athleticism_i-like-playing-against-guys-because-of-t_1627720.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaa/lisa-leslie-17216_athleticism_i-like-playing-against-guys-because-of-t_1627720.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaa/lisa-leslie-17216_athleticism_i-like-playing-against-guys-because-of-t_1627720.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I like playing against guys because of their athleticism and understanding of the game.” — Lisa Leslie", "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": "Lisa Leslie", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I like playing against guys because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/i-like-playing-against-guys-because-of-their-athleticism-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/i-like-playing-against-guys-because-of-their-athleticism-and/#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 } } ] } ```