--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was always tall, but I had a real…" description: "\"I was always tall, but I had a real growth spurt between 12 and 14.\" — Luol Deng" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/luol-deng-4848_always_i-was-always-tall-but-i-had-a-real-growt_1099918.jpg" --- # I was always tall, but I had a real growth spurt between… ![“I was always tall, but I had a real growth spurt between 12 and 14.” quote by Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/luol-deng-4848_always_i-was-always-tall-but-i-had-a-real-growt_1099918.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/luol-deng-4848_always_i-was-always-tall-but-i-had-a-real-growt_1099918.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/luol-deng-4848_always_i-was-always-tall-but-i-had-a-real-growt_1099918.jpg) > “I was always tall, but I had a real growth spurt between 12 and 14.” [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Physical growth spurt during early teens can dramatically change stature. **In simple terms:** Teen growth can be sudden. Key Takeaway Adapt to changing body. Themes sports development adolescence Mood reflective inspirational Type sports personal When to use this quote - basketball training - school sports - nutrition - self‑image Key Concepts physiology identity confidence Questions to Reflect On - How did your game adapt? - What support helped you? A Different Perspective Late growth may affect coordination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Between](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/between/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Growth Spurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth-spurt-1336433/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-growth-696245/) [Spurt 12](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spurt-12-2886440/) [Tall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tall/) [Tall Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tall-real-2886441/) ## Related quotes > [The very things we wish to avoid, neglect and flee from turn out to be the 'prima materia' from which all real growth comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-harvey/the-very-things-we-wish-to-avoid-neglect-and-flee-from-turn-out-to-be/) [Andrew Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-harvey/) > [We're richer, but that wealth doesn't reflect durable, authentic economic value - which is hitting fast diminishing returns. The growth that we're pursuing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/we-re-richer-but-that-wealth-doesn-t-reflect-durable-authentic/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [There was a time when I had all the answers. My real growth began when I discovered that the questions to which I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/there-was-a-time-when-i-had-all-the-answers-my-real-growth-began-when/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [When you're buying real growth and want real performance, you buy excellent management and good products and you diversify across industry sectors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morse/when-you-re-buying-real-growth-and-want-real-performance-you-buy/) [Robert Morse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morse/) > [But the real growth I must say in terms of the public sector for the Labor Department is really at state and local levels.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-herman/but-the-real-growth-i-must-say-in-terms-of-the-public-sector-for-the/) [Alexis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-herman/) > [“Still, connecting others to the world economy -voluntarily, by pressure, and even by force- constituted, in principle, their only road to sustained real growth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-gat/still-connecting-others-to-the-world-economy-voluntarily-by-pressure/) [Azar Gat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-gat/) > [I've come to realize that real growth of character takes place in the valleys of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-dravecky/i-ve-come-to-realize-that-real-growth-of-character-takes-place-in-the/) [Dave Dravecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-dravecky/) > [“real growth comes through intense, difficult, and challenging situations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-ravikant/real-growth-comes-through-intense-difficult-and-challenging-situations/) [Kamal Ravikant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-ravikant/) > [Spiritual growth is the only real growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shri-radhe-maa/spiritual-growth-is-the-only-real-growth/) [Shri Radhe Maa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shri-radhe-maa/) > [I'm not sure the oil producers are enjoying real growth. That troubles me. For experience has shown that oil can be more of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/i-m-not-sure-the-oil-producers-are-enjoying-real-growth-that-troubles/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [The way to real growth is not to become more powerful or more famous, but to become more human and more tolerant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/the-way-to-real-growth-is-not-to-become-more-powerful-or-more-famous/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [We can get America moving again, put on top of that the kind of trade deals that'll put the American worker first, and you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/we-can-get-america-moving-again-put-on-top-of-that-the-kind-of-trade/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [I had a growth spurt after my junior year that left me in a goofy state - which I'm still in, by the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/i-had-a-growth-spurt-after-my-junior-year-that-left-me-in-a-goofy/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) > [Once I got to high school and hit my growth spurt, nobody really messed with me anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-brown/once-i-got-to-high-school-and-hit-my-growth-spurt-nobody-really/) [Kane Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-brown/) > [I think sometimes when you can feel the velocity of change, like nowadays, you really need a seat belt. It's almost like having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/i-think-sometimes-when-you-can-feel-the-velocity-of-change-like/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) ## More by Luol Deng > [As much as I want to stay on the team -- I love Chicago, I love the Bulls -- at the same time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/as-much-as-i-want-to-stay-on-the-team-i-love-chicago-i-love-the-bulls/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [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/) > [When I started playing basketball, I hated it because football had always been my sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/when-i-started-playing-basketball-i-hated-it-because-football-had/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [Egypt was tough without our parents. My brothers and sisters had to work day by day, and every time they collected a pay cheque,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/egypt-was-tough-without-our-parents-my-brothers-and-sisters-had-to/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I wouldn't like to be invisible for a day. But if I was... I'd probably be up to no good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-wouldn-t-like-to-be-invisible-for-a-day-but-if-i-was-i-d-probably/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [South Sudan is my home, and I am humbled to be in a position to help those suffering from lack of access to basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/south-sudan-is-my-home-and-i-am-humbled-to-be-in-a-position-to-help/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [What I try to do is to look ahead of me and not look back. Whether that's a good thing or bad thing, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/what-i-try-to-do-is-to-look-ahead-of-me-and-not-look-back-whether/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [As good as Miami is, we'd rather go to Miami.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/as-good-as-miami-is-we-d-rather-go-to-miami/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [When I go out there, I try to do everything I can to win. That doesn't mean I have to score more than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/when-i-go-out-there-i-try-to-do-everything-i-can-to-win-that-doesn-t/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [A lot of basketball players have tendinitis. It's known as jumper's knee, and it just comes from all the pounding our knees take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/a-lot-of-basketball-players-have-tendinitis-it-s-known-as-jumper-s/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [Chicago is where I have always wanted to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/chicago-is-where-i-have-always-wanted-to-be/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [When I look back at 19, coming here to Chicago, some of the things that were said, some of the stuff that you deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/when-i-look-back-at-19-coming-here-to-chicago-some-of-the-things-that/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [It's not easy not to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/it-s-not-easy-not-to-play/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I always believe every team that wins has to go through some things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-always-believe-every-team-that-wins-has-to-go-through-some-things/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I think everyone in this league should aim to become good enough to shoot for the MVP. Not everyone can do it, but you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-think-everyone-in-this-league-should-aim-to-become-good-enough-to/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) [Explore all 106 Luol Deng quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was always tall, but I had a real growth spurt between 12 and 14.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Luol Deng" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-was-always-tall-but-i-had-a-real-growth-spurt-between-12-and-14/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-was-always-tall-but-i-had-a-real-growth-spurt-between-12-and-14/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/luol-deng-4848_always_i-was-always-tall-but-i-had-a-real-growt_1099918.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/luol-deng-4848_always_i-was-always-tall-but-i-had-a-real-growt_1099918.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/luol-deng-4848_always_i-was-always-tall-but-i-had-a-real-growt_1099918.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was always tall, but I had a real growth spurt between 12 and 14.” — Luol Deng", "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": "Luol Deng", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was always tall, but I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-was-always-tall-but-i-had-a-real-growth-spurt-between-12-and-14/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-was-always-tall-but-i-had-a-real-growth-spurt-between-12-and-14/#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 } } ] } ```