--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even when I went to the playground, I…" description: "\"Even when I went to the playground, I never picked the best players. I picked guys with less talent, but who were willing to work hard and had the desi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/magic-johnson-2707_best-players_even-when-i-went-to-the-playground-i-nev_1938535.jpg" --- # Even when I went to the playground, I never picked the… ![“Even when I went to the playground, I never picked the best players. I picked guys with less talent, but who were willing to work hard and had the desire to be great.” quote by Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/magic-johnson-2707_best-players_even-when-i-went-to-the-playground-i-nev_1938535.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/magic-johnson-2707_best-players_even-when-i-went-to-the-playground-i-nev_1938535.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/magic-johnson-2707_best-players_even-when-i-went-to-the-playground-i-nev_1938535.jpg) > “Even when I went to the playground, I never picked the best players. I picked guys with less talent, but who were willing to work hard and had the desire to be great.” [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He chose teammates with less talent but strong work ethic and ambition over naturally gifted players. **In simple terms:** Selected hard‑working, ambitious teammates over naturally gifted players Key Takeaway Prioritize effort and drive when building a team. Themes teamwork leadership effort ambition talent selection Mood inspirational reflective Type advice leadership When to use this quote - sports teams - business hiring - project groups - school clubs - volunteer squads Key Concepts growth mindset motivation character development Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate effort versus skill? - What signs show a person’s drive? A Different Perspective Talent alone may not guarantee success without dedication. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-players/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Perseverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perseverance/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [I had no experience with broadcasting basketball games, so I took a tape recorder and went to a playground where there was a summer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-bradley/i-had-no-experience-with-broadcasting-basketball-games-so-i-took-a/) [Ed Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-bradley/) > [If I could have picked two guys on the planet, to have some exposure to at that age, those were the two right guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/if-i-could-have-picked-two-guys-on-the-planet-to-have-some-exposure/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Players should be picked on form, not reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/players-should-be-picked-on-form-not-reputation/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [Talent is never enough. With few exceptions the best players are the hardest workers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/talent-is-never-enough-with-few-exceptions-the-best-players-are-the/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [So one predicts the future as much as one is cause. The future isn't a pattern laid out to abuse and bully you. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/so-one-predicts-the-future-as-much-as-one-is-cause-the-future-isn-t-a/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [The idle brain is the devil's playground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-lange/the-idle-brain-is-the-devil-s-playground/) [Eric Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-lange/) > [“Summertime, I think, is a collective unconscious. We all remember the notes that made up the song of the ice-cream man; we all know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/summertime-i-think-is-a-collective-unconscious-we-all-remember-the/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [wouldn't you like to make sure all those millions you give to Uncle Sam went to schools and hospitals instead of nuclear warheads?' As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/wouldn-t-you-like-to-make-sure-all-those-millions-you-give-to-uncle/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [What I enjoy most are those times when I get an idea and it just flows - the words coming so fast that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-cypess/what-i-enjoy-most-are-those-times-when-i-get-an-idea-and-it-just/) [Leah Cypess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-cypess/) > [Avoid retirement playgrounds like poison, because that's exactly what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-goodman/avoid-retirement-playgrounds-like-poison-because-that-s-exactly-what/) [Linda Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-goodman/) > [Just as playgrounds didn't even make the priority list of most of those responding to Katrina, they all too often slip off the radar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/just-as-playgrounds-didn-t-even-make-the-priority-list-of-most-of/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [Make your race a playground, not a proving ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-fleshman/make-your-race-a-playground-not-a-proving-ground/) [Lauren Fleshman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-fleshman/) > [Go to a playground: Little girls get called 'bossy' all the time, a word that's almost never used for boys. And that leads directly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/go-to-a-playground-little-girls-get-called-bossy-all-the-time-a-word/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Belief, confidence in yourself.. the world’s your playground. Limitless. My question is... will you be remembered?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-plitt/belief-confidence-in-yourself-the-world-s-your-playground-limitless/) [Greg Plitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-plitt/) > [The idea that this world is a playground instead of a battleground has now been accepted in practice by the vast majority of Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-idea-that-this-world-is-a-playground-instead-of-a-battleground/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) ## More by Magic Johnson > [I really want people to know that I've worked hard, very hard, to get to where I am today.. this didn't just happen overnight.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-really-want-people-to-know-that-i-ve-worked-hard-very-hard-to-get/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I'm gonna love my son until the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-m-gonna-love-my-son-until-the-end/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [It's a burden trying to keep a secret. It's hard. It probably takes more out of you trying to hold it and keep it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/it-s-a-burden-trying-to-keep-a-secret-it-s-hard-it-probably-takes/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I'm the one who will take chances, not worry about the backlash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-m-the-one-who-will-take-chances-not-worry-about-the-backlash/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I love putting people to work of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-love-putting-people-to-work-of-color/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I thank Him every chance I get - on my knees praying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-thank-him-every-chance-i-get-on-my-knees-praying/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [Don't give up! Be friends with people who help you work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/don-t-give-up-be-friends-with-people-who-help-you-work-hard/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I like to take walks in the park by myself, where no one can bother me and I can think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-like-to-take-walks-in-the-park-by-myself-where-no-one-can-bother-me/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [If you come to me and say, 'Hey look I'm a racist,' or 'I discriminate against blacks,' or 'I don't like you because you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/if-you-come-to-me-and-say-hey-look-i-m-a-racist-or-i-discriminate/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [My work ethic is from sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/my-work-ethic-is-from-sports/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I want to be here for a long time, so I am going to do everything I have to do to be here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-want-to-be-here-for-a-long-time-so-i-am-going-to-do-everything-i/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [Because if you're going to lose, lose. I'm serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/because-if-you-re-going-to-lose-lose-i-m-serious/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [When I first found out I had HIV, I had to find somebody who was living with it, who could help me understand my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/when-i-first-found-out-i-had-hiv-i-had-to-find-somebody-who-was/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I learned to give him the ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-learned-to-give-him-the-ball/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [“All kids need is a little help, a little hope and someone who believes in them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/all-kids-need-is-a-little-help-a-little-hope-and-someone-who-believes/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) [Explore all 153 Magic Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) ## More Best players quotes > [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. His contribution as a goal threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-have-nothing-but-praise-for-the-boy-he-is-easily-the-best-player-in/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [Ruben Neves is by far one of the best players I've ever played with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-coady/ruben-neves-is-by-far-one-of-the-best-players-i-ve-ever-played-with/) [Conor Coady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-coady/) > [I liked starting. I liked matching up with the best of the best players who got the start. Taking on that challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-ingles/i-liked-starting-i-liked-matching-up-with-the-best-of-the-best/) [Joe Ingles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-ingles/) > [Obviously, at PSG, they have the best players in the world. Being with that group has really made me strong. I have watched the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-weah/obviously-at-psg-they-have-the-best-players-in-the-world-being-with/) [Timothy Weah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-weah/) > [To me, Messi, Neymar and Suarez are among the three best players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-silva/to-me-messi-neymar-and-suarez-are-among-the-three-best-players-in-the/) [Thiago Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-silva/) > [One thing I think you have to do here at Wisconsin is maximize your personnel. From the standpoint of getting our best players out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-bielema/one-thing-i-think-you-have-to-do-here-at-wisconsin-is-maximize-your/) [Bret Bielema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-bielema/) > [I just want to play against the best players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-hovland/i-just-want-to-play-against-the-best-players-in-the-world/) [Viktor Hovland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-hovland/) > [When you're a manager, we sometimes speak too much about tactics, but the most difficult thing for a manager is to get the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ander-herrera/when-you-re-a-manager-we-sometimes-speak-too-much-about-tactics-but/) [Ander Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ander-herrera/) > [I don't work this hard just to be the best player. I do it to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-mcpeak/i-don-t-work-this-hard-just-to-be-the-best-player-i-do-it-to-win/) Holly McPeak > [ The best player I ever played against was Paolo Maldini. We \[Arsenal\] played against Milan in the European Supercup \[in 1995\]. Maldini marked me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merson/the-best-player-i-ever-played-against-was-paolo-maldini-we-arsenal/) [Paul Merson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merson/) > [Lionel Messi is the best player ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-souness/lionel-messi-is-the-best-player-ever/) [Graeme Souness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-souness/) > [At some point, everyone who is playing, their dream is to be in the NBA, because that's where all the best players are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-calderon/at-some-point-everyone-who-is-playing-their-dream-is-to-be-in-the-nba/) [Jose Calderon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-calderon/) > [I look at some of the best players around the world and sometimes I do try and bat like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-smith/i-look-at-some-of-the-best-players-around-the-world-and-sometimes-i/) [Steve Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-smith/) > [Personally, I've always got along great with Mesut, found him extremely pleasant as a human being. He always supported me and was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-reus/personally-i-ve-always-got-along-great-with-mesut-found-him-extremely/) [Marco Reus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-reus/) [Browse all 434 Best players quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-players/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even when I went to the playground, I never picked the best players. 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