--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They said playing basketball would kill…" description: "\"They said playing basketball would kill me. Well, not playing basketball was killing me.\" — Magic Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/magic-johnson-2707_basketball_they-said-playing-basketball-would-kill_2158528.jpg" --- # They said playing basketball would kill me. Well, not… ![“They said playing basketball would kill me. Well, not playing basketball was killing me.” quote by Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/magic-johnson-2707_basketball_they-said-playing-basketball-would-kill_2158528.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/magic-johnson-2707_basketball_they-said-playing-basketball-would-kill_2158528.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/magic-johnson-2707_basketball_they-said-playing-basketball-would-kill_2158528.jpg) > “They said playing basketball would kill me. Well, not playing basketball was killing me.” [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. Choosing not to play basketball would have been more harmful than playing it. **In simple terms:** Not playing would have killed him. Key Takeaway Embrace activities that give purpose. Themes sports health identity Mood motivational energetic Type inspirational encouraging When to use this quote - career decisions - fitness motivation - mental health - team building - life coaching Key Concepts Passion risk vs reward Questions to Reflect On - What activities give you purpose? - How do you balance risk and reward? A Different Perspective It may ignore other health risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-kill-4569901/) [Basketball Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-killing-4569900/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Inspirational basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-basketball/) [Kill me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-me/) [Kill Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-playing-4569902/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Playing basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-basketball/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [They said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/they-said/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [We win because we play together as a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-havlicek/we-win-because-we-play-together-as-a-team/) [John Havlicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-havlicek/) > [Teams that play together beat those with superior players who play more as individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ramsay/teams-that-play-together-beat-those-with-superior-players-who-play/) [Jack Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ramsay/) > [Play off your great player... great teams have a go-to player and they play off of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/play-off-your-great-player-great-teams-have-a-go-to-player-and-they/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [In practice, don't just run basketball drills, teach the players how to play basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/in-practice-don-t-just-run-basketball-drills-teach-the-players-how-to/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [Basketball is a beautiful game when the five players on the court play with one heartbeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/basketball-is-a-beautiful-game-when-the-five-players-on-the-court/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow. I just know for sure I'm going to keep playing basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-going-to-do-tomorrow-i-just-know-for-sure-i-m/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [You can run a lot of plays when your X is twice as big as the other guys' O. It makes your X's and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-westphal/you-can-run-a-lot-of-plays-when-your-x-is-twice-as-big-as-the-other/) [Paul Westphal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-westphal/) > [You play with your soul as well as your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/you-play-with-your-soul-as-well-as-your-body/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [Practice habits were crucial to my development in basketball. I didn't play against the toughest competition in high school, but one reason I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/practice-habits-were-crucial-to-my-development-in-basketball-i-didn-t/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [Everybody on a championship team doesn't get publicity, but everyone can say he's a champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/everybody-on-a-championship-team-doesn-t-get-publicity-but-everyone/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [Everyone thought I was going to die like a year later, they didn't know. So I helped educate sports, and then the world, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/everyone-thought-i-was-going-to-die-like-a-year-later-they-didn-t/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [Basketball doesn't build character it reveals it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-naismith/basketball-doesn-t-build-character-it-reveals-it/) [James Naismith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-naismith/) > [Don't let what other people think decide who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/don-t-let-what-other-people-think-decide-who-you-are/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [Character never quits; and with patience and persistence; Dreams do come true!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-maravich/character-never-quits-and-with-patience-and-persistence-dreams-do/) [Pete Maravich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-maravich/) ## 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 Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They said playing basketball would kill me. 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