--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I heave the basketball; I know it sails…" description: "\"I heave the basketball; I know it sails in a parabola, exhibiting perfect symmetry, which is interrupted by the basket. It's funny, but it is always in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/michael-jordan-1054_basket_i-heave-the-basketball-i-know-it-sails-i_289505.jpg" --- # I heave the basketball; I know it sails in a parabola… ![“I heave the basketball; I know it sails in a parabola, exhibiting perfect symmetry, which is interrupted by the basket. It's funny, but it is always interrupted by the basket.” quote by Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/michael-jordan-1054_basket_i-heave-the-basketball-i-know-it-sails-i_289505.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/michael-jordan-1054_basket_i-heave-the-basketball-i-know-it-sails-i_289505.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/michael-jordan-1054_basket_i-heave-the-basketball-i-know-it-sails-i_289505.jpg) > “I heave the basketball; I know it sails in a parabola, exhibiting perfect symmetry, which is interrupted by the basket. It's funny, but it is always interrupted by the basket.” [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Basketball follows a predictable arc, but the basket disrupts that symmetry, highlighting the role of obstacles in sport. **In simple terms:** Even perfect plans face interruptions. Key Takeaway Expect and adapt to interruptions. Themes sport physics obstacle focus Mood determined analytical Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - coaching - performance analysis - goal setting - team dynamics Key Concepts parabola symmetry interruption strategy Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle unexpected setbacks? - What strategies keep you aligned with your goal? A Different Perspective The analogy oversimplifies complex game dynamics and ignores human error. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Parabola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parabola/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Symmetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symmetry/) ## Related quotes > [We are eternal. All this pain is an illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/we-are-eternal-all-this-pain-is-an-illusion/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [A circle swoop, and a quick parabola under the bridge arches Where light pushes through; A sudden turning upon itself of a thing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/a-circle-swoop-and-a-quick-parabola-under-the-bridge-arches-where/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [She wore a short skirt and a tight sweater and her figure described a set of parabolas that could cause cardiac arrest in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/she-wore-a-short-skirt-and-a-tight-sweater-and-her-figure-described-a/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Cassidy's heart tried to leap out through his taught skin and hop into his wet hands. But outwardly it was all very calm, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-parker-jr/cassidy-s-heart-tried-to-leap-out-through-his-taught-skin-and-hop/) [John L. Parker Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-parker-jr/) > [It is a curve each of them feels, unmistakably. It is the parabola. They must have guessed, once or twice - guessed and refused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pynchon/it-is-a-curve-each-of-them-feels-unmistakably-it-is-the-parabola-they/) [Thomas Pynchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pynchon/) > [“I have always had an uncomfortable relationship with math. I don’t like numbers for the sake of numbers. I am not impressed by fancy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wheelan/i-have-always-had-an-uncomfortable-relationship-with-math-i-don-t/) [Charles Wheelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wheelan/) > [All travel is circular. I had been jerked through Asia, making a parabola on one of the planet's hemispheres. After all, the grand tour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/all-travel-is-circular-i-had-been-jerked-through-asia-making-a/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [I am a Prince," he replied, being rather dense. "It is the function of a Prince—value A—to kill monsters—value B—for the purpose of establishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-am-a-prince-he-replied-being-rather-dense-it-is-the-function-of-a/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [It was an American who said that while a Frenchman's truth was akin to a straight line, a Welshman's truth was more in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-morris/it-was-an-american-who-said-that-while-a-frenchman-s-truth-was-akin/) [Jan Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-morris/) > [The curve of life is like the parabola of a projectile which, disturbed from its initial state of rest, rises and then returns to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-curve-of-life-is-like-the-parabola-of-a-projectile-which/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [The conventional parabola--sentiment, the touch of the hand, the kiss, the passionate kiss, the feel of the body, the climax in the bed, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/the-conventional-parabola-sentiment-the-touch-of-the-hand-the-kiss/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [When we are young, we spend much time and pains in filling our note-books with all definitions of Religion, Love, Poetry, Politics, Art, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-we-are-young-we-spend-much-time-and-pains-in-filling-our-note/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Human history, like all great movements, was cyclical, and returned to the point of beginning. The idea of indefinite progress in a right line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bellamy/human-history-like-all-great-movements-was-cyclical-and-returned-to/) [Edward Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bellamy/) > [As an artist, you don't think about the parabola or the arc you're describing or where you're going to ultimately end up, you're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/as-an-artist-you-don-t-think-about-the-parabola-or-the-arc-you-re/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [“into the cell, put the basket down upon the magistrate’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mccammon/into-the-cell-put-the-basket-down-upon-the-magistrate-s/) [Robert McCammon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mccammon/) ## More by Michael Jordan > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I dont take pictures with Niggas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-dont-take-pictures-with-niggas/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [The minute you get away from fundamentals – whether its proper technique, work ethic or mental preparation – the bottom can fall out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/the-minute-you-get-away-from-fundamentals-whether-its-proper/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/be-true-to-the-game-because-the-game-will-be-true-to-you-if-you-try/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Work ethics eliminates fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/work-ethics-eliminates-fear/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I can accept failure everyone fails at something but what I can't accept is not trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-can-accept-failure-everyone-fails-at-something-but-what-i-can-t/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Even though, physically, I can't do it, the mind says, 'Yeah, I can still do it,' and I still think I can do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/even-though-physically-i-can-t-do-it-the-mind-says-yeah-i-can-still/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I wasn't really a work-conscious type of person. I was a player. I loved to play sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-wasn-t-really-a-work-conscious-type-of-person-i-was-a-player-i/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [If you are confident you have done everything possible to prepare yourself, then there is nothing to fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/if-you-are-confident-you-have-done-everything-possible-to-prepare/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Sometimes you need to get hit in the head to realize that you're in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/sometimes-you-need-to-get-hit-in-the-head-to-realize-that-you-re-in-a/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [You have competition every day because you set such high standards for yourself that you have to go out every day and live up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/you-have-competition-every-day-because-you-set-such-high-standards/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [All I knew is that I NEVER wanted to be AVERAGE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/all-i-knew-is-that-i-never-wanted-to-be-average/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [“He fallado una y otra vez en mi vida, por eso he conseguido el éxito.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/he-fallado-una-y-otra-vez-en-mi-vida-por-eso-he-conseguido-el-xito/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I'd take 12 guys who had a strong passion for the game over 12 guys who don't respect the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-d-take-12-guys-who-had-a-strong-passion-for-the-game-over-12-guys/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [The NBA is the strongest professional sports league in the world. The league and the game is bigger than any one person, Michael Jordan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/the-nba-is-the-strongest-professional-sports-league-in-the-world-the/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) [Explore all 299 Michael Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) ## More Basket quotes > [“into the cell, put the basket down upon the magistrate’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mccammon/into-the-cell-put-the-basket-down-upon-the-magistrate-s/) [Robert McCammon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mccammon/) > [It takes 10 hands to score a basket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-takes-10-hands-to-score-a-basket/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I can play with my back to the basket, but I can face up as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jahlil-okafor/i-can-play-with-my-back-to-the-basket-but-i-can-face-up-as-well/) [Jahlil Okafor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jahlil-okafor/) > [“Don't ever, ever give up. Moses was once a basket case.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilde/don-t-ever-ever-give-up-moses-was-once-a-basket-case/) Larry Wilde > [The basket looked like an ocean, and I was just throwing rocks in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-iverson/the-basket-looked-like-an-ocean-and-i-was-just-throwing-rocks-in/) [Allen Iverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-iverson/) > [You must write for the waste basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mercer/you-must-write-for-the-waste-basket/) [Johnny Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mercer/) > [“Just tell me what's so irritating."(katsu) That's none of your damn business!"(kyok) Maybe not. But I'm curious."(katsu) It's EVERYTHING you prick! God, you're annoying!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuki-takaya/just-tell-me-what-s-so-irritating-katsu-that-s-none-of-your-damn/) [Natsuki Takaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuki-takaya/) > [Our belief is that it is a basket of well-diversified companies that are playing the Internet, but are not direct Internet companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zimmerman/our-belief-is-that-it-is-a-basket-of-well-diversified-companies-that/) [John Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zimmerman/) > [To put all of your eggs in one basket is silly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/to-put-all-of-your-eggs-in-one-basket-is-silly/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [Characters develop as the book progresses, but any that start to bore me end up in the wastepaper basket. In real life, we may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-graham/characters-develop-as-the-book-progresses-but-any-that-start-to-bore/) [Laurie Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-graham/) > [You can't play Around the World in the NBA, you've gotta go to the basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/you-can-t-play-around-the-world-in-the-nba-you-ve-gotta-go-to-the/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [Why is it so hard to find an exercise bike with a nice little basket where I can put my nachos?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-alderson/why-is-it-so-hard-to-find-an-exercise-bike-with-a-nice-little-basket/) Ron Alderson > [I was really a basket case. I admit that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delorean/i-was-really-a-basket-case-i-admit-that/) [John DeLorean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delorean/) > [When it's late in a game and things are tough and you need a basket, someone has to step up. That player has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/when-it-s-late-in-a-game-and-things-are-tough-and-you-need-a-basket/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [I can shoot a basket pretty well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-heatherton/i-can-shoot-a-basket-pretty-well/) [Erin Heatherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-heatherton/) Browse all 95 Basket quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I heave the basketball; I know it sails in a parabola, exhibiting perfect symmetry, which is interrupted by the basket. It's funny, but it is always interrupted by the basket.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Jordan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-heave-the-basketball-i-know-it-sails-in-a-parabola-exhibiting/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basket" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-heave-the-basketball-i-know-it-sails-in-a-parabola-exhibiting/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/michael-jordan-1054_basket_i-heave-the-basketball-i-know-it-sails-i_289505.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/michael-jordan-1054_basket_i-heave-the-basketball-i-know-it-sails-i_289505.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/michael-jordan-1054_basket_i-heave-the-basketball-i-know-it-sails-i_289505.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I heave the basketball; I know it sails in a parabola, exhibiting perfect symmetry, which is interrupted by…” — Michael Jordan", "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": "Michael Jordan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I heave the basketball; I know...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-heave-the-basketball-i-know-it-sails-in-a-parabola-exhibiting/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-heave-the-basketball-i-know-it-sails-in-a-parabola-exhibiting/#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 } } ] } ```