--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to play defense and be an unselfish…" description: "\"I try to play defense and be an unselfish teammate.\" — Mike Conley Jr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f66/mike-conley-jr-5914_defense_i-try-to-play-defense-and-be-an-unselfis_239073.jpg" --- # I try to play defense and be an unselfish teammate. ![“I try to play defense and be an unselfish teammate.” quote by Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f66/mike-conley-jr-5914_defense_i-try-to-play-defense-and-be-an-unselfis_239073.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f66/mike-conley-jr-5914_defense_i-try-to-play-defense-and-be-an-unselfis_239073.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f66/mike-conley-jr-5914_defense_i-try-to-play-defense-and-be-an-unselfis_239073.jpg) > “I try to play defense and be an unselfish teammate.” [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes teamwork and selflessness on the court, prioritizing defense over personal glory. **In simple terms:** Play defense, be selfless. Key Takeaway Focus on team, not ego. Themes teamwork selflessness defense Mood determined collaborative Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - team games - practice drills - coaching sessions Key Concepts basketball strategy leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal growth with team duties? - What does selflessness mean to you? A Different Perspective May neglect personal development if over‑focused on others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Teammate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teammate/) ## Related quotes > [You make other team think you going one way and you got to sell the move going that way and you've got to really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-iverson/you-make-other-team-think-you-going-one-way-and-you-got-to-sell-the/) [Allen Iverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-iverson/) > [Growing up as a kid my father was British and a soccer player. His idol was a guy that passed the ball a lot,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-oates/growing-up-as-a-kid-my-father-was-british-and-a-soccer-player-his/) [Adam Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-oates/) > [We have to get better at that. All of the Stanley Cup winning teams throughout the past few seasons, when they needed to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-yzerman/we-have-to-get-better-at-that-all-of-the-stanley-cup-winning-teams/) [Steve Yzerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-yzerman/) > [In high school, you don't play much defense. It's mostly offense. In college, it's vice versa, and that's what I tried to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donte-divincenzo/in-high-school-you-don-t-play-much-defense-it-s-mostly-offense-in/) [Donte DiVincenzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donte-divincenzo/) > [If one of our players gets his second foul in the first half, then he must come out of the game and not re-enter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-daly/if-one-of-our-players-gets-his-second-foul-in-the-first-half-then-he/) [Chuck Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-daly/) > [Yeah, I mean, if you're bracing yourself playing defense, you shouldn't play defense, one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-chung/yeah-i-mean-if-you-re-bracing-yourself-playing-defense-you-shouldn-t/) [Patrick Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-chung/) > [A lot of guys are offensive minded, which is good at some points and times but bad at others - at lots of others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-butler/a-lot-of-guys-are-offensive-minded-which-is-good-at-some-points-and/) [Jimmy Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-butler/) > [I wasn't going to play on defense in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-elliott/i-wasn-t-going-to-play-on-defense-in-college/) [Ezekiel Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-elliott/) > [A big part of defense is effort and moving your feet and a will and wanting to play defense. You put it all together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-huerter/a-big-part-of-defense-is-effort-and-moving-your-feet-and-a-will-and/) [Kevin Huerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-huerter/) > [My mental approach is totally different. My coach predicated everything on defense. He always talked about defense, defense, defense. I took it to heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/my-mental-approach-is-totally-different-my-coach-predicated/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [I can play defense against anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oubre-jr/i-can-play-defense-against-anybody/) [Kelly Oubre, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oubre-jr/) > [This is a physical game, and that's how you have to play. When you do that, the defense eventually gets tired of tackling you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-elliott/this-is-a-physical-game-and-that-s-how-you-have-to-play-when-you-do/) [Ezekiel Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-elliott/) > [If you are going to have to play defense all the time, you cannot have the kind of ingenuity, assertiveness, independence, and intelligence which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/if-you-are-going-to-have-to-play-defense-all-the-time-you-cannot-have/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [“Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf.” Don't play defense with your life. Play offense with your kids, your wife, your life. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/perhaps-the-lord-will-act-in-our-behalf-don-t-play-defense-with-your/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [Something like missing a shot, and the next play you're thinking about it, or you give up a play on defense and you're thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grayson-allen/something-like-missing-a-shot-and-the-next-play-you-re-thinking-about/) [Grayson Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grayson-allen/) ## More by Mike Conley Jr > [In Memphis we don't talk. We ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/in-memphis-we-don-t-talk-we-ball/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [If I had a choice, I'd say I'm right-handed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/if-i-had-a-choice-i-d-say-i-m-right-handed/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [I think I probably had to have been two or three when I fell in love with anything that bounced - any kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-think-i-probably-had-to-have-been-two-or-three-when-i-fell-in-love/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [I hate the unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-hate-the-unknown/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [I'm not one of those guys that's going to beat you over the head and just yell at you all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-that-s-going-to-beat-you-over-the-head-and/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [If I'm not an All-Star, maybe the next-best thing to it is to be a part of that weekend, take my family there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/if-i-m-not-an-all-star-maybe-the-next-best-thing-to-it-is-to-be-a/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [I enjoy the fans recognizing me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-enjoy-the-fans-recognizing-me/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [Everybody needs to serve in their community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/everybody-needs-to-serve-in-their-community/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [In Memphis I always had the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/in-memphis-i-always-had-the-ball/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [Well, Memphis isn't the most active city, but we find ways to have fun, whether it's going bowling, maybe to the movies, going out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/well-memphis-isn-t-the-most-active-city-but-we-find-ways-to-have-fun/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [Some people might feel like their vote doesn't matter but it really does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/some-people-might-feel-like-their-vote-doesn-t-matter-but-it-really/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [Painting, one arm gets tired, I'll use the other one and be just as effective. So, yeah, I've always used both arms. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/painting-one-arm-gets-tired-i-ll-use-the-other-one-and-be-just-as/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [I just know when I'm tired, I can't act tired. If I'm sick or mad or upset we're in a slump, that doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-just-know-when-i-m-tired-i-can-t-act-tired-if-i-m-sick-or-mad-or/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [I've never messed around with any fans. I've never yelled at anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-ve-never-messed-around-with-any-fans-i-ve-never-yelled-at-anybody/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [I'm a big golfer, so in the offseason, that's all I do - golf and play basketball. But during the season, I like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-m-a-big-golfer-so-in-the-offseason-that-s-all-i-do-golf-and-play/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) [Explore all 100 Mike Conley Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) ## More Defense quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [My last defense / Is the present tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendolyn-brooks/my-last-defense-is-the-present-tense/) [Gwendolyn Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendolyn-brooks/) > [Football is not just all about throwing the ball. You got to run the ball, too. Defense has to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/football-is-not-just-all-about-throwing-the-ball-you-got-to-run-the/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/witness-for-the-defense-albus-percival-wulfric-brian-dumbledore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You say I have a bad attitude. But have you ever stopped to check yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-marie/you-say-i-have-a-bad-attitude-but-have-you-ever-stopped-to-check-yours/) Tasha Marie > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. Take the hit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/he-should-release-the-tax-returns-tomorrow-it-s-crazy-you-ve-got-to/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [When you shoot someone who is fleeing, it's not self-defense. It's an execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-shoot-someone-who-is-fleeing-it-s-not-self-defense-it-s-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) Browse all 2,426 Defense quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I try to play defense and be an unselfish teammate.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike Conley Jr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-try-to-play-defense-and-be-an-unselfish-teammate/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defense" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-try-to-play-defense-and-be-an-unselfish-teammate/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f66/mike-conley-jr-5914_defense_i-try-to-play-defense-and-be-an-unselfis_239073.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f66/mike-conley-jr-5914_defense_i-try-to-play-defense-and-be-an-unselfis_239073.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f66/mike-conley-jr-5914_defense_i-try-to-play-defense-and-be-an-unselfis_239073.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I try to play defense and be an unselfish teammate.” — Mike Conley Jr", "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": "Mike Conley Jr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I try to play defense and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-try-to-play-defense-and-be-an-unselfish-teammate/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-try-to-play-defense-and-be-an-unselfish-teammate/#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 } } ] } ```