---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're a ball stopper, usually you're…"
description: "\"If you're a ball stopper, usually you're inefficient.\" — Mike D'Antoni"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/mike-d-antoni-5218_ball_if-you-re-a-ball-stopper-usually-you-re_2020608.png"
---

#  If you're a ball stopper, usually you're inefficient.

![“If you're a ball stopper, usually you're inefficient.” quote by Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/mike-d-antoni-5218_ball_if-you-re-a-ball-stopper-usually-you-re_2020608.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/mike-d-antoni-5218_ball_if-you-re-a-ball-stopper-usually-you-re_2020608.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/mike-d-antoni-5218_ball_if-you-re-a-ball-stopper-usually-you-re_2020608.png)

> “If you're a ball stopper, usually you're inefficient.”

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Being a ball stopper (inefficient player) hampers overall team performance.

**In simple terms:** Inefficient players hurt the team.

Key Takeaway

Improve efficiency to help the team.

Themes

teamwork efficiency performance

Mood

analytical motivational

Type

advice strategic

When to use this quote

- basketball drills
- team meetings
- skill assessments

Key Concepts

sports strategy role optimization coaching

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps can you take to become more efficient?
- How does individual efficiency affect team success?

A Different Perspective

Changing roles may be challenging.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball/) [Ball Stopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-stopper-3658281/) [Inefficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inefficient/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Stopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stopper-2507312/) [Stopper Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stopper-usually-3658282/) [Usually Inefficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usually-inefficient-3658280/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/)

## Related quotes

> [This is for my chicas with the Beamers, A6's 67 Chevys, Maserati or a Lexus. Ay oh Oh! Oh oh. Oh oh!) Break 'em…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danity-kane/this-is-for-my-chicas-with-the-beamers-a6-s-67-chevys-maserati-or-a/)

[Danity Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danity-kane/)

> [The problem is not the bottle in which we have been put, but its stopper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-mustafa/the-problem-is-not-the-bottle-in-which-we-have-been-put-but-its/)

[Mohammad MUSTAFA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-mustafa/)

> [I want to be a defensive stopper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hart/i-want-to-be-a-defensive-stopper/)

[Josh Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hart/)

> [“Not following up with your prospects is the same as filling up your bathtub without first putting the stopper in the drain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-moore/not-following-up-with-your-prospects-is-the-same-as-filling-up-your/)

[Michelle Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-moore/)

> [The more energy you bring to the game, the more you're going to get the ball. That's always been the case, and if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/the-more-energy-you-bring-to-the-game-the-more-you-re-going-to-get/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

> [My task as a citizen is to get the government to do more good and less inefficient and wasteful work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/my-task-as-a-citizen-is-to-get-the-government-to-do-more-good-and/)

[Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/)

> [Like its agriculture, Africa's markets are highly under-capitalized and inefficient. We know from our work around the continent that transaction costs of reaching the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleni-zaude-gabre-madhin/like-its-agriculture-africa-s-markets-are-highly-under-capitalized/)

[Eleni Zaude Gabre-Madhin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleni-zaude-gabre-madhin/)

> [The tax code is very inefficient. Both the personal tax code and the corporate tax code. By closing loopholes and lowering rates, you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/the-tax-code-is-very-inefficient-both-the-personal-tax-code-and-the/)

[Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/)

> [I'm sure some people will say, 'Why do this?' And my response is, 'Why wouldn't you?' The film business in general is using a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/i-m-sure-some-people-will-say-why-do-this-and-my-response-is-why/)

[Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/)

> [Clearing your head of distractions in order to notice and understand the people you are with can feel inefficient - there are so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-heffernan/clearing-your-head-of-distractions-in-order-to-notice-and-understand/)

[Margaret Heffernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-heffernan/)

> [Big is not beautiful. Big is inefficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/big-is-not-beautiful-big-is-inefficient/)

[Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/)

> [In business, real jobs profitably produce goods and services that people value more highly than their alternatives. Subsidizing inefficient jobs is costly, wastes resources,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-koch/in-business-real-jobs-profitably-produce-goods-and-services-that/)

[Charles Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-koch/)

> [Prescriptive regulations, such as telling electric utilities what kinds of coal to burn or what kinds of scrubbers to install on their smokestacks, were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-frank/prescriptive-regulations-such-as-telling-electric-utilities-what/)

[Bob Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-frank/)

> [Engineers love to optimize problems. Now I optimize logistical problems. I ask: 'What's the goal? What are our constraints? What is the optimal, elegant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruchi-sanghvi/engineers-love-to-optimize-problems-now-i-optimize-logistical/)

[Ruchi Sanghvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruchi-sanghvi/)

> [If the purpose of the universe was to create humans then the cosmos was embarrassingly inefficient about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/if-the-purpose-of-the-universe-was-to-create-humans-then-the-cosmos/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

## More by Mike D'Antoni

> [Every coach in the league does an unbelievable job, and they're prepared and think you're going to outcoach people, or you think that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/every-coach-in-the-league-does-an-unbelievable-job-and-they-re/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

> [I like the offense to flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/i-like-the-offense-to-flow/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

> [I can't just say I wanna take a Hall of Fame point guard and make him into something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/i-can-t-just-say-i-wanna-take-a-hall-of-fame-point-guard-and-make-him/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

> [Nash was a purist. Steve's a Hall of Fame point guard. He was unbelievably good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/nash-was-a-purist-steve-s-a-hall-of-fame-point-guard-he-was/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

> [You know what's fun about basketball? It keeps evolving, and it keeps changing a little bit. And the older guys want to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/you-know-what-s-fun-about-basketball-it-keeps-evolving-and-it-keeps/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

> [I was a much better player in Europe than I was in the N.B.A., and lot of that had to do with feeling comfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/i-was-a-much-better-player-in-europe-than-i-was-in-the-n-b-a-and-lot/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

> [I like Utah, but they don't have a Starbucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/i-like-utah-but-they-don-t-have-a-starbucks/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

> [Some players need it and some don't. Some have a little too much confidence. But bench players, guys in secondary roles, just need a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/some-players-need-it-and-some-don-t-some-have-a-little-too-much/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

> [She really taught me a lot about how to believe in myself without being cocky. That's a tough thing to do sometimes. But my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/she-really-taught-me-a-lot-about-how-to-believe-in-myself-without/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

> [We believe in public education. We think it's important in our country to have it and for us to support it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/we-believe-in-public-education-we-think-it-s-important-in-our-country/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

> [I hate when guys say: 'Hey I didn't get my touches.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/i-hate-when-guys-say-hey-i-didn-t-get-my-touches/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

> [Some of the best times are training camp and getting your ideas in how you'd like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/some-of-the-best-times-are-training-camp-and-getting-your-ideas-in/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

> [The more energy you bring to the game, the more you're going to get the ball. That's always been the case, and if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/the-more-energy-you-bring-to-the-game-the-more-you-re-going-to-get/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

> [The big thing about coaching is, however you are, that's how you've got to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/the-big-thing-about-coaching-is-however-you-are-that-s-how-you-ve-got/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

> [Sometimes those labels that the league puts on players aren't right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/sometimes-those-labels-that-the-league-puts-on-players-aren-t-right/)

[Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

[Explore all 102 Mike D'Antoni quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/)

## More Ball quotes

> [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/)

[Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/)

> [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/)

[Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/)

> [Sometimes in midfield, it's nice because you do get a little bit more of the ball, and maybe out wide you rely on people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/sometimes-in-midfield-it-s-nice-because-you-do-get-a-little-bit-more/)

[Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

> [After '8 Mile' came out and blew up, the ball has been rolling ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-benson-miller/after-8-mile-came-out-and-blew-up-the-ball-has-been-rolling-ever-since/)

[Omar Benson Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-benson-miller/)

> [I don't believe in moral victories. I don't think in pro ball they exist, and they shouldn't exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-witten/i-don-t-believe-in-moral-victories-i-don-t-think-in-pro-ball-they/)

[Jason Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-witten/)

> [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/)

[Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [I'm good with the ball, I can score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-bergwijn/i-m-good-with-the-ball-i-can-score/)

[Steven Bergwijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-bergwijn/)

> [The golf ball doesn't care about know how hard you're working, or how many hours you slept that night. It only matters, what speed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-hovland/the-golf-ball-doesn-t-care-about-know-how-hard-you-re-working-or-how/)

[Viktor Hovland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-hovland/)

> [Throwing a ball is not natural, whether it's overhand or underhand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/throwing-a-ball-is-not-natural-whether-it-s-overhand-or-underhand/)

[Jennie Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-finch/)

> [I have to chase down the most scientifically efficient way to get the golf ball in the hole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-dechambeau/i-have-to-chase-down-the-most-scientifically-efficient-way-to-get-the/)

[Bryson DeChambeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-dechambeau/)

> [I dislike the gym, but I'll chase a tennis ball all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kuchar/i-dislike-the-gym-but-i-ll-chase-a-tennis-ball-all-day/)

[Matt Kuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kuchar/)

> [There's one ball on the field, and that ball is mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-mendoza/there-s-one-ball-on-the-field-and-that-ball-is-mine/)

[Salvador Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-mendoza/)

[Browse all 1,822 Ball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you're a ball stopper, usually you're inefficient.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mike D'Antoni"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/if-you-re-a-ball-stopper-usually-you-re-inefficient/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ball"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/if-you-re-a-ball-stopper-usually-you-re-inefficient/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/mike-d-antoni-5218_ball_if-you-re-a-ball-stopper-usually-you-re_2020608.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/mike-d-antoni-5218_ball_if-you-re-a-ball-stopper-usually-you-re_2020608.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/mike-d-antoni-5218_ball_if-you-re-a-ball-stopper-usually-you-re_2020608.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you're a ball stopper, usually you're inefficient.” — Mike D'Antoni",
                "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 D'Antoni",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you're a ball stopper, usually...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/if-you-re-a-ball-stopper-usually-you-re-inefficient/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/if-you-re-a-ball-stopper-usually-you-re-inefficient/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
