---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've tried to handle winning well, so…"
description: "\"I've tried to handle winning well, so that maybe we'll win again, but I've also tried to handle failure well. If those serve as good examples for teach..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/mike-krzyzewski-2324_basketball_i-ve-tried-to-handle-winning-well-so-tha_1000565.png"
---

#  I've tried to handle winning well, so that maybe we'll win…

![“I've tried to handle winning well, so that maybe we'll win again, but I've also tried to handle failure well. If those serve as good examples for teachers and kids, then I hope that would be a contribution I have made to sport. Not just basketball, but to sport.” quote by Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/mike-krzyzewski-2324_basketball_i-ve-tried-to-handle-winning-well-so-tha_1000565.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/mike-krzyzewski-2324_basketball_i-ve-tried-to-handle-winning-well-so-tha_1000565.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/mike-krzyzewski-2324_basketball_i-ve-tried-to-handle-winning-well-so-tha_1000565.png)

> “I've tried to handle winning well, so that maybe we'll win again, but I've also tried to handle failure well. If those serve as good examples for teachers and kids, then I hope that would be a contribution I have made to sport. Not just basketball, but to sport.”

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

## About This Quote

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

Balancing success and failure teaches resilience and humility, setting a positive example for future athletes and educators.

**In simple terms:** Handle both wins and losses responsibly.

Key Takeaway

Model good sportsmanship.

Themes

sportsmanship resilience leadership education

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

motivational educational

When to use this quote

- coaching clinics
- team meetings
- parent‑teacher talks
- youth leagues

Key Concepts

Growth mindset role modeling emotional intelligence

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you turn a win into a learning moment?
- What habits help you stay humble after victory?

A Different Perspective

Success can breed complacency if not paired with reflection.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball Sport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-sport-752448/) [Contribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) [Contribution Sport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution-sport-1613193/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Handle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handle/) [Handle Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handle-winning-2107818/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Winning Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning-maybe-2107819/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/)

## Related quotes

> [Nobody talks about my contribution to the sport. Nobody talks about the 101 medals I have won in my 20-year career. Nobody talks about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-usha/nobody-talks-about-my-contribution-to-the-sport-nobody-talks-about/)

[P. T. Usha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-usha/)

> [“One of our greatest challenges is to handle Winning without arrogance, being educated without being condescending and having compassion without developing indifference”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalon-jackson/one-of-our-greatest-challenges-is-to-handle-winning-without-arrogance/)

[Kalon Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalon-jackson/)

> [I love winning. Maybe it's more that I hate losing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-steyn/i-love-winning-maybe-it-s-more-that-i-hate-losing/)

[Dale Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-steyn/)

> [Death can be experienced once, winning maybe more, but losing can happen all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-howard/death-can-be-experienced-once-winning-maybe-more-but-losing-can/)

[Ron Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-howard/)

> [How can you handle winning if you don't have the courage to face defeat?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monalyn-tuazon/how-can-you-handle-winning-if-you-don-t-have-the-courage-to-face/)

[Monalyn Tuazon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monalyn-tuazon/)

> [First impressions matter more in basketball than in any other sport, and they can be savored only in person. Players can't hide behind pads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-simmons/first-impressions-matter-more-in-basketball-than-in-any-other-sport/)

[Bill Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-simmons/)

> [When I got a letter from a college in eighth grade saying something about basketball - I think it might have even just been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/when-i-got-a-letter-from-a-college-in-eighth-grade-saying-something/)

[Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/)

> [Basketball, more than any other sport, is a team game...about the thousands of small, unselfish acts, the sacrifices on the part of the players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/basketball-more-than-any-other-sport-is-a-team-game-about-the/)

[Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/)

> [Basketball as a sport has brought me happiness, joy, education and a real sense of purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-mills/basketball-as-a-sport-has-brought-me-happiness-joy-education-and-a/)

[Patty Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-mills/)

> [Basketball has always been a sport I loved and grew up playing. For me, it was one of those things that... I guess baseball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dellin-betances/basketball-has-always-been-a-sport-i-loved-and-grew-up-playing-for-me/)

[Dellin Betances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dellin-betances/)

> [Hockey is a sport for white men. Basketball is a sport for black men. Golf is a sport for white men dressed like black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/hockey-is-a-sport-for-white-men-basketball-is-a-sport-for-black-men/)

[Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/)

> [Basketball is a sport that involves the subtle interweaving of players at full speed to the point where they are thinking and moving as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/basketball-is-a-sport-that-involves-the-subtle-interweaving-of/)

[Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/)

> [Being a thicker post player, and being someone who grew up with self-confidence issues, it's pretty empowering that I've been chosen as this figurehead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/being-a-thicker-post-player-and-being-someone-who-grew-up-with-self/)

[Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/)

> [“The Greeks created the Olympics to measure a man’s excellence,” he continued. “It’s the same thing with Basketball – or any other sport for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greeks-created-the-olympics-to-measure-a-man-s-excellence-he/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I played baseball, and that's pretty much it. Basketball came late, this was, basketball was the sport that I tried to master, I kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/i-played-baseball-and-that-s-pretty-much-it-basketball-came-late-this/)

[Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/)

## More by Mike Krzyzewski

> [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/)

> [Good sound habits are more important than rules - use concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/good-sound-habits-are-more-important-than-rules-use-concepts/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [Always get back to your core principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/always-get-back-to-your-core-principles/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [Parents can really help, but they can also really hinder the development of their youngsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/parents-can-really-help-but-they-can-also-really-hinder-the/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [That's what I do now: I lead and I teach. If we win basketball games from doing that, then that's great, but I lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/that-s-what-i-do-now-i-lead-and-i-teach-if-we-win-basketball-games/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [I hated to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-hated-to-lose/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [We lost, and that's the main thing that went wrong,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/we-lost-and-that-s-the-main-thing-that-went-wrong/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [Leadership is simple: Add value to people everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/leadership-is-simple-add-value-to-people-everyday/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [As teachers and coaches, we must remember that when mere winning is our only goal, we are doomed to disappointment and failure. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/as-teachers-and-coaches-we-must-remember-that-when-mere-winning-is/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [I don't think we surprise people. We try to out-execute them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-think-we-surprise-people-we-try-to-out-execute-them/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [A common mistake among those who work in sport is spending a disproportional amount of time on "x's and o's" as compared to time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/a-common-mistake-among-those-who-work-in-sport-is-spending-a/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [If you set up an atmosphere of community and trust, it becomes a tradition. Older team members will establish your credibility with newer ones.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/if-you-set-up-an-atmosphere-of-community-and-trust-it-becomes-a/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [Confidence shared is better than confidence only in yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/confidence-shared-is-better-than-confidence-only-in-yourself/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [A leader's responsibility to his team is paramount. It overshadows even his own personal feelings at any given time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/a-leader-s-responsibility-to-his-team-is-paramount-it-overshadows/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [The only way you're going to grow is to be in difficult situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/the-only-way-you-re-going-to-grow-is-to-be-in-difficult-situations/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

[Explore all 171 Mike Krzyzewski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

## 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": "I've tried to handle winning well, so that maybe we'll win again, but I've also tried to handle failure well. If those serve as good examples for teachers and kids, then I hope that would be a contribution I have made to sport. Not just basketball, but to sport.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mike Krzyzewski"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-ve-tried-to-handle-winning-well-so-that-maybe-we-ll-win-again-but-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Basketball"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-ve-tried-to-handle-winning-well-so-that-maybe-we-ll-win-again-but-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/mike-krzyzewski-2324_basketball_i-ve-tried-to-handle-winning-well-so-tha_1000565.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/mike-krzyzewski-2324_basketball_i-ve-tried-to-handle-winning-well-so-tha_1000565.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/mike-krzyzewski-2324_basketball_i-ve-tried-to-handle-winning-well-so-tha_1000565.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I've tried to handle winning well, so that maybe we'll win again, but I've also tried to handle failure…” — Mike Krzyzewski",
                "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 Krzyzewski",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I've tried to handle winning well,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-ve-tried-to-handle-winning-well-so-that-maybe-we-ll-win-again-but-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-ve-tried-to-handle-winning-well-so-that-maybe-we-ll-win-again-but-i/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
