--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I cannot change myself. That's how I…" description: "\"I cannot change myself. That's how I think. That's how I like basketball.\" — Nikola Jokic" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04b/nikola-jokic-8122_basketball_i-cannot-change-myself-that-s-how-i-thin_136846.jpg" --- # I cannot change myself. That's how I think. That's how I… ![“I cannot change myself. That's how I think. That's how I like basketball.” quote by Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04b/nikola-jokic-8122_basketball_i-cannot-change-myself-that-s-how-i-thin_136846.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04b/nikola-jokic-8122_basketball_i-cannot-change-myself-that-s-how-i-thin_136846.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04b/nikola-jokic-8122_basketball_i-cannot-change-myself-that-s-how-i-thin_136846.jpg) > “I cannot change myself. That's how I think. That's how I like basketball.” [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker asserts an unchangeable self-identity tied to personal thought patterns and preferences, especially in basketball. **In simple terms:** Self is fixed by thoughts and likes. Key Takeaway Embrace your authentic self. Themes identity self-awareness sports personal growth authenticity Mood reflective determined confident Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - coaching - team dynamics - personal development - performance improvement Key Concepts psychology mindset self-acceptance Questions to Reflect On - Can self-identity evolve over time? - How does fixed mindset affect performance? A Different Perspective It ignores potential for growth or adaptation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-myself/) [Change Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-think-497943/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Like Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-basketball-264075/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Think Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-like-296577/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not going to change myself because I think it'll make somebody like me more. And in terms of being a business, I've found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-richie/i-m-not-going-to-change-myself-because-i-think-it-ll-make-somebody/) [Nicole Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-richie/) > [It's not like basketball, football or rugby, where they judge you on potential. In this sport it's about 'what have you done lately' -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/it-s-not-like-basketball-football-or-rugby-where-they-judge-you-on/) [Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/) > [I don't feel like basketball is the only way to make a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-fisher/i-don-t-feel-like-basketball-is-the-only-way-to-make-a-living/) [Derek Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-fisher/) > [ We \[ me and brother\] wanted to win at things like basketball games or baseball games, but off the field we never felt like… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bengie-molina/we-me-and-brother-wanted-to-win-at-things-like-basketball-games-or/) [Bengie Molina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bengie-molina/) > [“Waking up each day, is like you are in the Basketball Court dribbling the ball, its up to you.. If you wan't to pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xing/waking-up-each-day-is-like-you-are-in-the-basketball-court-dribbling/) [Xing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xing/) > [Like basketball, fashion is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amar-e-stoudemire/like-basketball-fashion-is-hard-work/) [Amar'e Stoudemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amar-e-stoudemire/) > [I look at basketball as like a storm. But it's the eye of the storm. The calmest place of it is to be right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/i-look-at-basketball-as-like-a-storm-but-it-s-the-eye-of-the-storm/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [My whole life, I've felt like I can do anything on the basketball court, from playing point guard in high school to having to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/my-whole-life-i-ve-felt-like-i-can-do-anything-on-the-basketball/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [To me, I feel like basketball and hip-hop have always been kinda conjoined because they're very similar in their competitive nature, you know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chance-the-rapper/to-me-i-feel-like-basketball-and-hip-hop-have-always-been-kinda/) [Chance the Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chance-the-rapper/) > [High school was really fun. I had lots of friends, I had activities, like basketball teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/choi-woo-shik/high-school-was-really-fun-i-had-lots-of-friends-i-had-activities/) [Choi Woo-shik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/choi-woo-shik/) > [When I came out in the draft, people kept asking me, 'So are you a small forward or a power forward?' and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/draymond-green/when-i-came-out-in-the-draft-people-kept-asking-me-so-are-you-a-small/) [Draymond Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/draymond-green/) > [I dribble rhymes like basketball... People call me 'E.T.' What's that, Shaq man? 'Extra Tall.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-dribble-rhymes-like-basketball-people-call-me-e-t-what-s-that-shaq/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [At elementary school I played every sport and then I started to like basketball more but then again I had phases with every sport…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-g-anunoby/at-elementary-school-i-played-every-sport-and-then-i-started-to-like/) [O. G. Anunoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-g-anunoby/) > [Growing up, I didn't like basketball. I played football and baseball and ran some track.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/growing-up-i-didn-t-like-basketball-i-played-football-and-baseball/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [Every memory I had growing up was involving a basketball. I didn't go to the prom and stuff like that. It was always basketball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/every-memory-i-had-growing-up-was-involving-a-basketball-i-didn-t-go/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) ## More by Nikola Jokic > [We don't think about what anybody else with the media or other teams think about us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/we-don-t-think-about-what-anybody-else-with-the-media-or-other-teams/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) > [Maybe in the huddles I say something more. But I say it... not to become a leader, it's just to help my team out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/maybe-in-the-huddles-i-say-something-more-but-i-say-it-not-to-become/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) > [I think I brought something different to the NBA. I brought that I can do pretty much everything on the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/i-think-i-brought-something-different-to-the-nba-i-brought-that-i-can/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) > [The team is always bigger than an individual or whatever, and a really good team can win a championship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/the-team-is-always-bigger-than-an-individual-or-whatever-and-a-really/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) > [I lead the league in scratches. I'm always bleeding - I'm used to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/i-lead-the-league-in-scratches-i-m-always-bleeding-i-m-used-to-it/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) > [I just play the game. If that means I need to joke around, or whatever I need to do, that's what I'll do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/i-just-play-the-game-if-that-means-i-need-to-joke-around-or-whatever/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) > [I don't want to say something just to be a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/i-don-t-want-to-say-something-just-to-be-a-leader/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) > [I don't like to watch the future too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/i-don-t-like-to-watch-the-future-too-much/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) > [I enjoy animals. Their nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/i-enjoy-animals-their-nature/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) > [I'm kind of normal guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/i-m-kind-of-normal-guy/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) > [This is not the job. We are just playing the game here. I am enjoying the game. I am playing every game as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/this-is-not-the-job-we-are-just-playing-the-game-here-i-am-enjoying/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) > [I just want to improve myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/i-just-want-to-improve-myself/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) > [I don't think I'm that funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/i-don-t-think-i-m-that-funny/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) > [Someone said, 'He's not even in shape.' I am playing in 80 games and he said that I'm not even in shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/someone-said-he-s-not-even-in-shape-i-am-playing-in-80-games-and-he/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) > [As center you can push the ball. If you're a big man and you can push the ball, or you can run fast, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/as-center-you-can-push-the-ball-if-you-re-a-big-man-and-you-can-push/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) [Explore all 84 Nikola Jokic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) ## 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 cannot change myself. 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