--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The players have no real self-esteem when…" description: "\"The players have no real self-esteem when it comes to putting the best image out there in a real competitive fashion.\" — Oscar Robertson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e4/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_the-players-have-no-real-self-esteem-whe_2188353.png" --- # The players have no real self-esteem when it comes to… ![“The players have no real self-esteem when it comes to putting the best image out there in a real competitive fashion.” quote by Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e4/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_the-players-have-no-real-self-esteem-whe_2188353.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e4/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_the-players-have-no-real-self-esteem-whe_2188353.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e4/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_the-players-have-no-real-self-esteem-whe_2188353.png) > “The players have no real self-esteem when it comes to putting the best image out there in a real competitive fashion.” [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-esteem in competitive environments hinges on presenting a strong, confident image rather than true self-worth. **In simple terms:** Confidence is projected, not always felt. Key Takeaway Focus on authentic confidence over image. Themes self-esteem competition image management Mood reflective critical Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - team sports - media interviews - personal branding Key Concepts psychology of sport public perception Questions to Reflect On - How does pressure to look good affect performance? - Can authenticity improve results? A Different Perspective Image can be a fragile façade. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Competitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/players/) [Real self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-self/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) ## Related quotes > [We know the history of players at Real Madrid and things are not easy at that club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ballack/we-know-the-history-of-players-at-real-madrid-and-things-are-not-easy/) [Michael Ballack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ballack/) > [As with all great players, there is no real stopping them. It's trying to contain them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-green/as-with-all-great-players-there-is-no-real-stopping-them-it-s-trying/) [Danny Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-green/) > [When I arrived here I was playing alongside great players, Real Madrid legends who never stopped trying to get better in every training session…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinicius-junior/when-i-arrived-here-i-was-playing-alongside-great-players-real-madrid/) [Vinicius Junior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinicius-junior/) > [The real competitive advantage will come to countries and companies who differentiate their offerings through education, innovation, and productivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-paliwal/the-real-competitive-advantage-will-come-to-countries-and-companies/) [Dinesh Paliwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-paliwal/) > [My habit is to get real competitive and make racing probably more work than it is enjoyable, and I put a lot of pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-earnhardt-jr/my-habit-is-to-get-real-competitive-and-make-racing-probably-more/) [Dale Earnhardt Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-earnhardt-jr/) > [I was good at motocross. I was real competitive - getting top-threes in a field of 40 - and had one full season. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-taylor/i-was-good-at-motocross-i-was-real-competitive-getting-top-threes-in/) [Josh Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-taylor/) > [I don't know that I came across as being real competitive on 'The Bachelor,' although maybe I did a little bit on 'Dancing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-pavelka/i-don-t-know-that-i-came-across-as-being-real-competitive-on-the/) [Jake Pavelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-pavelka/) > [I'm real competitive in everything I do, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ingram-ii/i-m-real-competitive-in-everything-i-do-man/) [Mark Ingram II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ingram-ii/) > [I would have to agree, that I'm probably more intense than Brian or Kurt, competitive because, I was always like this, always being that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-stojko/i-would-have-to-agree-that-i-m-probably-more-intense-than-brian-or/) [Elvis Stojko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-stojko/) > [“Real self-worth comes from mastery, from getting good at something. It doesn't matter what. Then you don't have to worry about empty compliments. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-borris/real-self-worth-comes-from-mastery-from-getting-good-at-something-it/) [Albert Borris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-borris/) > [Self-esteem does not come from surrounding yourself with people and things that seem to increase your value. Real self-esteem is an integration of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/self-esteem-does-not-come-from-surrounding-yourself-with-people-and/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [The present practice is to impress one's own discoveries, opinions and principles on the child by constantly directing his actions. The last thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-key/the-present-practice-is-to-impress-one-s-own-discoveries-opinions-and/) [Ellen Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-key/) > [“Our real self is under siege by our anti-self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-firestone/our-real-self-is-under-siege-by-our-anti-self/) [Lisa Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-firestone/) > [“..And then -- that personal, that wholly isolated direction at the back of your head, that black place from which you looked out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darkness-visible-william-golding/and-then-that-personal-that-wholly-isolated-direction-at-the-back-of/) Darkness Visible William Golding > [“You go into extinction by being obsessed about becoming something else and then travelling in the wrong car while your real self keeps waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-go-into-extinction-by-being-obsessed-about-becoming-something/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) ## More by Oscar Robertson > [When I started playing, I wasn't fast, I was gangly, my jumpshot was terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/when-i-started-playing-i-wasn-t-fast-i-was-gangly-my-jumpshot-was/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [It's a sad commentary when I have to say that sometimes in our country we are real sensitive to race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/it-s-a-sad-commentary-when-i-have-to-say-that-sometimes-in-our/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [College coaches want to power the ball inside, they want (their post players) to power the ball up, but no one can shoot from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/college-coaches-want-to-power-the-ball-inside-they-want-their-post/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [Basketball is basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/basketball-is-basketball/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [Now, I guess, people want stars. People are trying to invent stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/now-i-guess-people-want-stars-people-are-trying-to-invent-stars/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [People will think there are no other great ballplayers. Look at Garnett. Look at Duncan, Shaq, Kobe. Look at the players with Sacramento. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/people-will-think-there-are-no-other-great-ballplayers-look-at/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [But I like to think an athlete is an athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/but-i-like-to-think-an-athlete-is-an-athlete/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [Just because it is an All-Star Game doesn't mean that you are playing as efficiently as you should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/just-because-it-is-an-all-star-game-doesn-t-mean-that-you-are-playing/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [This is where young players today want to land. They want to be NBA players because of the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/this-is-where-young-players-today-want-to-land-they-want-to-be-nba/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [Look, I think you should promote the game, but I think you should make it what it ought to be. Not some kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/look-i-think-you-should-promote-the-game-but-i-think-you-should-make/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [I don't blame David Stern because a player gets on the court and he doesn't put out competitively. No one can make you play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/i-don-t-blame-david-stern-because-a-player-gets-on-the-court-and-he/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [They should have a rule: in order to be a sportswriter, you have to have played that sport, at some level; high school, college,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/they-should-have-a-rule-in-order-to-be-a-sportswriter-you-have-to/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [But when I did it (the triple-double), I didn't even know it until someone told me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/but-when-i-did-it-the-triple-double-i-didn-t-even-know-it-until/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [You have to teach now - tell a kid how to box out, tell him how to pass, teach him footwork. Players don't understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/you-have-to-teach-now-tell-a-kid-how-to-box-out-tell-him-how-to-pass/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [You see what happens in college and high school games today - a three-point shot or a dunk. I think that's the reason that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/you-see-what-happens-in-college-and-high-school-games-today-a-three/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) [Explore all 50 Oscar Robertson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) ## 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. 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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": "The players have no real self-esteem when it comes to putting the best image out there in a real competitive fashion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Robertson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/the-players-have-no-real-self-esteem-when-it-comes-to-putting-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/the-players-have-no-real-self-esteem-when-it-comes-to-putting-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e4/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_the-players-have-no-real-self-esteem-whe_2188353.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e4/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_the-players-have-no-real-self-esteem-whe_2188353.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e4/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_the-players-have-no-real-self-esteem-whe_2188353.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The players have no real self-esteem when it comes to putting the best image out there in a real competitive…” — Oscar Robertson", "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": "Oscar Robertson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The players have no real self-esteem...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/the-players-have-no-real-self-esteem-when-it-comes-to-putting-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/the-players-have-no-real-self-esteem-when-it-comes-to-putting-the/#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 } } ] } ```