--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're all Americans trying to compete…" description: "\"We're all Americans trying to compete. Magic was competing for his team and Larry for his team.\" — Oscar Robertson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29c/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_we-re-all-americans-trying-to-compete-ma_1373365.png" --- # We're all Americans trying to compete. Magic was competing… ![“We're all Americans trying to compete. Magic was competing for his team and Larry for his team.” quote by Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29c/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_we-re-all-americans-trying-to-compete-ma_1373365.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29c/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_we-re-all-americans-trying-to-compete-ma_1373365.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29c/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_we-re-all-americans-trying-to-compete-ma_1373365.png) > “We're all Americans trying to compete. Magic was competing for his team and Larry for his team.” [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. He likens personal competition to a team sport where everyone strives together. **In simple terms:** Competition is a shared effort, like a team game. Key Takeaway Focus on collective goals over individual rivalry. Themes teamwork competition shared ambition Mood inspirational motivational Type sports leadership When to use this quote - business projects - sports leagues - academic groups Key Concepts sports metaphor collaborative mindset goal alignment Questions to Reflect On - How can teamwork balance healthy competition? - What strategies foster collaborative success? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on competition can breed stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Competing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competing/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [Some people put us down. But I still haven't heard of any Americans trying to swim across the border into Mexico!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/some-people-put-us-down-but-i-still-haven-t-heard-of-any-americans/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [We need a tax code that truly helps working Americans trying to get a leg up in the new economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-need-a-tax-code-that-truly-helps-working-americans-trying-to-get-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Americans are trying to expand their influence in the world, particularly in Europe. They are defending their own interests, not ours. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/the-americans-are-trying-to-expand-their-influence-in-the-world-2/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [The Americans are trying to expand their influence in the world, particularly in Europe. They are defending their own interests, not ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/the-americans-are-trying-to-expand-their-influence-in-the-world/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [A monoculture is not only Hollywood, but Americans trying to export democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/a-monoculture-is-not-only-hollywood-but-americans-trying-to-export/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [Don't you dare besmirch the name of Congress. They are patriotic Americans trying to dress and feed themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/don-t-you-dare-besmirch-the-name-of-congress-they-are-patriotic/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [People say that, but I think the NBA was bigger than Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/people-say-that-but-i-think-the-nba-was-bigger-than-larry-bird-and/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [I'd like to think that the nature of the two teams - Boston being a championship team over the years and the Lakers, same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/i-d-like-to-think-that-the-nature-of-the-two-teams-boston-being-a/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [When you win, everything is everything. But when you lose, it's all about Allen Iverson and Larry Brown. When we win, I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-iverson/when-you-win-everything-is-everything-but-when-you-lose-it-s-all/) [Allen Iverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-iverson/) > [Larry Summers, I think, he had a long history of arrogance and relative ignorance about poor people's culture and working people's culture and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/larry-summers-i-think-he-had-a-long-history-of-arrogance-and-relative/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Larry Moffett is 6' 3". Last year he was 6" 6".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-coleman/larry-moffett-is-6-3-last-year-he-was-6-6/) [Jerry Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-coleman/) > [ I cursed \[Larry Merchant\] out once, and I told him that he was a phony. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-cursed-larry-merchant-out-once-and-i-told-him-that-he-was-a-phony/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [I am seeing all the guys, like Earnie Shavers, Tex Cobb, and Larry Holmes all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/i-am-seeing-all-the-guys-like-earnie-shavers-tex-cobb-and-larry/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) ## 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. 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": "We're all Americans trying to compete. 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