--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You've got to learn the footwork, the…" description: "\"You've got to learn the footwork, the positioning, how to box out, how to pass, how to shoot your free throws. All these things are necessary, not to b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_you-ve-got-to-learn-the-footwork-the-pos_2857361.png" --- # You've got to learn the footwork, the positioning, how to… ![“You've got to learn the footwork, the positioning, how to box out, how to pass, how to shoot your free throws. All these things are necessary, not to be the No. 1 player in the world, but maybe you can play against him.” quote by Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_you-ve-got-to-learn-the-footwork-the-pos_2857361.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_you-ve-got-to-learn-the-footwork-the-pos_2857361.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_you-ve-got-to-learn-the-footwork-the-pos_2857361.png) > “You've got to learn the footwork, the positioning, how to box out, how to pass, how to shoot your free throws. All these things are necessary, not to be the No. 1 player in the world, but maybe you can play against him.” [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. Mastery of fundamentals in basketball is essential not for fame but to compete effectively against top players. **In simple terms:** Learn basics to hold your own. Key Takeaway Focus on fundamentals. Themes sports skill development competition Mood motivational practical Type instructional inspirational When to use this quote - practice drills - team sports - personal improvement Key Concepts muscle memory strategic positioning Questions to Reflect On - Which skill will you improve first? - How does fundamentals practice affect confidence? A Different Perspective Fundamentals alone won’t guarantee elite status. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [There were others who could control, pass and shoot the ball as good as me but I think football is played in your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-fletcher/there-were-others-who-could-control-pass-and-shoot-the-ball-as-good/) [Darren Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-fletcher/) > [My dad always taught me the fundamentals of the game: dribble, pass, shoot. So I never relied heavily on any one thing until I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-booker/my-dad-always-taught-me-the-fundamentals-of-the-game-dribble-pass/) [Devin Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-booker/) > [Marc Gasol, he's one of the hardest people to guard. His ability to pass, shoot, and his size is something that can be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-anthony-towns/marc-gasol-he-s-one-of-the-hardest-people-to-guard-his-ability-to/) [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-anthony-towns/) > [I can pass and I can shoot and I can do some other things also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/i-can-pass-and-i-can-shoot-and-i-can-do-some-other-things-also/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [I'm aware that not everyone approved of how I played, but I don't think any apologies are in order. Early in my career, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/i-m-aware-that-not-everyone-approved-of-how-i-played-but-i-don-t/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [Any footballer who understands space and time and positioning can become a better player because he knows how to receive the ball alone with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quique-setien/any-footballer-who-understands-space-and-time-and-positioning-can/) [Quique Setien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quique-setien/) > [No one is bigger than the team. You're going to be on time, you're going play hard, you're going to know your job and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubie-brown/no-one-is-bigger-than-the-team-you-re-going-to-be-on-time-you-re/) [Hubie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubie-brown/) > [Really I can do everything on the court: pass, shoot, dribble, score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-barrett/really-i-can-do-everything-on-the-court-pass-shoot-dribble-score/) [RJ Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rj-barrett/) > [My parents' garden is where I learned to play - and love - football. When I was little, only 4 or 5, I'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-kimmich/my-parents-garden-is-where-i-learned-to-play-and-love-football-when-i/) [Joshua Kimmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-kimmich/) > [Just knowing how to get to my spots - that's the key. Once I get to my main spots, I feel like I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khris-middleton/just-knowing-how-to-get-to-my-spots-that-s-the-key-once-i-get-to-my/) [Khris Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khris-middleton/) > [When you're ready to enter the NBA you ask yourself, 'how different can the game really be?' You pass, you shoot, you put the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hart/when-you-re-ready-to-enter-the-nba-you-ask-yourself-how-different-can/) [Josh Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hart/) > [I have much less confidence on the greens than I do on the court. Everybody asks like if putting is like shooting free throws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-curry/i-have-much-less-confidence-on-the-greens-than-i-do-on-the-court/) [Stephen Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-curry/) > [I'm upset at myself. I should have had 50. I missed 13 free throws. That's unacceptable. If I want to be accepted by Wilt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-upset-at-myself-i-should-have-had-50-i-missed-13-free-throws-that/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [The only thing I pay attention to with free throws is what a guy does in the final four minutes of a game. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calipari/the-only-thing-i-pay-attention-to-with-free-throws-is-what-a-guy-does/) [John Calipari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calipari/) ## 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": "You've got to learn the footwork, the positioning, how to box out, how to pass, how to shoot your free throws. 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