--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The NBA is my history." description: "\"The NBA is my history.\" — Penny Hardaway" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/229/penny-hardaway-8364_football_the-nba-is-my-history-664_664.jpg" --- # The NBA is my history. ![“The NBA is my history.” quote by Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/229/penny-hardaway-8364_football_the-nba-is-my-history-664_664.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/229/penny-hardaway-8364_football_the-nba-is-my-history-664_664.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/229/penny-hardaway-8364_football_the-nba-is-my-history-664_664.jpg) > “The NBA is my history.” [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identifying a sport as a personal narrative highlights how deep involvement shapes identity and memory. **In simple terms:** Sport defines personal history. Key Takeaway Your sport is your story. Themes identity memory culture sports self-concept Mood proud nostalgic Type reflective cultural When to use this quote - interview storytelling - brand building - team motivation Key Concepts NBA history personal narrative Practical Applications - sports marketing - personal branding Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of the NBA reflect your values? - How does this identity influence your decisions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [NBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba/) [Nba History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba-history-239314/) ## Related quotes > [I know I'm one of the biggest busts in NBA history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-oden/i-know-i-m-one-of-the-biggest-busts-in-nba-history/) [Greg Oden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-oden/) > [I'm the only player in NBA history to be 10 for 10 in a game with at least four threes made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-dudley/i-m-the-only-player-in-nba-history-to-be-10-for-10-in-a-game-with-at/) [Jared Dudley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-dudley/) > [I think I'm the first player in NBA history to average 20 points a game and shoot two free throws per game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/i-think-i-m-the-first-player-in-nba-history-to-average-20-points-a/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [I can probably go down in history as the best backup point guard ever in NBA history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-davis/i-can-probably-go-down-in-history-as-the-best-backup-point-guard-ever/) [Baron Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-davis/) > [I'll be remembered as the biggest bust in NBA history. But I can't do nothing about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-oden/i-ll-be-remembered-as-the-biggest-bust-in-nba-history-but-i-can-t-do/) [Greg Oden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-oden/) > [I just tried not to just quit. Because sometimes I did have a tendency to think that I would never be back I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-green/i-just-tried-not-to-just-quit-because-sometimes-i-did-have-a-tendency/) [Gerald Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-green/) > [Or I could see Fish, Just a button up, Like a Mayor, Like a President, Just demands so much from his teammates, Has played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/or-i-could-see-fish-just-a-button-up-like-a-mayor-like-a-president/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [Everyone said that the NBA could not possibly make it because it had too many black players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/everyone-said-that-the-nba-could-not-possibly-make-it-because-it-had/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [I have to give a lot of credit to David Stern to open up the league, but also in my case, Jerry West and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vlade-divac/i-have-to-give-a-lot-of-credit-to-david-stern-to-open-up-the-league/) [Vlade Divac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vlade-divac/) > [Of course, in college, you're traveling, especially when you're with Duke basketball, but in the NBA, it's on a whole entire level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jahlil-okafor/of-course-in-college-you-re-traveling-especially-when-you-re-with/) [Jahlil Okafor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jahlil-okafor/) > [Basketball is a game of sacrificing yourself for the next guy, being a team that takes good shots, and taking the right shots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blatt/basketball-is-a-game-of-sacrificing-yourself-for-the-next-guy-being-a/) [David Blatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blatt/) > [I think video games have been instrumental to me as an NBA player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/i-think-video-games-have-been-instrumental-to-me-as-an-nba-player/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [I started playing pro in Argentina. Then I went to second division in Italy. Then after a lot of work, I made it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-ginobili/i-started-playing-pro-in-argentina-then-i-went-to-second-division-in/) [Manu Ginobili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-ginobili/) > [My whole thing when I got in the NBA was I want to win a championship. The mindset hasn't changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bam-adebayo/my-whole-thing-when-i-got-in-the-nba-was-i-want-to-win-a-championship/) [Bam Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bam-adebayo/) > [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/) ## More by Penny Hardaway > [A lot of the kids gave a lot of positive feedback about if I ever became a coach, they would love to play in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/a-lot-of-the-kids-gave-a-lot-of-positive-feedback-about-if-i-ever/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [I like to speed teams up. I don't like them to get in their rhythm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/i-like-to-speed-teams-up-i-don-t-like-them-to-get-in-their-rhythm/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [There are a lot of people who came out of adverse situations and made it. Use it as motivation. Use it to drive you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-came-out-of-adverse-situations-and-made/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [Of course you want people to notice you're back, and you're playing well just to be respected. Because I was an All-Star, a first-team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/of-course-you-want-people-to-notice-you-re-back-and-you-re-playing/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [I feel like I've paid attention to all the great coaches who have coached me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/i-feel-like-i-ve-paid-attention-to-all-the-great-coaches-who-have/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [People think I'm soft and bailed out on basketball. But it was five knee surgeries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/people-think-i-m-soft-and-bailed-out-on-basketball-but-it-was-five/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [Basketball gave me an avenue to live my dream, and I just want to help other kids live their dreams through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/basketball-gave-me-an-avenue-to-live-my-dream-and-i-just-want-to-help/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [I want to finish my career on a high note.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/i-want-to-finish-my-career-on-a-high-note/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [There's the hardest thing - when you cannot be as athletic or perform at a level you really want to. Your mind is telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/there-s-the-hardest-thing-when-you-cannot-be-as-athletic-or-perform/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [I have two people that I mainly look up to: Magic Johnson is one of them. He just blew everything out of the water.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/i-have-two-people-that-i-mainly-look-up-to-magic-johnson-is-one-of/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [If I've learned anything, it's that you can't take anything for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/if-i-ve-learned-anything-it-s-that-you-can-t-take-anything-for-granted/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [Mentally I was retired, and physically I was retired. I was playing recreational ball. But when the decision happened with Chris Bosh and LeBron,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/mentally-i-was-retired-and-physically-i-was-retired-i-was-playing/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [I'm getting used to this as a coach because it's a little jealousy from a lot of these coaches around the country. I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/i-m-getting-used-to-this-as-a-coach-because-it-s-a-little-jealousy/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [I want to leave a mark on society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/i-want-to-leave-a-mark-on-society/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [You wanted to compete against Michael Jordan, because they were the best. You wanted to beat them. Never once in my mind, I went,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/you-wanted-to-compete-against-michael-jordan-because-they-were-the/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) [Explore all 81 Penny Hardaway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) [Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The NBA is my history.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Penny Hardaway" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/the-nba-is-my-history/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/the-nba-is-my-history/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/229/penny-hardaway-8364_football_the-nba-is-my-history-664_664.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/229/penny-hardaway-8364_football_the-nba-is-my-history-664_664.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/229/penny-hardaway-8364_football_the-nba-is-my-history-664_664.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The NBA is my history.” — Penny Hardaway", "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": "Penny Hardaway", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The NBA is my history.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/the-nba-is-my-history/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/the-nba-is-my-history/#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 } } ] } ```