--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Inferior guards play on the sidelines and…" description: "\"Inferior guards play on the sidelines and great guards play in the middle. Isiah, Magic, Chris Paul, all get to the middle\" — Rick Pitino" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/rick-pitino-8250_basketball_inferior-guards-play-on-the-sidelines-an_1045795.png" --- # Inferior guards play on the sidelines and great guards… ![“Inferior guards play on the sidelines and great guards play in the middle. Isiah, Magic, Chris Paul, all get to the middle” quote by Rick Pitino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/rick-pitino-8250_basketball_inferior-guards-play-on-the-sidelines-an_1045795.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/rick-pitino-8250_basketball_inferior-guards-play-on-the-sidelines-an_1045795.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/rick-pitino-8250_basketball_inferior-guards-play-on-the-sidelines-an_1045795.png) > “Inferior guards play on the sidelines and great guards play in the middle. Isiah, Magic, Chris Paul, all get to the middle” [Rick Pitino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-pitino/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great defenders dominate central play while lesser ones stay peripheral. **In simple terms:** Top guards control the game’s core. Key Takeaway Focus on central impact. Themes leadership strategy competition Mood determined analytical Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - coaching sessions - team meetings - player development - game analysis Key Concepts basketball dynamics role importance Questions to Reflect On - How can bench players earn central roles? - What training builds central play confidence? A Different Perspective Less skilled players may lack opportunities to prove themselves. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Chris Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chris-paul/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Guards Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guards-play-2470896/) [Inferior Guards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inferior-guards-2470897/) [Inferiors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inferiors/) [Isiah Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isiah-magic-2470898/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [NBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Sidelines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-sidelines-2470899/) [Sidelines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sidelines/) ## Related quotes > [I want to be one of the best point guards to ever play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-want-to-be-one-of-the-best-point-guards-to-ever-play/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [When there is talk about the best point guards, sometimes they dont talk about me. 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Deron Williams was one of those guys, Dwyane Wade,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jrue-holiday/chris-paul-is-one-of-those-guys-growing-up-i-guess-i-looked-up-to/) [Jrue Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jrue-holiday/) > [Chris Paul's an all-time great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jackson/chris-paul-s-an-all-time-great/) [Mark Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jackson/) > [When you have a guy like Chris Paul, who's the best point guard in the world, saying I should be an All-Star, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/when-you-have-a-guy-like-chris-paul-who-s-the-best-point-guard-in-the/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [When you watch Chris Paul on the playoff stage, you often sense he is fighting two battles, one against his nature and one against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-bayless/when-you-watch-chris-paul-on-the-playoff-stage-you-often-sense-he-is/) [Skip Bayless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-bayless/) > [I work on the show every day, even when we aren't on the air. 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He was the guy who I looked up to who played for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oubre-jr/it-s-crazy-because-i-got-traded-for-chris-paul-of-all-people-he-was/) [Kelly Oubre, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oubre-jr/) > [I watch tape of players - Chris Paul, Deron Williams, all the top players who play my same position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goran-dragic/i-watch-tape-of-players-chris-paul-deron-williams-all-the-top-players/) [Goran Dragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goran-dragic/) > [The nation of Italy has a great, great friend in Chris Paul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danilo-gallinari/the-nation-of-italy-has-a-great-great-friend-in-chris-paul/) [Danilo Gallinari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danilo-gallinari/) > [I know Chris Paul well. I have a relationship with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-know-chris-paul-well-i-have-a-relationship-with-him/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) ## More by Rick Pitino > [When you have a problem, if you tell the truth, the problem becomes part of your past. If you lie, it becomes part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-pitino/when-you-have-a-problem-if-you-tell-the-truth-the-problem-becomes/) [Rick Pitino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-pitino/) > [The key to coaching is not what you do, but the way you do it. The intangibles, the motivational parts of the game are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-pitino/the-key-to-coaching-is-not-what-you-do-but-the-way-you-do-it-the/) [Rick Pitino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-pitino/) > [Basketball has consumed me since the age of 7 or 8. 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Everything I've learned about coaching I've learned from making mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-pitino/failure-is-good-it-s-fertilizer-everything-i-ve-learned-about/) [Rick Pitino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-pitino/) > [If you are not willing to work hard and establish discipline in your life, then all your dreams are merely pipe dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-pitino/if-you-are-not-willing-to-work-hard-and-establish-discipline-in-your/) [Rick Pitino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-pitino/) > [I ignore the jealous, I ignore the malicious, I ignore the ignorant and I ignore the paranoid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-pitino/i-ignore-the-jealous-i-ignore-the-malicious-i-ignore-the-ignorant-and/) [Rick Pitino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-pitino/) > [A lot of people always use the term, 'I'm so blessed.' 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