--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought if I could play 10 years in the…" description: "\"I thought if I could play 10 years in the league, it would be a great career more than I could ever hope for in my wildest dreams.\" — Robert Parish" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/robert-parish-8044_career_i-thought-if-i-could-play-10-years-in-th_3011702.jpg" --- # I thought if I could play 10 years in the league, it would… ![“I thought if I could play 10 years in the league, it would be a great career more than I could ever hope for in my wildest dreams.” quote by Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/robert-parish-8044_career_i-thought-if-i-could-play-10-years-in-th_3011702.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/robert-parish-8044_career_i-thought-if-i-could-play-10-years-in-th_3011702.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/robert-parish-8044_career_i-thought-if-i-could-play-10-years-in-th_3011702.jpg) > “I thought if I could play 10 years in the league, it would be a great career more than I could ever hope for in my wildest dreams.” [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He believed a long, stable career would exceed his biggest aspirations. **In simple terms:** A long career beats wild dreams. Key Takeaway Focus on longevity over fame. Themes career ambition expectations Mood reflective optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - professional basketball - contract negotiations - post‑retirement planning Key Concepts sports psychology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What defines a “great” career for you? - How do you balance ambition with reality? A Different Perspective Longevity can be limited by injuries and team changes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [10 Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/10-years/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Career Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-hope-890151/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-career/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [League Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/league-great-833936/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Wildest dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wildest-dreams/) [Years League](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-league-335780/) ## Related quotes > [I just felt all along that if I could get a certain amount of years in the league, have great years and still have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-johnson/i-just-felt-all-along-that-if-i-could-get-a-certain-amount-of-years/) [Kevin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-johnson/) > [Training has been such a huge part of my life and career I hope to keep going with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-prowse/training-has-been-such-a-huge-part-of-my-life-and-career-i-hope-to/) [David Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-prowse/) > [Even if I went off to some other career, I hope I would still be doing Coen films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-burwell/even-if-i-went-off-to-some-other-career-i-hope-i-would-still-be-doing/) [Carter Burwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-burwell/) > [Throughout my career, I hope to see the best defenders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-herro/throughout-my-career-i-hope-to-see-the-best-defenders/) [Tyler Herro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-herro/) > [I told myself coming into the league that if I could play for six or seven years, that would have been a great career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-told-myself-coming-into-the-league-that-if-i-could-play-for-six-or/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [My dad has kind of been the standard for me, he played 16 years in the league, and since I've been in the league,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-curry/my-dad-has-kind-of-been-the-standard-for-me-he-played-16-years-in-the/) [Stephen Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-curry/) > [I know the blessing of having a dad who played 16 years in the league. That experience, and seeing him as an example, let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-curry/i-know-the-blessing-of-having-a-dad-who-played-16-years-in-the-league/) [Stephen Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-curry/) > [I want to play years in this league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-knox/i-want-to-play-years-in-this-league/) [Kevin Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-knox/) > [Everyone in the league has a journey or a legacy, whether you're in the league for five years or you're in the league for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo-russell/everyone-in-the-league-has-a-journey-or-a-legacy-whether-you-re-in/) [D'Angelo Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo-russell/) > [I've heard a few times, in three or four years, this league is going to be yours. I don't like that. Because I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-ve-heard-a-few-times-in-three-or-four-years-this-league-is-going-to/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [I definitely wasn't a vocal player my first two years in the league, just trying to fit into everything, being a young player, listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/i-definitely-wasn-t-a-vocal-player-my-first-two-years-in-the-league/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [For years the league has thought I've been on drugs. I would have burned out a long time ago if that was true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/for-years-the-league-has-thought-i-ve-been-on-drugs-i-would-have/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [My first couple of years in the league left me very unstable. I had some times where I played well, and I had some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-billups/my-first-couple-of-years-in-the-league-left-me-very-unstable-i-had/) [Chauncey Billups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-billups/) > [Eleven years in the league, I haven't had a dirty play. I haven't made a name in this league by playing that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-livingston/eleven-years-in-the-league-i-haven-t-had-a-dirty-play-i-haven-t-made/) [Shaun Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-livingston/) > [You've got to work your way into the NBA. Guys like Seth Curry, it took him a couple years in the G-League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-boeheim/you-ve-got-to-work-your-way-into-the-nba-guys-like-seth-curry-it-took/) [Jim Boeheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-boeheim/) ## More by Robert Parish > [I was always looking at the ground because I was self-conscious about my height. I had big feet, big hands, and all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-was-always-looking-at-the-ground-because-i-was-self-conscious-about/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [On the West Coast, things are more relaxed, maybe because people have more fun outdoors. In the East, where the weather is not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/on-the-west-coast-things-are-more-relaxed-maybe-because-people-have/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [I have never been one to seek or want attention or admiration or a pat on the back for what I've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-have-never-been-one-to-seek-or-want-attention-or-admiration-or-a/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [Good grooming and hygiene are essential. It's never too early to start being concerned about your appearance - first impressions are everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/good-grooming-and-hygiene-are-essential-it-s-never-too-early-to-start/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [I'm not saying Brad Stevens should not be getting praise for the job that he's done, because I feel like he's done an outstanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-m-not-saying-brad-stevens-should-not-be-getting-praise-for-the-job/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [I was a very quiet kid, had nothing much to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-was-a-very-quiet-kid-had-nothing-much-to-say/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [I'm 38, and everyone is making a big deal out of it because I got a few gray hairs cropping in my sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-m-38-and-everyone-is-making-a-big-deal-out-of-it-because-i-got-a/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [I haven't talked to the press much. That's why I've gotten kind of a bad reputation. They look at me and think I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-haven-t-talked-to-the-press-much-that-s-why-i-ve-gotten-kind-of-a/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [Playing with a winner is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/playing-with-a-winner-is-important/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [You could say that as I've gotten more mature, I've acquired more manure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/you-could-say-that-as-i-ve-gotten-more-mature-i-ve-acquired-more/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [You should never put your hands on a woman, under any circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/you-should-never-put-your-hands-on-a-woman-under-any-circumstances/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [I can't speak for anyone else, but I know how good I have it. You can't find a much better job than this. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-can-t-speak-for-anyone-else-but-i-know-how-good-i-have-it-you-can-t/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, Bill Walton, Quinn Buckner, Scott Wedman. Even if you get talent like that, it's hard to keep talent like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/dennis-johnson-danny-ainge-bill-walton-quinn-buckner-scott-wedman/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [Growing up, I didn't like basketball. I played football and baseball and ran some track.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/growing-up-i-didn-t-like-basketball-i-played-football-and-baseball/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [Shoot, I ain't working for free. You can never have enough money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/shoot-i-ain-t-working-for-free-you-can-never-have-enough-money/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) [Explore all 85 Robert Parish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought if I could play 10 years in the league, it would be a great career more than I could ever hope for in my wildest dreams.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Parish" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-thought-if-i-could-play-10-years-in-the-league-it-would-be-a-great/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-thought-if-i-could-play-10-years-in-the-league-it-would-be-a-great/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/robert-parish-8044_career_i-thought-if-i-could-play-10-years-in-th_3011702.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/robert-parish-8044_career_i-thought-if-i-could-play-10-years-in-th_3011702.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/robert-parish-8044_career_i-thought-if-i-could-play-10-years-in-th_3011702.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I thought if I could play 10 years in the league, it would be a great career more than I could ever hope for…” — Robert Parish", "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": "Robert Parish", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I thought if I could play...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-thought-if-i-could-play-10-years-in-the-league-it-would-be-a-great/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-thought-if-i-could-play-10-years-in-the-league-it-would-be-a-great/#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 } } ] } ```