--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be honest, I was never really jumping…" description: "\"To be honest, I was never really jumping that high when I was younger. I had to work on it. I didnt dunk for the first time until the last game of my s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/russell-westbrook-9247_first-time_to-be-honest-i-was-never-really-jumping_1101919.jpg" --- # To be honest, I was never really jumping that high when I… ![“To be honest, I was never really jumping that high when I was younger. I had to work on it. I didnt dunk for the first time until the last game of my senior year in high school. I didnt really start dunking regularly until college. I just work on my legs and my core: Running the stairs, squats…” quote by Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/russell-westbrook-9247_first-time_to-be-honest-i-was-never-really-jumping_1101919.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/russell-westbrook-9247_first-time_to-be-honest-i-was-never-really-jumping_1101919.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/russell-westbrook-9247_first-time_to-be-honest-i-was-never-really-jumping_1101919.jpg) > “To be honest, I was never really jumping that high when I was younger. I had to work on it. I didnt dunk for the first time until the last game of my senior year in high school. I didnt really start dunking regularly until college. I just work on my legs and my core: Running the stairs, squats, working my hamstrings and quads. Then just sit-ups for my core.” [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consistent training of legs and core enables athletic breakthroughs like dunking. **In simple terms:** Dedicated physical work leads to performance gains. Key Takeaway Focus on strength and core for athletic goals. Themes sports discipline physical fitness goal setting Mood motivational determined Type sports self‑improvement When to use this quote - basketball training - gym workouts - rehab programs Key Concepts muscle hypertrophy explosive power core stability Questions to Reflect On - What specific exercises will you add to improve vertical jump? - How do you balance strength training with injury prevention? A Different Perspective Progress may be limited by genetics or injury risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dunking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dunking/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Senior year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senior-year/) ## Related quotes > [My 11th-grade summer, going into my senior year, is when I started dunking consistently. Before then, I'd probably get one dunk out of 25 tries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ja-morant/my-11th-grade-summer-going-into-my-senior-year-is-when-i-started/) [Ja Morant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ja-morant/) > [Not being in the dunk contest isn't going to stop me from dunking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-collins/not-being-in-the-dunk-contest-isn-t-going-to-stop-me-from-dunking/) [John Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-collins/) > [I haven't been able to slam-dunk the basketball for the past five years. Or, for the thirty-eight years before that, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-haven-t-been-able-to-slam-dunk-the-basketball-for-the-past-five/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [If you're just dunking by yourself, it's really nothing special. You have to dunk on someone - then you feel like you're demoralizing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/if-you-re-just-dunking-by-yourself-it-s-really-nothing-special-you/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [When I dunk, I put something on it. I want the ball to hit the floor before I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/when-i-dunk-i-put-something-on-it-i-want-the-ball-to-hit-the-floor/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [I love dunking and it's so motivating to be in the dunk contest because I enjoy putting on a show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-love-dunking-and-it-s-so-motivating-to-be-in-the-dunk-contest/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [“Inside a wool jacket the man had made a pocket for the treasure and from time to time he would jiggle the pocket, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-dobbs/inside-a-wool-jacket-the-man-had-made-a-pocket-for-the-treasure-and/) Justin Dobbs > [“1978 Jurgen Honscheid came over from West Germany for the first Hawaiian World Cup and discovered jumping, which was new to him, although Mike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-von-hippel/1978-jurgen-honscheid-came-over-from-west-germany-for-the-first/) [Eric von Hippel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-von-hippel/) > [When you're jumping so high for something so far up in the sky, you have to know that there is definitely someone there who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/picabo-street/when-you-re-jumping-so-high-for-something-so-far-up-in-the-sky-you/) [Picabo Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/picabo-street/) > [“First memory: a man at the back door is saying, I have real bad news, sweat is dripping off his face, Garbert's been shot,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mayes/first-memory-a-man-at-the-back-door-is-saying-i-have-real-bad-news/) [Frances Mayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mayes/) > [Not really for me. I get a lot of pick-and-roll stuff, so there aint too much Im doing put there thats signature. I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/not-really-for-me-i-get-a-lot-of-pick-and-roll-stuff-so-there-aint/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [Sports are basically our way of feeling sorry for ourselves. Most men can't become athletes. We're watching guys who actually made it. We see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/sports-are-basically-our-way-of-feeling-sorry-for-ourselves-most-men/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [I mean, dunking is fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-mean-dunking-is-fun/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I'm kind of mobile like a guard, so when I'm dunking it doesn't look like a big guy dunking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-m-kind-of-mobile-like-a-guard-so-when-i-m-dunking-it-doesn-t-look/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [It's not about making the most shots or even dunking the ball or any of that. It's about being consistent every day you step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/it-s-not-about-making-the-most-shots-or-even-dunking-the-ball-or-any/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) ## More by Russell Westbrook > [The good thing about me is I just don't shop high-end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/the-good-thing-about-me-is-i-just-don-t-shop-high-end/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [Yeah, I was in China for about a week or so with the NBA Jam event. It was a different experience. We traveled all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/yeah-i-was-in-china-for-about-a-week-or-so-with-the-nba-jam-event-it/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [You gotta win; that's all I care about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/you-gotta-win-that-s-all-i-care-about/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [Im very excited to be a Sonic and Im looking forward to next season. Im very excited. Ive been working hard to put myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/im-very-excited-to-be-a-sonic-and-im-looking-forward-to-next-season/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [For me, I dont like to work on nothing specific I work on my overall game. Im trying to get better everywhere, so Im…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/for-me-i-dont-like-to-work-on-nothing-specific-i-work-on-my-overall/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [I'm not getting dressed to make a scene or, like, 'Oh, look what Westbrook has on today!' If I like something, I'll put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/i-m-not-getting-dressed-to-make-a-scene-or-like-oh-look-what/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [I usually take a nap, grab something to eat and listen to music, nothing too crazy and just hang out, chill and relax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/i-usually-take-a-nap-grab-something-to-eat-and-listen-to-music/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [Valentine's Day's not for men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/valentine-s-day-s-not-for-men/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [I wear a lot of different things, personally. I don't have favorites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/i-wear-a-lot-of-different-things-personally-i-don-t-have-favorites/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [Yeah. I just looked at the schedule, and that first week or two is pretty tough. Weve got Detroit, Portland, the Lakers that first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/yeah-i-just-looked-at-the-schedule-and-that-first-week-or-two-is/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [Oh yeah. I mean, you hear all different types of things. Somebody might tell you this, somebody might tell you that. But you only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/oh-yeah-i-mean-you-hear-all-different-types-of-things-somebody-might/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [Its been real crazy. Every day I just thank God and Im blessed every day I thank God and work my tail off every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/its-been-real-crazy-every-day-i-just-thank-god-and-im-blessed-every/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [I don't shop just high-end, honestly. I shop at Zara, I shop at Topshop, I shop at H&M. I shop everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/i-don-t-shop-just-high-end-honestly-i-shop-at-zara-i-shop-at-topshop/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [My childhood, I wouldn't say it was bad. It helped me grow up. I stayed out of trouble. My parents taught me what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/my-childhood-i-wouldn-t-say-it-was-bad-it-helped-me-grow-up-i-stayed/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [Once you put in all the work pre-practice and post-practice and see it in a game and see it in play, that's a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/once-you-put-in-all-the-work-pre-practice-and-post-practice-and-see/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) [Explore all 74 Russell Westbrook quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) ## More Dunk quotes > [Boys have a tendency to jump around a lot more than girls. Boys have that desire to want to dunk way more than girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/boys-have-a-tendency-to-jump-around-a-lot-more-than-girls-boys-have/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [We're young. We like to run. J.R. and those guys, they want to dunk and I want to see 'em dunk. So it works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-paul/we-re-young-we-like-to-run-j-r-and-those-guys-they-want-to-dunk-and-i/) [Chris Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-paul/) > [When you can't dunk anymore, you have to find a way to make it into the news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-ginobili/when-you-can-t-dunk-anymore-you-have-to-find-a-way-to-make-it-into/) [Manu Ginobili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-ginobili/) > [My first dunk was actually in sixth grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-carter/my-first-dunk-was-actually-in-sixth-grade/) [Vince Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-carter/) > [I just don't want to go to the All-Star game to be in the dunk contest and go home. I want to be there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-jordan/i-just-don-t-want-to-go-to-the-all-star-game-to-be-in-the-dunk/) [DeAndre Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-jordan/) > [In New York, the dunk is not the thing. To break somebody down and shoot a J-that's as big as a dunk in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/in-new-york-the-dunk-is-not-the-thing-to-break-somebody-down-and/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [I'm not a role model... Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-m-not-a-role-model-just-because-i-dunk-a-basketball-doesn-t-mean-i/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [Can I still dunk... Are you stupid?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/can-i-still-dunk-are-you-stupid/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [People came to the All-Star Game to see the dunk contest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-wilkins/people-came-to-the-all-star-game-to-see-the-dunk-contest/) [Dominique Wilkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-wilkins/) > [Skills Challenge tonight! You guys tuning in? Who you picking for the dunk contest?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/skills-challenge-tonight-you-guys-tuning-in-who-you-picking-for-the/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [How much will y'all give me if I slam dunk this thing into the trash can?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/how-much-will-y-all-give-me-if-i-slam-dunk-this-thing-into-the-trash/) [Danny Mcbride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [I would've said yes before I saw Aaron Gordon do what he did. And Zach LaVine went nuts as well. I think Gordon should've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kerr/i-would-ve-said-yes-before-i-saw-aaron-gordon-do-what-he-did-and-zach/) [Steve Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kerr/) > [I can never dunk, but I can always find a way to score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-darren/i-can-never-dunk-but-i-can-always-find-a-way-to-score/) Jeremy Darren > [Something you can control is your effort and your energy and playing defense. And for me that's always been a catalyst for my game,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-caruso/something-you-can-control-is-your-effort-and-your-energy-and-playing/) [Alex Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-caruso/) > [I can't afford to do the highlight dunk and miss it because, if I do that, I'll be sitting right on the bench beside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zion-williamson/i-can-t-afford-to-do-the-highlight-dunk-and-miss-it-because-if-i-do/) [Zion Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zion-williamson/) Browse all 135 Dunk quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be honest, I was never really jumping that high when I was younger. I had to work on it. I didnt dunk for the first time until the last game of my senior year in high school. I didnt really start dunking regularly until college. I just work on my legs and my core: Running the stairs, squats, working my hamstrings and quads. 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