--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It had been a long journey for me just to…" description: "\"It had been a long journey for me just to get drafted. I had to work very hard as a collegiate player just to get recognized, being at a small school.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/scottie-pippen-2516_drafted_it-had-been-a-long-journey-for-me-just-t_2546401.jpg" --- # It had been a long journey for me just to get drafted. I… ![“It had been a long journey for me just to get drafted. I had to work very hard as a collegiate player just to get recognized, being at a small school.” quote by Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/scottie-pippen-2516_drafted_it-had-been-a-long-journey-for-me-just-t_2546401.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/scottie-pippen-2516_drafted_it-had-been-a-long-journey-for-me-just-t_2546401.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/scottie-pippen-2516_drafted_it-had-been-a-long-journey-for-me-just-t_2546401.jpg) > “It had been a long journey for me just to get drafted. I had to work very hard as a collegiate player just to get recognized, being at a small school.” [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work and perseverance can overcome limited exposure and small‑school bias to achieve professional goals. **In simple terms:** Hard work beats obscurity. Key Takeaway Persist despite odds. Themes determination perseverance underdog career sports Mood determined hopeful Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - college athlete - draft preparation - career planning Key Concepts effort recognition talent scouting Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to increase your visibility? - How do you stay motivated when overlooked? A Different Perspective Talent alone isn’t enough without visibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Long journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-journey/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [We are now being paid for the sport we play which is a little different than college. So I think there's pressure on everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brady-quinn/we-are-now-being-paid-for-the-sport-we-play-which-is-a-little/) [Brady Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brady-quinn/) > [Just because you're drafted, No. 1, doesn't mean you're going to make a team and, No. 2, it doesn't mean you're going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-thielen/just-because-you-re-drafted-no-1-doesn-t-mean-you-re-going-to-make-a/) [Adam Thielen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-thielen/) > [Growing up a Giants fan, I thought it was a dream come true just to get drafted by this organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-crawford/growing-up-a-giants-fan-i-thought-it-was-a-dream-come-true-just-to/) [Brandon Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-crawford/) > [Kicking's kicking. Pressure's pressure. You beat other guys just to get drafted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-gostkowski/kicking-s-kicking-pressure-s-pressure-you-beat-other-guys-just-to-get/) [Stephen Gostkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-gostkowski/) > [If seeds in the black earth can turn into such beautiful roses, what might not the heart of man become in its long journey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-seeds-in-the-black-earth-can-turn-into-such-beautiful-roses-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its a long journey before we live, and may be longer after we die, destination is just the path, to improve it must our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/its-a-long-journey-before-we-live-and-may-be-longer-after-we-die/) Senoraroy > [“That's lovely singing, Saraid," Eile said. "Is Sorry asleep now?" Saraid shook her head solemnly. "Sorry's sad. Crying." She held the doll against her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-marillier/that-s-lovely-singing-saraid-eile-said-is-sorry-asleep-now-saraid/) [Juliet Marillier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-marillier/) > [Going to a concert can sometimes be very difficult. It can be a long journey. There's the ticket prices. But when the music goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustavo-dudamel/going-to-a-concert-can-sometimes-be-very-difficult-it-can-be-a-long/) [Gustavo Dudamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustavo-dudamel/) > [“I finally have permission to breathe, but I can’t. I inhale like sucking in salt water. I’m drowning in the unexpected. I’m sinking between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lofty/i-finally-have-permission-to-breathe-but-i-can-t-i-inhale-like/) [Carrie Lofty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lofty/) > [It is just the start of your professional career and you have to handle it properly and realise that it is not always like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-bellerin/it-is-just-the-start-of-your-professional-career-and-you-have-to/) [Hector Bellerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-bellerin/) > [Climbing is this long term, lifelong journey. It's really important to just take your time with it and keep it fun. I've seen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sharma/climbing-is-this-long-term-lifelong-journey-it-s-really-important-to/) [Chris Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sharma/) > [Now it is autumn and the falling fruit and the long journey towards oblivion. The apples falling like great drops of dew to bruise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/now-it-is-autumn-and-the-falling-fruit-and-the-long-journey-towards/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [“The two climbers looked at each other, a glance that bored all the way down to Medvetz's DNA - not desperate or pleading or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-heil/the-two-climbers-looked-at-each-other-a-glance-that-bored-all-the-way/) Nick Heil > [“There is something that happens to the mind in moments of terror. Perhaps we figure it's the last we'll ever have and we record…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/there-is-something-that-happens-to-the-mind-in-moments-of-terror/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [“You’d better keep her tied.” “Why?” A yawn stretched Hunter’s dark face. “Because she’s looking skittish.” “She’s naked.” Sheathing his knife, Hunter flopped on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/you-d-better-keep-her-tied-why-a-yawn-stretched-hunter-s-dark-face/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) ## More by Scottie Pippen > [In the playoffs, it's win or go home. You might not have a chance to look back at a game and say, 'Man, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/in-the-playoffs-it-s-win-or-go-home-you-might-not-have-a-chance-to/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [I probably should've listened to Michael a year ago when he said that Charles will never win a championship because he doesn't show any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-probably-should-ve-listened-to-michael-a-year-ago-when-he-said-that/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [I'll miss the competitive side and the camaraderie of being around the players and competing each and every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-ll-miss-the-competitive-side-and-the-camaraderie-of-being-around/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [I wasn't given a scholarship out of high school, and that allowed me to learn what hard work was early on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-wasn-t-given-a-scholarship-out-of-high-school-and-that-allowed-me/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [I'm a family man, and I couldn't be happier. My wife and I have been blessed with an incredible family, and my kids are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-m-a-family-man-and-i-couldn-t-be-happier-my-wife-and-i-have-been/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [I always dreamed of playing the NBA, but along the way, the road got a little cloudy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-always-dreamed-of-playing-the-nba-but-along-the-way-the-road-got-a/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [Don't disrespect me, lie about it, and then come smile in my face and act like nothing's wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/don-t-disrespect-me-lie-about-it-and-then-come-smile-in-my-face-and/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [If I had an opportunity to hand-pick a team that I wanted to play in the NBA Finals, it would probably be the Lakers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/if-i-had-an-opportunity-to-hand-pick-a-team-that-i-wanted-to-play-in/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [I take a lot of pride in my first '92 gold medal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-take-a-lot-of-pride-in-my-first-92-gold-medal/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [For me, getting your number retired is the greatest accomplishment. There is no accolade with more significance that you can receive from an organization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/for-me-getting-your-number-retired-is-the-greatest-accomplishment/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [The odds were against me when I arrived at Central Arkansas. I was barely 6-foot-2 and didn't have a scholarship. But I always felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/the-odds-were-against-me-when-i-arrived-at-central-arkansas-i-was/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [I've played basketball all of my life, and I've had things happen on the court that you eventually have to move on from. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-ve-played-basketball-all-of-my-life-and-i-ve-had-things-happen-on/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [You've got to have a commitment to your craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/you-ve-got-to-have-a-commitment-to-your-craft/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [Defense was one thing I was really able to work at and get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/defense-was-one-thing-i-was-really-able-to-work-at-and-get-better/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [I loved playing against the Pacers and Reggie Miller. Reggie was a great competitor, and I enjoyed playing against competitors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-loved-playing-against-the-pacers-and-reggie-miller-reggie-was-a/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) [Explore all 163 Scottie Pippen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) ## More Drafted quotes > [Some guys, when they get drafted, they only think about themselves. They go buy cars and houses. I just wanted to take care of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bam-adebayo/some-guys-when-they-get-drafted-they-only-think-about-themselves-they/) [Bam Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bam-adebayo/) > [To me, it was so exciting that after just a short time of being on my own in NXT, I proved that I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmella/to-me-it-was-so-exciting-that-after-just-a-short-time-of-being-on-my/) [Carmella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmella/) > [Listen, we've drafted guys that wouldn't come in for workouts before. It's not the end of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-ainge/listen-we-ve-drafted-guys-that-wouldn-t-come-in-for-workouts-before/) [Danny Ainge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-ainge/) > [I think everyone wants to get drafted as high as they can. That's the way I look at it as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auston-matthews/i-think-everyone-wants-to-get-drafted-as-high-as-they-can-that-s-the/) [Auston Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auston-matthews/) > [I never thought I'd get drafted, let alone make the big leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-corbin/i-never-thought-i-d-get-drafted-let-alone-make-the-big-leagues/) [Patrick Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-corbin/) > [I got drafted in the first round of the NFL, that's pressure enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brady-quinn/i-got-drafted-in-the-first-round-of-the-nfl-that-s-pressure-enough/) [Brady Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brady-quinn/) > [I was 19 years old, pumping gas and going nowhere. I was kind of a high school dropout at that point because I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-oates/i-was-19-years-old-pumping-gas-and-going-nowhere-i-was-kind-of-a-high/) [Adam Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-oates/) > [I knew I'd get an opportunity, and it's up to me to make the most of it whether I got drafted or not. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-rodgers/i-knew-i-d-get-an-opportunity-and-it-s-up-to-me-to-make-the-most-of/) [Jordan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-rodgers/) > [You get drafted on potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-frye/you-get-drafted-on-potential/) [Channing Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-frye/) > [I got drafted into the army and by pure chance was pushed into a silk-screen shop at this camp where I was, because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-mackenzie/i-got-drafted-into-the-army-and-by-pure-chance-was-pushed-into-a-silk/) [Warren MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-mackenzie/) > [I had been told I might be drafted in the fourth round. 'Great,' I said at the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/i-had-been-told-i-might-be-drafted-in-the-fourth-round-great-i-said/) [John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/) > [It's a big step to be drafted. Ultimately, it's everybody's dream. That's where you start thinking about making the team, maybe about winning the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-brodeur/it-s-a-big-step-to-be-drafted-ultimately-it-s-everybody-s-dream-that/) [Martin Brodeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-brodeur/) > [Day 1, when I was drafted to the Toronto Raptors, they had this stigma on them: Every guy leaves. Nobody wants to be here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demar-derozan/day-1-when-i-was-drafted-to-the-toronto-raptors-they-had-this-stigma/) [DeMar DeRozan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demar-derozan/) > [Almost any word can be drafted to serve as a verb, even words we think of as eternal and unchanging, stuck in their more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mckean/almost-any-word-can-be-drafted-to-serve-as-a-verb-even-words-we-think/) [Erin McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mckean/) > [The goal my entire life was to get drafted. I never cared if I was No. 1 overall or Mr. Irrelevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-bortles/the-goal-my-entire-life-was-to-get-drafted-i-never-cared-if-i-was-no/) [Blake Bortles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-bortles/) Browse all 253 Drafted quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It had been a long journey for me just to get drafted. 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