--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not always about getting better on…" description: "\"It's not always about getting better on the basketball court. This game teaches you how to become a better person as well. It pushes you into the team ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/scottie-pippen-2516_basketball_it-s-not-always-about-getting-better-on_748534.jpg" --- # It's not always about getting better on the basketball… ![“It's not always about getting better on the basketball court. This game teaches you how to become a better person as well. It pushes you into the team concept.” quote by Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/scottie-pippen-2516_basketball_it-s-not-always-about-getting-better-on_748534.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/scottie-pippen-2516_basketball_it-s-not-always-about-getting-better-on_748534.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/scottie-pippen-2516_basketball_it-s-not-always-about-getting-better-on_748534.jpg) > “It's not always about getting better on the basketball court. This game teaches you how to become a better person as well. It pushes you into the team concept.” [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. Sports can teach personal growth, emphasizing teamwork and character over skill alone. **In simple terms:** Games teach teamwork and personal development. Key Takeaway Use sports lessons to improve character. Themes teamwork personal growth character development Mood inspirational motivational Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - team sports - coaching sessions - personal challenges - career transitions Key Concepts sports psychology leadership self-improvement Questions to Reflect On - What personal qualities does sport develop? - How can team concepts improve non‑sport areas? A Different Perspective Skill alone isn’t enough; personal effort and teamwork matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-court/) [Better person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-person/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Getting better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-better/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not Abdul-Jabbar or Pat Ewing or Mark Eaton. I'm Shawn Bradley and I'm going to do my best each time I step on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/i-m-not-abdul-jabbar-or-pat-ewing-or-mark-eaton-i-m-shawn-bradley-and/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [I know, when I'm walking out on the court before for the game, it's like, man, if you wanna compete, here it is. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nurse/i-know-when-i-m-walking-out-on-the-court-before-for-the-game-it-s/) [Nick Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nurse/) > [I always leave everything on the court, every game. Tell me how many other players can say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/i-always-leave-everything-on-the-court-every-game-tell-me-how-many/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [My on-the-court game was ordinary. I had a jumper but needed screens. I could go right but not left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-albert/my-on-the-court-game-was-ordinary-i-had-a-jumper-but-needed-screens-i/) [Marv Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-albert/) > [My explosiveness, I really couldn't show it at UCLA. It's still there. It's always been there. It was not a lot of running. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shabazz-muhammad/my-explosiveness-i-really-couldn-t-show-it-at-ucla-it-s-still-there/) [Shabazz Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shabazz-muhammad/) > [The media and press can be relentless, especially with women. Personally, while I take pride in my appearance and enjoy the compliments, when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-ivanovic/the-media-and-press-can-be-relentless-especially-with-women/) [Ana Ivanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-ivanovic/) > [He lifted weights, he rode the bike; he kept himself going before and after games, as well as practices. He always kept himself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/he-lifted-weights-he-rode-the-bike-he-kept-himself-going-before-and/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [I had watched Magic my whole career, even before my career, and so I knew the style of player that he was, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-had-watched-magic-my-whole-career-even-before-my-career-and-so-i/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [No guy on the basketball court is a threat to score with LeBron James out there. Not only will LeBron dominate from the offensive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/no-guy-on-the-basketball-court-is-a-threat-to-score-with-lebron-james/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [It's always like in college, AAU and in the NBA, you always look out for your Canadians to see how they're doing. It's kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/it-s-always-like-in-college-aau-and-in-the-nba-you-always-look-out/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [There are some rappers out there that I listen to, that I'm like: "You are really good but you could be like the Michael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-glover/there-are-some-rappers-out-there-that-i-listen-to-that-i-m-like-you/) [Donald Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-glover/) > [I have the same routine every day just to make me a better basketball player, and I'm going to continue the routine just to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-ingram/i-have-the-same-routine-every-day-just-to-make-me-a-better-basketball/) [Brandon Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-ingram/) > [It's easy to become a better basketball player but harder to become a better teammate or person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/it-s-easy-to-become-a-better-basketball-player-but-harder-to-become-a/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [I was a better basketball player growing up in high school than I was a swimmer. Basketball to this day is my favorite sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lochte/i-was-a-better-basketball-player-growing-up-in-high-school-than-i-was/) [Ryan Lochte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lochte/) > [I thought I was better at basketball, but obviously people didn't think so. But I loved them equally, whether it be baseball season, basketball,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-thielen/i-thought-i-was-better-at-basketball-but-obviously-people-didn-t/) [Adam Thielen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-thielen/) ## 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 Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [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/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not always about getting better on the basketball court. This game teaches you how to become a better person as well. It pushes you into the team concept.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Scottie Pippen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/it-s-not-always-about-getting-better-on-the-basketball-court-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/it-s-not-always-about-getting-better-on-the-basketball-court-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/scottie-pippen-2516_basketball_it-s-not-always-about-getting-better-on_748534.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/scottie-pippen-2516_basketball_it-s-not-always-about-getting-better-on_748534.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/scottie-pippen-2516_basketball_it-s-not-always-about-getting-better-on_748534.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not always about getting better on the basketball court. This game teaches you how to become a better…” — Scottie Pippen", "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": "Scottie Pippen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not always about getting better...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/it-s-not-always-about-getting-better-on-the-basketball-court-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/it-s-not-always-about-getting-better-on-the-basketball-court-this/#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 } } ] } ```