--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think God put me on this earth to play…" description: "\"I think God put me on this earth to play basketball.\" — Serge Ibaka" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/serge-ibaka-5301_basketball_i-think-god-put-me-on-this-earth-to-play_1222269.png" --- # I think God put me on this earth to play basketball. ![“I think God put me on this earth to play basketball.” quote by Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/serge-ibaka-5301_basketball_i-think-god-put-me-on-this-earth-to-play_1222269.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/serge-ibaka-5301_basketball_i-think-god-put-me-on-this-earth-to-play_1222269.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/serge-ibaka-5301_basketball_i-think-god-put-me-on-this-earth-to-play_1222269.png) > “I think God put me on this earth to play basketball.” [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. His life's purpose is to excel at basketball, reflecting personal passion and identity. **In simple terms:** He feels called to play basketball. Key Takeaway Pursue your true passion. Themes purpose identity sport motivation Mood motivational determined Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - sports - career planning - personal development - community outreach Key Concepts Self‑actualization career focus personal fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What drives your personal purpose? - How can you balance passion with other life goals? A Different Perspective Purpose may evolve; focusing solely on one path can limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-earth/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-basketball/) [Think God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-god/) ## Related quotes > [My dad used to play basketball, now he gets to see me in the NBA Finals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/my-dad-used-to-play-basketball-now-he-gets-to-see-me-in-the-nba-finals/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [I just think God put me on this earth as a tool... showing people you can achieve stuff once you set you mind to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-ortiz/i-just-think-god-put-me-on-this-earth-as-a-tool-showing-people-you/) [Tito Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-ortiz/) > [Many readers fail to realize this, but 'The Color Purple' is a theological text. It is about the reclamation of one's original God: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/many-readers-fail-to-realize-this-but-the-color-purple-is-a/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Didn’t everything on God’s earth have or acquire defense?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/didn-t-everything-on-god-s-earth-have-or-acquire-defense/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [When I was 16 I took the first opportunity I had to play basketball in a different country. I flew to Europe for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/when-i-was-16-i-took-the-first-opportunity-i-had-to-play-basketball/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [I really didn't want to play basketball for the longest time, but I just wouldn't stop growing. But I always wanted to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-really-didn-t-want-to-play-basketball-for-the-longest-time-but-i/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I play basketball hard-nosed and if you're not on my team, during that 48 minutes we're enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-play-basketball-hard-nosed-and-if-you-re-not-on-my-team-during-that/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [I wanted to have a career in sports when I was young, but I had to give up the idea. I'm only six feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/i-wanted-to-have-a-career-in-sports-when-i-was-young-but-i-had-to/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I believe in order to coach, you've got to start at the ground level. The same way I learned how to play basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metta-world-peace/i-believe-in-order-to-coach-you-ve-got-to-start-at-the-ground-level/) [Metta World Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metta-world-peace/) > [Over the years Ive learned that just because you follow God, it doesnt mean you win every game or get what you want athletically.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/over-the-years-ive-learned-that-just-because-you-follow-god-it-doesnt/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [It's a blessing to play basketball, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-caruso/it-s-a-blessing-to-play-basketball-man/) [Alex Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-caruso/) > [That's why I play basketball. To play a lot of minutes, and to help my team win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zion-williamson/that-s-why-i-play-basketball-to-play-a-lot-of-minutes-and-to-help-my/) [Zion Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zion-williamson/) > [I'm living my dream, getting to play in the NBA, getting to play basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-george/i-m-living-my-dream-getting-to-play-in-the-nba-getting-to-play/) [Paul George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-george/) > [I lived to play basketball. Growing up as a kid, Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics were my favorite team. The way they played,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walton/i-lived-to-play-basketball-growing-up-as-a-kid-bill-russell-and-the/) [Bill Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walton/) > [I just started growing. And everyone said, 'You should probably play basketball.' So I said, 'All right. I'll give it a shot.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bennett/i-just-started-growing-and-everyone-said-you-should-probably-play/) [Anthony Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bennett/) ## More by Serge Ibaka > [One of the things I learned playing on a good team is when the team wins, when you make the playoffs, everybody looks good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/one-of-the-things-i-learned-playing-on-a-good-team-is-when-the-team/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [Not everybody can do everything at a high level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/not-everybody-can-do-everything-at-a-high-level/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [My dad used to play basketball, now he gets to see me in the NBA Finals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/my-dad-used-to-play-basketball-now-he-gets-to-see-me-in-the-nba-finals/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [I love to lift after games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/i-love-to-lift-after-games/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [My father was always pushing me to become a basketball player. In Africa, when you're a kid, every kid loves to play soccer, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/my-father-was-always-pushing-me-to-become-a-basketball-player-in/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [I'm not really good at asking people questions in interviews. I just try to have fun, to talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/i-m-not-really-good-at-asking-people-questions-in-interviews-i-just/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [Money will not make you happy. It's most important that you need to be happy. You need to do something you want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/money-will-not-make-you-happy-it-s-most-important-that-you-need-to-be/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [End of the day, when you do something, you have to do something where you bring people together. You can't do something where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/end-of-the-day-when-you-do-something-you-have-to-do-something-where/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [I always put in the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/i-always-put-in-the-work/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [My confidence comes on defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/my-confidence-comes-on-defense/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [I've been learning when to block shots against who I'm playing. I'm not just going to leave a shooter to go block shots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/i-ve-been-learning-when-to-block-shots-against-who-i-m-playing-i-m/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [Where I come from, dressing is a culture. When I go back home, I cannot dress bad. I cannot miss, or people will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/where-i-come-from-dressing-is-a-culture-when-i-go-back-home-i-cannot/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [You can't force people to love you. If you love somebody, you love them because you love them. People who love you, it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/you-can-t-force-people-to-love-you-if-you-love-somebody-you-love-them/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [It's always fun to play on a winning team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/it-s-always-fun-to-play-on-a-winning-team/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [I know people that was playing basketball better than me. If they were in the NBA, they could be All-Stars, those people. They just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/i-know-people-that-was-playing-basketball-better-than-me-if-they-were/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) [Explore all 102 Serge Ibaka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) ## 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": "I think God put me on this earth to play basketball.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Serge Ibaka" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/i-think-god-put-me-on-this-earth-to-play-basketball/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/i-think-god-put-me-on-this-earth-to-play-basketball/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/serge-ibaka-5301_basketball_i-think-god-put-me-on-this-earth-to-play_1222269.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/serge-ibaka-5301_basketball_i-think-god-put-me-on-this-earth-to-play_1222269.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/serge-ibaka-5301_basketball_i-think-god-put-me-on-this-earth-to-play_1222269.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think God put me on this earth to play basketball.” — Serge Ibaka", "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": "Serge Ibaka", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think God put me on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/i-think-god-put-me-on-this-earth-to-play-basketball/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/i-think-god-put-me-on-this-earth-to-play-basketball/#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 } } ] } ```