--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My focus is to start my game with my…" description: "\"My focus is to start my game with my defense every night.\" — Serge Ibaka" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/serge-ibaka-5301_defense_my-focus-is-to-start-my-game-with-my-def_1907390.png" --- # My focus is to start my game with my defense every night. ![“My focus is to start my game with my defense every night.” quote by Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/serge-ibaka-5301_defense_my-focus-is-to-start-my-game-with-my-def_1907390.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/serge-ibaka-5301_defense_my-focus-is-to-start-my-game-with-my-def_1907390.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/serge-ibaka-5301_defense_my-focus-is-to-start-my-game-with-my-def_1907390.png) > “My focus is to start my game with my defense every night.” [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. Prioritizing defense each game builds consistency and team confidence. **In simple terms:** Start every game focusing on defense. Key Takeaway Make defense your first habit each night. Themes sports discipline teamwork Mood focused confident Type strategic inspirational When to use this quote - basketball practice - game preparation - coaching drills - team meetings Key Concepts defensive strategy habit formation Questions to Reflect On - How does a defensive mindset affect your overall play? - What balance do you need between offense and defense? A Different Perspective Focusing only on defense may neglect offensive development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Every night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-night/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) ## Related quotes > [I really wanted to step up my defense night in, night out. So that's my mindset, just playing defense and trying to be consistent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/i-really-wanted-to-step-up-my-defense-night-in-night-out-so-that-s-my/) [Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/) > [Running gave me a focus to start looking after myself, to eat properly, and focus on building up my strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-burton/running-gave-me-a-focus-to-start-looking-after-myself-to-eat-properly/) [Amanda Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-burton/) > [When I step on the court, it's not just my shot, I'm trying to get better in all aspects of the game, defense, rebounding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-kukoc/when-i-step-on-the-court-it-s-not-just-my-shot-i-m-trying-to-get/) [Toni Kukoc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-kukoc/) > [“Remember that this is a game of defense as well as offense and be prepared to protect the areas which you occupy. —FROM THE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/remember-that-this-is-a-game-of-defense-as-well-as-offense-and-be/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [Your offense might not be great every game, but defense is just about working hard and outworking your opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/your-offense-might-not-be-great-every-game-but-defense-is-just-about/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [When they start the game, they don't yell, "Work ball." They say, "Play ball."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/when-they-start-the-game-they-don-t-yell-work-ball-they-say-play-ball/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) > [When you start the game, coaches will tell you to do stuff in a particular way, and kids do that. But the moment you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virender-sehwag/when-you-start-the-game-coaches-will-tell-you-to-do-stuff-in-a/) [Virender Sehwag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virender-sehwag/) > [I don't like feeling full when I start a game, so that's why I have a bigger meal in morning or four hours before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-o-hara/i-don-t-like-feeling-full-when-i-start-a-game-so-that-s-why-i-have-a/) [Kelley O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-o-hara/) > [I want to start every game I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ward-prowse/i-want-to-start-every-game-i-can/) [James Ward-Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ward-prowse/) > [It's always nice to get off to a good start, but one game is one game, you know. Good or bad, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-gostkowski/it-s-always-nice-to-get-off-to-a-good-start-but-one-game-is-one-game/) [Stephen Gostkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-gostkowski/) > [Hard work doesn't start during the game. Hard work starts the night before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/hard-work-doesn-t-start-during-the-game-hard-work-starts-the-night/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [We're going to start the game at nil-nil and go out and try to get some goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-robson/we-re-going-to-start-the-game-at-nil-nil-and-go-out-and-try-to-get/) [Bryan Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-robson/) > [“Step 4: Practice Your Reaction Time! All that’s left is to connect the battery to the supply columns. The button at the bottom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oyvind-nydal-dahl/step-4-practice-your-reaction-time-all-that-s-left-is-to-connect-the/) [Oyvind Nydal Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oyvind-nydal-dahl/) > [You can't start in this game saying, 'I'm gonna make money playing it.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/you-can-t-start-in-this-game-saying-i-m-gonna-make-money-playing-it/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, Straining upon the start. The game's afoot; Follow your spirit: and upon this charge, Cry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-see-you-stand-like-greyhounds-in-the-slips-straining-upon-the-start/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## 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 Defense quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [My last defense / Is the present tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendolyn-brooks/my-last-defense-is-the-present-tense/) [Gwendolyn Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendolyn-brooks/) > [Football is not just all about throwing the ball. You got to run the ball, too. Defense has to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/football-is-not-just-all-about-throwing-the-ball-you-got-to-run-the/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/witness-for-the-defense-albus-percival-wulfric-brian-dumbledore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You say I have a bad attitude. But have you ever stopped to check yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-marie/you-say-i-have-a-bad-attitude-but-have-you-ever-stopped-to-check-yours/) Tasha Marie > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. Take the hit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/he-should-release-the-tax-returns-tomorrow-it-s-crazy-you-ve-got-to/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [When you shoot someone who is fleeing, it's not self-defense. It's an execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-shoot-someone-who-is-fleeing-it-s-not-self-defense-it-s-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) Browse all 2,426 Defense quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My focus is to start my game with my defense every night.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Serge Ibaka" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/my-focus-is-to-start-my-game-with-my-defense-every-night/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defense" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/my-focus-is-to-start-my-game-with-my-defense-every-night/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/serge-ibaka-5301_defense_my-focus-is-to-start-my-game-with-my-def_1907390.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/serge-ibaka-5301_defense_my-focus-is-to-start-my-game-with-my-def_1907390.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/serge-ibaka-5301_defense_my-focus-is-to-start-my-game-with-my-def_1907390.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My focus is to start my game with my defense every night.” — 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": "My focus is to start my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/my-focus-is-to-start-my-game-with-my-defense-every-night/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/my-focus-is-to-start-my-game-with-my-defense-every-night/#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 } } ] } ```