---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just trying to get better and pick my…"
description: "\"Just trying to get better and pick my spots, know when to pass, know when to shoot and I think I've gotten a little bit better at that.\" — Shai Gilgeou..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_better_just-trying-to-get-better-and-pick-my-sp_1199478.jpg"
---

#  Just trying to get better and pick my spots, know when to…

![“Just trying to get better and pick my spots, know when to pass, know when to shoot and I think I've gotten a little bit better at that.” quote by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_better_just-trying-to-get-better-and-pick-my-sp_1199478.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_better_just-trying-to-get-better-and-pick-my-sp_1199478.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_better_just-trying-to-get-better-and-pick-my-sp_1199478.jpg)

> “Just trying to get better and pick my spots, know when to pass, know when to shoot and I think I've gotten a little bit better at that.”

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Improving performance by recognizing opportunities and making timely decisions on the court.

**In simple terms:** Know when to pass or shoot to improve.

Key Takeaway

Focus on decision‑making in play.

Themes

sports self‑improvement strategy

Mood

determined focused

Type

motivational practical

When to use this quote

- basketball games
- practice drills
- coaching sessions

Key Concepts

situational awareness skill development

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you decide between passing and shooting?
- What cues help you read the defense?

A Different Perspective

Improvement is gradual and depends on experience.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Better Pick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-pick-542251/) [Bit Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bit-better/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Know Shoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-shoot-960119/) [Pass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pass/) [Pick Spots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pick-spots-269151/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-better/)

## Related quotes

> [It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you'll drift in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-s-better-to-hang-out-with-people-better-than-you-pick-out/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [For me to get better, I have to pick and learn from the best. It starts with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/for-me-to-get-better-i-have-to-pick-and-learn-from-the-best-it-starts/)

[Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/)

> [It is better to pick the wrong priority than none at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/it-is-better-to-pick-the-wrong-priority-than-none-at-all/)

[Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/)

> [Hilary Clinton might have been a better pick than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/hilary-clinton-might-have-been-a-better-pick-than-me/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [I can do a lot of different things on the court. I just need to learn to pick my spots depending on who's guarding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaren-jackson-jr/i-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-on-the-court-i-just-need-to-learn/)

[Jaren Jackson, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaren-jackson-jr/)

> [I think sometimes, you have to pick your spots about when a game gets intense or when the game's outcome is pivoting in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-buck/i-think-sometimes-you-have-to-pick-your-spots-about-when-a-game-gets/)

[Joe Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-buck/)

> [You don't want to be an iron fist all the time; at least I don't. I like to pick my spots and have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tannehill/you-don-t-want-to-be-an-iron-fist-all-the-time-at-least-i-don-t-i/)

[Ryan Tannehill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tannehill/)

> [When I do go out, I'm prepared to talk to people and it's just part of it. I've gotten used to it. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-lawrence/when-i-do-go-out-i-m-prepared-to-talk-to-people-and-it-s-just-part-of/)

[Trevor Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-lawrence/)

> [You got to play a hundred and fifty games a year, so pick your spots. You can miss two games a month; so pick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/you-got-to-play-a-hundred-and-fifty-games-a-year-so-pick-your-spots/)

[Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/)

> [If you're playing 55 to 60 snaps, you have opportunities to pace yourself, pick spots. When you're not playing as many and you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-peppers/if-you-re-playing-55-to-60-snaps-you-have-opportunities-to-pace/)

[Julius Peppers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-peppers/)

> [You have to pick your places to "step up" and you have you pick your spots. If you're just going to run out there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/you-have-to-pick-your-places-to-step-up-and-you-have-you-pick-your/)

[Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/)

> [You need to pick your spots and bet big when you identify them. That's basically my 'Jeopardy!' strategy in a nutshell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/you-need-to-pick-your-spots-and-bet-big-when-you-identify-them-that-s/)

[James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/)

> [I want to get better each and every day and attack each and every day. Whether that be a pool workout, a sand workout,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-want-to-get-better-each-and-every-day-and-attack-each-and-every-day/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I'm just trying to get better every day. And I think if I do so, the accolades, the awards, the accomplishments will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-just-trying-to-get-better-every-day-and-i-think-if-i-do-so-the/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [The three-ball is an easy shot if you're uncontested, but when they know you can shoot, it's a lot harder to get off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-copeland/the-three-ball-is-an-easy-shot-if-you-re-uncontested-but-when-they/)

[Chris Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-copeland/)

## More by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

> [I'm just trusting my work. Putting it in everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-just-trusting-my-work-putting-it-in-everyday/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I've noticed that throughout my experience, when you keep positive energy, positive things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-ve-noticed-that-throughout-my-experience-when-you-keep-positive/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I don't worry about starting. I'm not worried about accolades or things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-don-t-worry-about-starting-i-m-not-worried-about-accolades-or/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I'm just confident in my abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-just-confident-in-my-abilities/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [Life's about ups and downs, season's about ups and downs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/life-s-about-ups-and-downs-season-s-about-ups-and-downs/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I just think we're all high-level basketball players, best in the world. And no matter the outside circumstance, we still have to play basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-just-think-we-re-all-high-level-basketball-players-best-in-the/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I'm not playing this game just to be a good basketball player. I want to be one of the greatest to ever play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-not-playing-this-game-just-to-be-a-good-basketball-player-i-want/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I've always been a basketball junkie... Always watched videos, slowed them down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-ve-always-been-a-basketball-junkie-always-watched-videos-slowed/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I'm just really confident in my abilities and how hard I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-just-really-confident-in-my-abilities-and-how-hard-i-work/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I'm a learner. I just soak things up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-a-learner-i-just-soak-things-up/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [Learning how to play on a team full of future pros, it's not as easy as everyone thinks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/learning-how-to-play-on-a-team-full-of-future-pros-it-s-not-as-easy/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I just love the game. It's brought me so much joy in my life. I have no choice when I'm playing it, I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-just-love-the-game-it-s-brought-me-so-much-joy-in-my-life-i-have-no/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I just work hard, keep my head down and be true to who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-just-work-hard-keep-my-head-down-and-be-true-to-who-i-am/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I just soak things up and learn as time goes on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-just-soak-things-up-and-learn-as-time-goes-on/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [I want to be one of the best point guards to ever play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-want-to-be-one-of-the-best-point-guards-to-ever-play/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

[Explore all 100 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

## More Better quotes

> [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/)

[Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/)

> [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/)

[Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/)

> [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/)

[Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/)

[Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/)

> [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/)

[Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/)

> [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/)

[Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/)

> [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/)

[Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/)

> [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/)

[Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/)

> [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/)

[Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/)

> [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/)

[Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/)

> [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/)

[Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/)

[Browse all 17,085 Better quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Just trying to get better and pick my spots, know when to pass, know when to shoot and I think I've gotten a little bit better at that.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Shai Gilgeous-Alexander"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/just-trying-to-get-better-and-pick-my-spots-know-when-to-pass-know/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Better"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/just-trying-to-get-better-and-pick-my-spots-know-when-to-pass-know/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_better_just-trying-to-get-better-and-pick-my-sp_1199478.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_better_just-trying-to-get-better-and-pick-my-sp_1199478.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_better_just-trying-to-get-better-and-pick-my-sp_1199478.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Just trying to get better and pick my spots, know when to pass, know when to shoot and I think I've gotten a…” — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander",
                "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": "Shai Gilgeous-Alexander",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Just trying to get better and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/just-trying-to-get-better-and-pick-my-spots-know-when-to-pass-know/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/just-trying-to-get-better-and-pick-my-spots-know-when-to-pass-know/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
