--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I just said to myself, 'Damn, I'm a great…" description: "\"I just said to myself, 'Damn, I'm a great player.'\" — Shaquille O'Neal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_i-just-said-to-myself-damn-i-m-a-great-p_2089985.jpg" --- # I just said to myself, 'Damn, I'm a great player.' ![“I just said to myself, 'Damn, I'm a great player.'” quote by Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_i-just-said-to-myself-damn-i-m-a-great-p_2089985.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_i-just-said-to-myself-damn-i-m-a-great-p_2089985.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_i-just-said-to-myself-damn-i-m-a-great-p_2089985.jpg) > “I just said to myself, 'Damn, I'm a great player.'” [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑praise can boost confidence but may also mask overconfidence. **In simple terms:** Praising oneself can be both motivating and risky. Key Takeaway Use confidence wisely, stay humble. Themes confidence ego performance self‑esteem Mood energetic confident Type motivational personal When to use this quote - team leadership - personal branding - skill development Key Concepts psychology of sport motivation self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - When does confidence become arrogance? - How to balance self‑belief with humility? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can hinder growth and teamwork. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ## Related quotes > [“Cliff said "damn" for me (I'm going to die). I didn't know he liked me enough to swear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/cliff-said-damn-for-me-i-m-going-to-die-i-didn-t-know-he-liked-me/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [He said damn girl you little but you can really take tha pipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-said-damn-girl-you-little-but-you-can-really-take-tha-pipe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It’s not true that life is one damn thing after another,” she said. “It’s one damn thing over and over.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-ambrose/it-s-not-true-that-life-is-one-damn-thing-after-another-she-said-it-s/) Elaine Ambrose > [I was walkin' 'round in my crib last night and said, "Damn, I wanna rob myself"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plies/i-was-walkin-round-in-my-crib-last-night-and-said-damn-i-wanna-rob/) [Plies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plies/) > [When I got a call to see if I wanted a Derby horse, I said, 'Damn!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-baffert/when-i-got-a-call-to-see-if-i-wanted-a-derby-horse-i-said-damn/) [Bob Baffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-baffert/) > [“I’m surprised she hasn’t started cursing yet from hearing me.” “Oh, but she has,” Vincent said. “I overheard her.” Carmine turned to Haven. “What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/i-m-surprised-she-hasn-t-started-cursing-yet-from-hearing-me-oh-but/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [He can play. He can shoot. He can dribble. He can pass. He's a great player. Period. No question about it. And if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/he-can-play-he-can-shoot-he-can-dribble-he-can-pass-he-s-a-great/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [A player who makes a team great is better than a great player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/a-player-who-makes-a-team-great-is-better-than-a-great-player/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [No, just because I said something about someone does not mean I'm CALLING THEM BAD](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/no-just-because-i-said-something-about-someone-does-not-mean-i-m/) [Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/) > [“Then, I asked her what was wrong, then smiled at me, and told me “I feel so sad.” And I swear at that time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-alghanem/then-i-asked-her-what-was-wrong-then-smiled-at-me-and-told-me-i-feel/) Abraham Alghanem > [“I didn’t say it wasn’t true. I just said you shouldn’t say it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-didn-t-say-it-wasn-t-true-i-just-said-you-shouldn-t-say-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm also not going to explain something just because I said it in a rap. Take what you want from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azealia-banks/i-m-also-not-going-to-explain-something-just-because-i-said-it-in-a/) [Azealia Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azealia-banks/) > [There are some words that just can't be said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-some-words-that-just-can-t-be-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Today, I'm a candidate for the office of president of the United States of America. My kids can't believe I just said that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/today-i-m-a-candidate-for-the-office-of-president-of-the-united/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [Just because he said he's gonna call doesn't mean he's gonna call.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-hobbes/just-because-he-said-he-s-gonna-call-doesn-t-mean-he-s-gonna-call/) [Miranda Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-hobbes/) ## More by Shaquille O'Neal > [ 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/) > [And if the big dog ain't me, then the house won't get guarded - period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-if-the-big-dog-ain-t-me-then-the-house-won-t-get-guarded-period/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [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/) > [I don't send messages, I'm not a fax machine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-don-t-send-messages-i-m-not-a-fax-machine/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I told our guys they must not have cable because Antoine Walker knows how to play, Derek Anderson can play, Shandon Anderson knows how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-told-our-guys-they-must-not-have-cable-because-antoine-walker-knows/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I was really upset. I felt like they tried to limit me, whoever 'they' may be. So I just said to myself third quarter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-was-really-upset-i-felt-like-they-tried-to-limit-me-whoever-they/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Keep in mind, I'm not allowed to be tough. I'm tamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/keep-in-mind-i-m-not-allowed-to-be-tough-i-m-tamed/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I'm still the baddest expletive in the world. Yeah, I'm getting older, but Kareem got older. Hakeem got older. I don't need Earthlings' respect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-still-the-baddest-expletive-in-the-world-yeah-i-m-getting-older/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Write this: Since my boy is the coach, I'm going to try out for the Dolphins next year. Tight end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/write-this-since-my-boy-is-the-coach-i-m-going-to-try-out-for-the/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Everybody talks about being a role model. But if you look up the word 'role' in a dictionary, it describes playing a part. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/everybody-talks-about-being-a-role-model-but-if-you-look-up-the-word/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Why don't you bring your face up here and let me punch it? Then you can tell me (if I'm stronger).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/why-don-t-you-bring-your-face-up-here-and-let-me-punch-it-then-you/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I'm known as The Big Baryshnikov.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-known-as-the-big-baryshnikov/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Enunciation, diction, all that stuff. None of that is in my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/enunciation-diction-all-that-stuff-none-of-that-is-in-my-personality/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I told Leonard, in the immortal words of Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2, 'I'm going on vacation. If I tell you where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-told-leonard-in-the-immortal-words-of-tom-cruise-in-mission/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Stats don't matter. I care about winning, not stats. If I score 0 points and we win I'm happy. If I score 50, 60…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/stats-don-t-matter-i-care-about-winning-not-stats-if-i-score-0-points/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) [Explore all 422 Shaquille O'Neal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## 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 just said to myself, 'Damn, I'm a great player.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shaquille O'Neal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-just-said-to-myself-damn-i-m-a-great-player/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-just-said-to-myself-damn-i-m-a-great-player/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_i-just-said-to-myself-damn-i-m-a-great-p_2089985.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_i-just-said-to-myself-damn-i-m-a-great-p_2089985.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_i-just-said-to-myself-damn-i-m-a-great-p_2089985.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I just said to myself, 'Damn, I'm a great player.'” — Shaquille O'Neal", "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": "Shaquille O'Neal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I just said to myself, 'Damn,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-just-said-to-myself-damn-i-m-a-great-player/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-just-said-to-myself-damn-i-m-a-great-player/#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 } } ] } ```