--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The day I stopped worrying about stats is…" description: "\"The day I stopped worrying about stats is the day I started winning\" — Shaquille O'Neal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_the-day-i-stopped-worrying-about-stats-i_1076961.jpg" --- # The day I stopped worrying about stats is the day I… ![“The day I stopped worrying about stats is the day I started winning” quote by Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_the-day-i-stopped-worrying-about-stats-i_1076961.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_the-day-i-stopped-worrying-about-stats-i_1076961.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_the-day-i-stopped-worrying-about-stats-i_1076961.jpg) > “The day I stopped worrying about stats is the day I started winning” [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. Letting go of obsessing over statistics frees you to perform better. **In simple terms:** Stop over‑analyzing stats to win. Key Takeaway Focus on play, not numbers. Themes performance mindset statistics Mood reflective motivational Type sports self‑help When to use this quote - basketball games - training sessions - career decisions - business metrics Key Concepts sports psychology competition Questions to Reflect On - When have stats helped you improve? - How do you balance data with intuition? A Different Perspective Data can be useful; abandoning it completely may blind you. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [NBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [I was very much a student of the sport. I wanted to know everything, all the moves. It was the coolest thing I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-zingano/i-was-very-much-a-student-of-the-sport-i-wanted-to-know-everything/) [Cat Zingano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-zingano/) > [One day I started cheating. After that, I started winning everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-barrett/one-day-i-started-cheating-after-that-i-started-winning-everything/) [Wade Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-barrett/) > [All of a sudden, I started winning races. I was the king of Arizona.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-baffert/all-of-a-sudden-i-started-winning-races-i-was-the-king-of-arizona/) [Bob Baffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-baffert/) > [Tell Yao Ming, Ching chong-yang-wah-ah-soh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/tell-yao-ming-ching-chong-yang-wah-ah-soh/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [The Spurs are a great WNBA team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/the-spurs-are-a-great-wnba-team/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's hard being the NBA's sex symbol, but somebody has to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/it-s-hard-being-the-nba-s-sex-symbol-but-somebody-has-to-do-it/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [No one was there. Some teammates, huh? I guess they didn't want to get their lip busted like the gentleman I busted. Sorry for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/no-one-was-there-some-teammates-huh-i-guess-they-didn-t-want-to-get/) [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/) > [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/) > [I've long stopped worrying about who invented whom - God man or man God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/i-ve-long-stopped-worrying-about-who-invented-whom-god-man-or-man-god/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“RVM's Thought for the Day - " I used to worry about my Fears , but I realized that most of the time nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/rvm-s-thought-for-the-day-i-used-to-worry-about-my-fears-but-i/) RVM > [I stopped worrying about competition in contemporary art. It feels a little bit more pure. That's where I am, one step back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-stopped-worrying-about-competition-in-contemporary-art-it-feels-a/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [Stopped worrying about things you can't control and take effective action on those things you can change keep in mind that No matter who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jsv/stopped-worrying-about-things-you-can-t-control-and-take-effective/) [JSV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jsv/) > [“again. He had crashed through the barrier. He had stopped worrying and started relaxing. He was up on that plateau where you just did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/again-he-had-crashed-through-the-barrier-he-had-stopped-worrying-and/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [Ever since I stopped worrying about finances, I've made more money than I ever thought I'd make in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/ever-since-i-stopped-worrying-about-finances-i-ve-made-more-money/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) ## 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": "The day I stopped worrying about stats is the day I started winning", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shaquille O'Neal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/the-day-i-stopped-worrying-about-stats-is-the-day-i-started-winning/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/the-day-i-stopped-worrying-about-stats-is-the-day-i-started-winning/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_the-day-i-stopped-worrying-about-stats-i_1076961.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_the-day-i-stopped-worrying-about-stats-i_1076961.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_the-day-i-stopped-worrying-about-stats-i_1076961.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The day I stopped worrying about stats is the day I started winning” — 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": "The day I stopped worrying about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/the-day-i-stopped-worrying-about-stats-is-the-day-i-started-winning/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/the-day-i-stopped-worrying-about-stats-is-the-day-i-started-winning/#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 } } ] } ```