---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I'm done playing basketball, I want…"
description: "\"When I'm done playing basketball, I want do something bigger. I'm working on my doctorate right now at Barry University in Florida.\" — Shaquille O'Neal"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/shaquille-o-neal-659_barry_when-i-m-done-playing-basketball-i-want_1571940.jpg"
---

#  When I'm done playing basketball, I want do something…

![“When I'm done playing basketball, I want do something bigger. I'm working on my doctorate right now at Barry University in Florida.” quote by Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/shaquille-o-neal-659_barry_when-i-m-done-playing-basketball-i-want_1571940.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/shaquille-o-neal-659_barry_when-i-m-done-playing-basketball-i-want_1571940.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/shaquille-o-neal-659_barry_when-i-m-done-playing-basketball-i-want_1571940.jpg)

> “When I'm done playing basketball, I want do something bigger. I'm working on my doctorate right now at Barry University in Florida.”

[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.

He as to transition from sports to a larger impact through academia and research.

**In simple terms:** Aims for bigger goals beyond basketball.

Key Takeaway

Pursue education for broader influence.

Themes

ambition career transition education

Mood

determined hopeful

Type

inspirational personal

When to use this quote

- post‑sports career planning
- doctoral research
- community leadership

Key Concepts

personal growth legacy impact

Questions to Reflect On

- How will you define success beyond sports?
- What steps will you take to integrate your athletic experience into academia?

A Different Perspective

Balancing athletic identity with academic rigor can be challenging.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barry/) [Barry University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barry-university-5919181/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-want-818176/) [Bigger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigger/) [Doctorate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctorate/) [Doctorate Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctorate-right-5919183/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Florida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/florida/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-basketball/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working/) [Working Doctorate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-doctorate-5919182/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm done with the nicknames. Actually, when I obtain my doctorate, I will not allow people to call me Shaq anymore, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-done-with-the-nicknames-actually-when-i-obtain-my-doctorate-i/)

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> [It's one of those things where it's not something you want to do; nobody wants to retire from basketball. You want to play basketball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-wallace/it-s-one-of-those-things-where-it-s-not-something-you-want-to-do/)

[Ben Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-wallace/)

> [It was always my dream my dream to get to the NBA. I think anybody who starts playing basketball they want to get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-vucevic/it-was-always-my-dream-my-dream-to-get-to-the-nba-i-think-anybody-who/)

[Nikola Vucevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-vucevic/)

> [I think in college they give you a chance to really mature, form yourself and build relationships. I think that’s what a team is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabari-parker/i-think-in-college-they-give-you-a-chance-to-really-mature-form/)

[Jabari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabari-parker/)

> [I love the game of basketball. I want to get better, I want to improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-randle/i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-want-to-get-better-i-want-to-improve/)

[Julius Randle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-randle/)

> [I just feel like there's a lot of things more important than just basketball, and I love basketball. It's what I want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-brunson/i-just-feel-like-there-s-a-lot-of-things-more-important-than-just/)

[Jalen Brunson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-brunson/)

> [I need a hobby, and I don't want it to be basketball. I want it to be music. So to get away from music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-antonoff/i-need-a-hobby-and-i-don-t-want-it-to-be-basketball-i-want-it-to-be/)

[Jack Antonoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-antonoff/)

> [It's always good to have people from my school accomplish great things. It doesn't necessarily have to be just basketball. I want to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabari-parker/it-s-always-good-to-have-people-from-my-school-accomplish-great/)

[Jabari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabari-parker/)

> [You have so much fun playing games. We all love basketball, so we never want the season to end, 'cause then it's five months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-curry/you-have-so-much-fun-playing-games-we-all-love-basketball-so-we-never/)

[Stephen Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-curry/)

> [The thing in basketball is you always want to be free. I don't want to be hugged up to my guy. When we're body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/the-thing-in-basketball-is-you-always-want-to-be-free-i-don-t-want-to/)

[Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/)

> [You have no idea how over the moon my Egyptian father is that his son who has a BFA now has a doctorate. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-roumie/you-have-no-idea-how-over-the-moon-my-egyptian-father-is-that-his-son/)

[Jonathan Roumie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-roumie/)

> [“On her very first day, when she politely raised questions about Bernie’s health care plan—she has a master’s degree in public health and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/on-her-very-first-day-when-she-politely-raised-questions-about-bernie/)

[Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/)

> [I am not a Ph.D. in economics or a doctorate in literature that I can afford to take my singing lightly. Even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-kher/i-am-not-a-ph-d-in-economics-or-a-doctorate-in-literature-that-i-can/)

[Kailash Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-kher/)

## 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 Barry quotes

> [Barry is an incredible singer. He's even gotten better through the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-weil/barry-is-an-incredible-singer-he-s-even-gotten-better-through-the/)

[Cynthia Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-weil/)

> [I've seen few things more depressing than the end-of-season Giants-Padres series in 2001 in which Barry Bonds hit his 68th homer of the year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rodrick/i-ve-seen-few-things-more-depressing-than-the-end-of-season-giants/)

[Stephen Rodrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rodrick/)

> [“Stop it, Barry,” Joanie said. “Get ahold of yourself. This is just how we work.” I agreed. When she told Shelley I was useless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaui-hart-hemmings/stop-it-barry-joanie-said-get-ahold-of-yourself-this-is-just-how-we/)

[Kaui Hart Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaui-hart-hemmings/)

> [When I was 16, I'd ping pong between AC/DC and Barry Manilow without any sense of irony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/when-i-was-16-i-d-ping-pong-between-ac-dc-and-barry-manilow-without/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [I remember watching Barry Sanders highlights as a kid, and the Lions always being a fun team. I, personally, really never had a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ndamukong-suh/i-remember-watching-barry-sanders-highlights-as-a-kid-and-the-lions/)

[Ndamukong Suh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ndamukong-suh/)

> [We were ready to launch Barry White, but the record company wouldn't put it out. Said it wouldn't sell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-white/we-were-ready-to-launch-barry-white-but-the-record-company-wouldn-t/)

[Barry White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-white/)

> [Batman and the Flash have a whole lot in common behind the mask. They've both experienced loss, know forensic science, and are both a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-johns/batman-and-the-flash-have-a-whole-lot-in-common-behind-the-mask-they/)

[Geoff Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-johns/)

> [I'm very grateful to Barry Jenkins, who took a chance on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-layne/i-m-very-grateful-to-barry-jenkins-who-took-a-chance-on-me/)

[KiKi Layne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-layne/)

> [Barry White, Smokey Robinson and Curtis Mayfield are big influences for me. But I'm also a metal head. I was in a bunch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/barry-white-smokey-robinson-and-curtis-mayfield-are-big-influences/)

[Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/)

> [I'm the go-to guy for Mexican priests. I'm the new Barry Fitzgerald, except with a Mexican accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/i-m-the-go-to-guy-for-mexican-priests-i-m-the-new-barry-fitzgerald/)

[Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/)

> [As awkward as it sounds. I'm not Shane Larkin, Barry Larkin's son, anymore. It's Barry Larkin, the father of Shane Larkin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-larkin/as-awkward-as-it-sounds-i-m-not-shane-larkin-barry-larkin-s-son/)

[Shane Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-larkin/)

> [Barry Hearn has said there's no time for playboys, but I'm not a playboy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-trump/barry-hearn-has-said-there-s-no-time-for-playboys-but-i-m-not-a/)

[Judd Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-trump/)

> [HIL boasts of a high-class list of players and coaches like Ric Charlesworth, Barry Dancer, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandeep-singh/hil-boasts-of-a-high-class-list-of-players-and-coaches-like-ric/)

[Sandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandeep-singh/)

> [I try to do a variety of physical activities. I spin, take classes at Barry's Boot Camp, go to the gym, use home DVD's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-coppola/i-try-to-do-a-variety-of-physical-activities-i-spin-take-classes-at/)

[Alicia Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-coppola/)

> [And I got to play lead with Gene Barry - a fellow who has never, ever been hard on the eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-robinson/and-i-got-to-play-lead-with-gene-barry-a-fellow-who-has-never-ever/)

[Ann Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-robinson/)

[Browse all 44 Barry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barry/)

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