--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Playing in the NBA is more than just…" description: "\"Playing in the NBA is more than just tough competition. It is very difficult being away from my family when we're on the road. I'm always grateful to c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/shawn-bradley-5669_competition_playing-in-the-nba-is-more-than-just-tou_1838217.jpg" --- # Playing in the NBA is more than just tough competition. It… ![“Playing in the NBA is more than just tough competition. It is very difficult being away from my family when we're on the road. I'm always grateful to come home to them.” quote by Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/shawn-bradley-5669_competition_playing-in-the-nba-is-more-than-just-tou_1838217.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/shawn-bradley-5669_competition_playing-in-the-nba-is-more-than-just-tou_1838217.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/shawn-bradley-5669_competition_playing-in-the-nba-is-more-than-just-tou_1838217.jpg) > “Playing in the NBA is more than just tough competition. It is very difficult being away from my family when we're on the road. I'm always grateful to come home to them.” [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing a demanding professional sports career with family life creates emotional strain, but gratitude for reunions eases it. **In simple terms:** Professional sports cause family separation, but gratitude helps. Key Takeaway Cherish family time despite travel. Themes family career gratitude balance loneliness Mood reflective nostalgic Type personal motivational When to use this quote - away games - season travel - family visits - post‑game celebrations Key Concepts work‑life balance emotional resilience social support Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain connection while touring? - What rituals help you feel close at home? A Different Perspective Frequent travel can still lead to long‑term relationship strain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Tough competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough-competition/) ## Related quotes > [I met wonderful people playing in the NBA. Whether it is the officials, the scorekeepers, all the people who work for the NBA, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-met-wonderful-people-playing-in-the-nba-whether-it-is-the-officials/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [People always tell me the Premier League is a tough competition. Of course I know it is but I think they always said, 'you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakim-ziyech/people-always-tell-me-the-premier-league-is-a-tough-competition-of/) [Hakim Ziyech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakim-ziyech/) > [Battle... brings out all that is best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/battle-brings-out-all-that-is-best/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [The rewards are going to come, but my happiness is just loving the sport and having fun performing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/the-rewards-are-going-to-come-but-my-happiness-is-just-loving-the/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [People like Mangala, Kompany and Demichelis are very experienced and you know it's going to be tough competition competing for places with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-otamendi/people-like-mangala-kompany-and-demichelis-are-very-experienced-and/) [Nicolas Otamendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-otamendi/) > [To tell you the truth, if you're looking at rising pretty high, then you need to find a way of taking care of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-bhattacharya/to-tell-you-the-truth-if-you-re-looking-at-rising-pretty-high-then/) [Arundhati Bhattacharya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-bhattacharya/) > [I'm willing to face tough competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/i-m-willing-to-face-tough-competition/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [I always dreamed of playing the NBA, but along the way, the road got a little cloudy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-always-dreamed-of-playing-the-nba-but-along-the-way-the-road-got-a/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [One of the things that's difficult about the NBA is being away from the family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/one-of-the-things-that-s-difficult-about-the-nba-is-being-away-from/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [With the Premier League, you can afford to lose a couple here and there, but it's a tough competition, a cup competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-walker/with-the-premier-league-you-can-afford-to-lose-a-couple-here-and/) [Kyle Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-walker/) > [I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn't know how to get along without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-been-up-against-tough-competition-all-my-life-i-wouldn-t-know/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [My operating assumption is we will always have very tough competition. And even with some European banks struggling right now, some of them can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/my-operating-assumption-is-we-will-always-have-very-tough-competition/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [Consistent motivation usually comes from a consuming desire to be able to perform at your best under pressure, namely, the pressure produced by tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/consistent-motivation-usually-comes-from-a-consuming-desire-to-be/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [“Soon, droves of children start to show up, keeping us rather busy. We start tallying up the number of Trolls, Batmans, Lego men, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-quinn/soon-droves-of-children-start-to-show-up-keeping-us-rather-busy-we/) [Meghan Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-quinn/) > [The principle is competing against yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/the-principle-is-competing-against-yourself/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) ## More by Shawn Bradley > [Well, you know what, I was who I am and I'm not going to change that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/well-you-know-what-i-was-who-i-am-and-i-m-not-going-to-change-that/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [Basketball's not the only thing in my life. It shouldn't be in anyone's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/basketball-s-not-the-only-thing-in-my-life-it-shouldn-t-be-in-anyone/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [There are times when I've been struggling and I get down on myself and my game. I have to remind myself that I've loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/there-are-times-when-i-ve-been-struggling-and-i-get-down-on-myself/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [My first baby toy was a basketball and ever since, I've had a basketball in my hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/my-first-baby-toy-was-a-basketball-and-ever-since-i-ve-had-a/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [I love being who I am. And I would not trade it for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/i-love-being-who-i-am-and-i-would-not-trade-it-for-anything/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [I have had a very fun, positive experience in seminary. It's taught me a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/i-have-had-a-very-fun-positive-experience-in-seminary-it-s-taught-me/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [My goal is to be the best I can be for as long as I can, wherever I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/my-goal-is-to-be-the-best-i-can-be-for-as-long-as-i-can-wherever-i/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [I just plan on enjoying being tall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/i-just-plan-on-enjoying-being-tall/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [I have been tall a long time and learned to deal with it at a young age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/i-have-been-tall-a-long-time-and-learned-to-deal-with-it-at-a-young/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [The girl I took to the prom was 5-4. When we slow-danced, she stood on a chair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/the-girl-i-took-to-the-prom-was-5-4-when-we-slow-danced-she-stood-on/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [I started to think I could do just as much by playing basketball and setting a good sporting example than I could by going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/i-started-to-think-i-could-do-just-as-much-by-playing-basketball-and/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [I always felt as if force-feeding wasn't natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/i-always-felt-as-if-force-feeding-wasn-t-natural/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [I love being tall. I see guys who don't handle it so well, like that Dwayne Schintzius of Florida. I don't want to sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/i-love-being-tall-i-see-guys-who-don-t-handle-it-so-well-like-that/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [My mom makes my dress pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/my-mom-makes-my-dress-pants/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [Going to the draft, I took two years off to serve my church and my God. There were no secrets, there was no deception;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/going-to-the-draft-i-took-two-years-off-to-serve-my-church-and-my-god/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) [Explore all 99 Shawn Bradley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) ## More Competition quotes > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [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/) > [People think that the Club World Cup is an easy competition, but it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keylor-navas/people-think-that-the-club-world-cup-is-an-easy-competition-but-it-s/) [Keylor Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keylor-navas/) > [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. But I can tell you that my biggest competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-ask-another-competitor-they-may-tell-you-they-felt-very/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [“At times, competition can be a good thing. But a person's value isn't something that can be ranked, is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hotaru-odagiri/at-times-competition-can-be-a-good-thing-but-a-person-s-value-isn-t/) [Hotaru Odagiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hotaru-odagiri/) > [Our competition has always been anything that is wasting your time when you're bored at work. In a broad sense. We want people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/our-competition-has-always-been-anything-that-is-wasting-your-time/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [I've always considered making it legal for Americans to import their prescription drugs a free-trade issue. Imports create competition and keep domestic industry more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-grassley/i-ve-always-considered-making-it-legal-for-americans-to-import-their/) [Chuck Grassley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-grassley/) > [Honestly, we’ll compete with everybody. I love competition. As long as people invent their own stuff, I love competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/honestly-we-ll-compete-with-everybody-i-love-competition-as-long-as/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [The "health, education, and welfare" section of government is another boondoggle. First we manufacture indigent and superfluous people by legal monopolies in land, money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurance-labadie/the-health-education-and-welfare-section-of-government-is-another/) [Laurance Labadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurance-labadie/) > [I try to keep up with everything - all wrestling across the board. I want to know what the competition is doing, what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hardy/i-try-to-keep-up-with-everything-all-wrestling-across-the-board-i/) [Matt Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hardy/) > [Sometimes in England, people look down at the Europa League, but being from the continent, I've always realised what an important competition it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mignolet/sometimes-in-england-people-look-down-at-the-europa-league-but-being/) [Simon Mignolet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mignolet/) > [“There is a scene in one of the Rocky movies where after the match Apollo Creed and Rocky are waiting for the scoring of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-passaro/there-is-a-scene-in-one-of-the-rocky-movies-where-after-the-match/) [John A. Passaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-passaro/) > [I've always written. When I was in school, the only teacher who ever liked me was my creative writing teacher. I used to enter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-townes-earle/i-ve-always-written-when-i-was-in-school-the-only-teacher-who-ever/) [Justin Townes Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-townes-earle/) > [Competition between men is a fuel that's useful to us. We have to be careful that it doesn't tell the same story over too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-irwin/competition-between-men-is-a-fuel-that-s-useful-to-us-we-have-to-be/) [Bill Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-irwin/) [Browse all 3,894 Competition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Playing in the NBA is more than just tough competition. It is very difficult being away from my family when we're on the road. 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