--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I came into the NBA not looking at it as…" description: "\"I came into the NBA not looking at it as a job but the same way I did when I was playing at the Y. I was just getting a paid a lot of money to do it, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/stephen-jackson-7238_football_i-came-into-the-nba-not-looking-at-it-as_410021.jpg" --- # I came into the NBA not looking at it as a job but the… ![“I came into the NBA not looking at it as a job but the same way I did when I was playing at the Y. I was just getting a paid a lot of money to do it, that's all.” quote by Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/stephen-jackson-7238_football_i-came-into-the-nba-not-looking-at-it-as_410021.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/stephen-jackson-7238_football_i-came-into-the-nba-not-looking-at-it-as_410021.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/stephen-jackson-7238_football_i-came-into-the-nba-not-looking-at-it-as_410021.jpg) > “I came into the NBA not looking at it as a job but the same way I did when I was playing at the Y. I was just getting a paid a lot of money to do it, that's all.” [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He treated his NBA career like a passion, not just a job, focusing on love for the game. **In simple terms:** He played for love, not just money. Key Takeaway Play for passion, not just paycheck. Themes sports motivation career passion Mood reflective determined Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - team meetings - personal reflection - career decisions Key Concepts intrinsic motivation athlete mindset professionalism Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep love for a job alive? - What risks arise when treating work as a hobby? A Different Perspective May overlook financial planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Came Nba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/came-nba-530157/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Getting Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-paid/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [NBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba/) [Nba Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba-looking-2728841/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Paid Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid-lot-519648/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [The NBA is always looking for tough kids who aren't afraid of the moment or the guy they're playing against.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmer-fredette/the-nba-is-always-looking-for-tough-kids-who-aren-t-afraid-of-the/) [Jimmer Fredette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmer-fredette/) > [People love to say we get paid a lot of money to play a game, but it stopped being a game when you start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-schilling/people-love-to-say-we-get-paid-a-lot-of-money-to-play-a-game-but-it/) [Curt Schilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-schilling/) > [OK, my funniest tech I ever got in the NBA was for looking at a ref.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-wallace/ok-my-funniest-tech-i-ever-got-in-the-nba-was-for-looking-at-a-ref/) [Rasheed Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-wallace/) > [I'm blessed. I'm going to get to do something I love to do and get paid a lot of money for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/i-m-blessed-i-m-going-to-get-to-do-something-i-love-to-do-and-get/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [That's the first band I ever played in that was working and I was getting paid for it. I was 12. The other guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gatton/that-s-the-first-band-i-ever-played-in-that-was-working-and-i-was/) [Danny Gatton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-gatton/) > [If any one of my players isn’t interfering with play, they’re not getting paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-clough/if-any-one-of-my-players-isn-t-interfering-with-play-they-re-not/) [Brian Clough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-clough/) > [It's unbelievable really. For something that started off as a hobby, I ended up getting paid for doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-hatton/it-s-unbelievable-really-for-something-that-started-off-as-a-hobby-i/) [Ricky Hatton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-hatton/) > [I don't know what's better: getting laid or getting paid. I just know when I'm getting one, the other's getting away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-don-t-know-what-s-better-getting-laid-or-getting-paid-i-just-know/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [If the players aren't getting paid, there's something terribly, terribly wrong, and that's true only in the United States. Everywhere else, where money is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/if-the-players-aren-t-getting-paid-there-s-something-terribly/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [As long as you are getting to do what you love and getting paid to do it, it's the best feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-sharma/as-long-as-you-are-getting-to-do-what-you-love-and-getting-paid-to-do/) [Varun Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-sharma/) > [I've been playing football all my life and I wasn't getting paid for it when I was younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-carroll/i-ve-been-playing-football-all-my-life-and-i-wasn-t-getting-paid-for/) [Andy Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-carroll/) > [Everybody, every tradesman that worked for Shafin or built my house got fully paid, well paid. Everybody got paid. I would like that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/everybody-every-tradesman-that-worked-for-shafin-or-built-my-house/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [I don't think people understand when you say you are making a micro-budget film that you are getting paid no money,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-winstead/i-don-t-think-people-understand-when-you-say-you-are-making-a-micro/) [Mary Elizabeth Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-winstead/) > [I don't like to cry in public, unless I'm getting paid for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-martin/i-don-t-like-to-cry-in-public-unless-i-m-getting-paid-for-it/) [Andrea Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-martin/) > [“And...how much are we getting paid for achieving the impossible?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/and-how-much-are-we-getting-paid-for-achieving-the-impossible/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) ## More by Stephen Jackson > [I wasn't the greatest at school, so I studied basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/i-wasn-t-the-greatest-at-school-so-i-studied-basketball/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [I'm not stupid. I mean, I didn't go to college but I've got a lot of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/i-m-not-stupid-i-mean-i-didn-t-go-to-college-but-i-ve-got-a-lot-of/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [My reputation is the main reason why a lot of things don't go my way on the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/my-reputation-is-the-main-reason-why-a-lot-of-things-don-t-go-my-way/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [First, I don't talk to Derek Fisher. He's not my type of guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/first-i-don-t-talk-to-derek-fisher-he-s-not-my-type-of-guy/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [Before 2 Chainz got big, he used to sleep on my couch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/before-2-chainz-got-big-he-used-to-sleep-on-my-couch/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [It's been kind of hard, I'm labeled as a jerk right now, you know what I mean? But I love it. I've been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/it-s-been-kind-of-hard-i-m-labeled-as-a-jerk-right-now-you-know-what/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [I had a taste of a championship in San Antonio, and that was big for me. I cried when we won, and I hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/i-had-a-taste-of-a-championship-in-san-antonio-and-that-was-big-for/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [I played quarterback, safety and receiver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/i-played-quarterback-safety-and-receiver/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [There's no time for being babies or being scared. If you're scared, go to church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/there-s-no-time-for-being-babies-or-being-scared-if-you-re-scared-go/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [You have to listen to the people who employ you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/you-have-to-listen-to-the-people-who-employ-you/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [I don't want to be fake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/i-don-t-want-to-be-fake/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [Responsibilities have weighed on me my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/responsibilities-have-weighed-on-me-my-whole-life/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [I love the fact that players have control of where they want to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/i-love-the-fact-that-players-have-control-of-where-they-want-to-play/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [Just because we make a lot of money we're supposed to be the bigger person? Fans tell us that our kids are ugly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/just-because-we-make-a-lot-of-money-we-re-supposed-to-be-the-bigger/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [I am going to be happy regardless where I am at as long as I am playing basketball with some guys that have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/i-am-going-to-be-happy-regardless-where-i-am-at-as-long-as-i-am/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) [Explore all 93 Stephen Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) [Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [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/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I came into the NBA not looking at it as a job but the same way I did when I was playing at the Y. 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