--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I guess I was a decent basketball player…" description: "\"I guess I was a decent basketball player - pass first, pass second, shoot third... pretty good defensively.\" — Tom Izzo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/tom-izzo-4431_ball-player_i-guess-i-was-a-decent-basketball-player_2351965.png" --- # I guess I was a decent basketball player - pass first… ![“I guess I was a decent basketball player - pass first, pass second, shoot third... pretty good defensively.” quote by Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/tom-izzo-4431_ball-player_i-guess-i-was-a-decent-basketball-player_2351965.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/tom-izzo-4431_ball-player_i-guess-i-was-a-decent-basketball-player_2351965.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/tom-izzo-4431_ball-player_i-guess-i-was-a-decent-basketball-player_2351965.png) > “I guess I was a decent basketball player - pass first, pass second, shoot third... pretty good defensively.” [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes teamwork and defensive focus over individual scoring. **In simple terms:** Teamwork beats solo play. Key Takeaway Prioritize passing and defense. Themes teamwork defense humility Mood reflective pragmatic Type motivational sports When to use this quote - coaching - team drills - game planning Key Concepts basketball strategy role prioritization Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on defense improve overall performance? - What can you learn from putting the team first? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ball player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-player/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-player/) [Decent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent/) [Decent Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent-basketball-5188543/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Defensively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-defensively-260261/) [Pass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pass/) [Pretty good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty-good/) [Shoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoot/) ## Related quotes > [I play guitar, and I'm a decent basketball player - people like to play on my team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-pally/i-play-guitar-and-i-m-a-decent-basketball-player-people-like-to-play/) [Adam Pally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-pally/) > [It's easy to become a better basketball player but harder to become a better teammate or person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/it-s-easy-to-become-a-better-basketball-player-but-harder-to-become-a/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [I've got all these memories of guys just trying to get steals and not being very solid or very good defensively. They have all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-budenholzer/i-ve-got-all-these-memories-of-guys-just-trying-to-get-steals-and-not/) [Mike Budenholzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-budenholzer/) > [When you play teams that are good defensively and teams that have been there with experience, the object is to keep the goals against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-mccarty/when-you-play-teams-that-are-good-defensively-and-teams-that-have/) [Darren McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-mccarty/) > [If you want to be good defensively and go farther in this process, you've got to do certain things. So, I'm just taking great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/if-you-want-to-be-good-defensively-and-go-farther-in-this-process-you/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [The Italians are very strong defensively. They showed in Euro 2000 how good defensively they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hansen/the-italians-are-very-strong-defensively-they-showed-in-euro-2000-how/) [Alan Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hansen/) > [Alabama's a football state and you really don't get too many basketball players out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/alabama-s-a-football-state-and-you-really-don-t-get-too-many/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) > [Every little kid that steps on the court or the field has aspirations to go pro. I think being a pro basketball player is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/every-little-kid-that-steps-on-the-court-or-the-field-has-aspirations/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [Not only is Rip Hamilton an outstanding basketball player, he is also known for giving back to his community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gerlach/not-only-is-rip-hamilton-an-outstanding-basketball-player-he-is-also/) [Jim Gerlach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gerlach/) > [I'm not just here to get a paycheck and leave. I'm here to be one of the greatest basketball players to ever play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/i-m-not-just-here-to-get-a-paycheck-and-leave-i-m-here-to-be-one-of/) [Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/) > [A lot of scouts and people are enamored with athleticism and youth. So they take that any day over mature, high-quality basketball players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/a-lot-of-scouts-and-people-are-enamored-with-athleticism-and-youth-so/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [I'm a basketball player, so I want to do whatever I've got to do to be on the floor and I'm prepared for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrese-haliburton/i-m-a-basketball-player-so-i-want-to-do-whatever-i-ve-got-to-do-to-be/) [Tyrese Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrese-haliburton/) > [My older brothers were both basketball players so I just grew up around the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brook-lopez/my-older-brothers-were-both-basketball-players-so-i-just-grew-up/) [Brook Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brook-lopez/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Tom Izzo > [Time doesn't heal, time helps heal and learning helps heal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/time-doesn-t-heal-time-helps-heal-and-learning-helps-heal/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [I'm a pizza guy, so yes, I love cheese!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-m-a-pizza-guy-so-yes-i-love-cheese/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [In 2009 we were pretty good but North Carolina would have beaten some NBA teams that year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/in-2009-we-were-pretty-good-but-north-carolina-would-have-beaten-some/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [I'm pleased to say I am here for life at Michigan State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-m-pleased-to-say-i-am-here-for-life-at-michigan-state/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [There's efforts to win games and there's efforts to win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/there-s-efforts-to-win-games-and-there-s-efforts-to-win-championships/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [Words can't truly express what Mike Garland means to me. 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Some are the partying type, some are the studying type, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/it-s-not-my-job-to-judge-one-of-my-athletes-everybody-is-different/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [No comment always means you're hiding something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/no-comment-always-means-you-re-hiding-something/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [I feel like I spend a lot of time in the inner cities and around different people, and always felt like I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-feel-like-i-spend-a-lot-of-time-in-the-inner-cities-and-around/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [I just think there's something about being in the Olympics, even though I think it's been tarnished a little bit by commercialization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-just-think-there-s-something-about-being-in-the-olympics-even/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [I think we all are coaches in our own respect because we have to try to figure out a way to help make people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-think-we-all-are-coaches-in-our-own-respect-because-we-have-to-try/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) [Explore all 111 Tom Izzo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) ## More Ball player quotes > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [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 have friends in other industries but if I am training for a wrestling match, I would turn to the best wrestler to train,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-aries/i-have-friends-in-other-industries-but-if-i-am-training-for-a/) [Austin Aries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-aries/) > [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 competed every day as a professional football player... You've got to like competing. That's how your team gets better, when you have competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-competed-every-day-as-a-professional-football-player-you-ve-got-to/) [Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/) > [“I can’t wait to knock you up and have a whole team of little baseball players around this place!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sterling/i-can-t-wait-to-knock-you-up-and-have-a-whole-team-of-little-baseball/) [J. Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sterling/) > [MOST AMAZING FOOTBALL PLAYER IN THE ENTIRE WORLD && IN REAL MADRID](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-amazing-football-player-in-the-entire-world-in-real-madrid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My older brothers were both basketball players so I just grew up around the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brook-lopez/my-older-brothers-were-both-basketball-players-so-i-just-grew-up/) [Brook Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brook-lopez/) > [I'm a basketball player, so I want to do whatever I've got to do to be on the floor and I'm prepared for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrese-haliburton/i-m-a-basketball-player-so-i-want-to-do-whatever-i-ve-got-to-do-to-be/) [Tyrese Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrese-haliburton/) > [“Seeing yourself in print is such an amazing concept: you can get so much attention without having to actually show up somewhere. 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Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-a-country-whose-main-exports-are-hockey-players-and-cold/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [“The great thing about baseball players, from the point of view of personal hygiene, is how seldom they break a sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-great-thing-about-baseball-players-from-the-point-of-view-of/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [A lot of scouts and people are enamored with athleticism and youth. So they take that any day over mature, high-quality basketball players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/a-lot-of-scouts-and-people-are-enamored-with-athleticism-and-youth-so/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [I'm a baseball player. I've done this my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/i-m-a-baseball-player-i-ve-done-this-my-whole-life/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) [Browse all 1,395 Ball player quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-player/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I guess I was a decent basketball player - pass first, pass second, shoot third... pretty good defensively.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Izzo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-guess-i-was-a-decent-basketball-player-pass-first-pass-second-shoot/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ball player" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-guess-i-was-a-decent-basketball-player-pass-first-pass-second-shoot/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/tom-izzo-4431_ball-player_i-guess-i-was-a-decent-basketball-player_2351965.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/tom-izzo-4431_ball-player_i-guess-i-was-a-decent-basketball-player_2351965.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/tom-izzo-4431_ball-player_i-guess-i-was-a-decent-basketball-player_2351965.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I guess I was a decent basketball player - pass first, pass second, shoot third... pretty good defensively.” — Tom Izzo", "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": "Tom Izzo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I guess I was a decent...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-guess-i-was-a-decent-basketball-player-pass-first-pass-second-shoot/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-guess-i-was-a-decent-basketball-player-pass-first-pass-second-shoot/#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 } } ] } ```