--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was never the big leaper, the dunker…" description: "\"I was never the big leaper, the dunker, the long and athletic kid who looked the part of a traditional basketball star. Truth be told, I wasn't even co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/trae-young-14801_basketball_i-was-never-the-big-leaper-the-dunker-th_2562334.jpg" --- # I was never the big leaper, the dunker, the long and… ![“I was never the big leaper, the dunker, the long and athletic kid who looked the part of a traditional basketball star. Truth be told, I wasn't even considered a top guard coming out of my recruiting class.” quote by Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/trae-young-14801_basketball_i-was-never-the-big-leaper-the-dunker-th_2562334.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/trae-young-14801_basketball_i-was-never-the-big-leaper-the-dunker-th_2562334.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/trae-young-14801_basketball_i-was-never-the-big-leaper-the-dunker-th_2562334.jpg) > “I was never the big leaper, the dunker, the long and athletic kid who looked the part of a traditional basketball star. Truth be told, I wasn't even considered a top guard coming out of my recruiting class.” [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acknowledges his physical limitations but emphasizes skill, work ethic, and determination over innate talent. **In simple terms:** Hard work beats natural ability. Key Takeaway Focus on effort, not size. Themes determination skill hard work self‑belief Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - high school basketball - college recruiting - NBA draft preparation - training routines Key Concepts growth mindset resilience skill development Questions to Reflect On - How can you leverage your strengths despite perceived limitations? - What habits can you develop to compensate for physical gaps? A Different Perspective Physical size alone doesn't guarantee success; talent must be cultivated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Considered Guard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considered-guard-1617341/) [Dunker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dunker-529498/) [Dunker Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dunker-long-1617339/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Leaper Dunker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaper-dunker-1617338/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Recruiting Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recruiting-class-1617340/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“Any position you find yourself in can be considered a guard if you understand its tactical and technical properties. Slavishly copying a position from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-windsor/any-position-you-find-yourself-in-can-be-considered-a-guard-if-you/) [Guy Windsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-windsor/) > [All these freshmen have come in here and worked hard from the beginning. I can't say enough good things about them. They were the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-bregman/all-these-freshmen-have-come-in-here-and-worked-hard-from-the/) [Alex Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-bregman/) > [If my opponent wants to think of me as a dunker, it's just gonna shock them more when I show them another part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zion-williamson/if-my-opponent-wants-to-think-of-me-as-a-dunker-it-s-just-gonna-shock/) [Zion Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zion-williamson/) > [I was a power dunker. I want to go straight up, put it down on somebody. I want everybody under there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/i-was-a-power-dunker-i-want-to-go-straight-up-put-it-down-on-somebody/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [My dad was an absolute dunker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/my-dad-was-an-absolute-dunker/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [I pride myself on definitely being more than a dunker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-lavine/i-pride-myself-on-definitely-being-more-than-a-dunker/) [Zach LaVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-lavine/) > [I've been a dunker for longer than I've been a basketball player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/i-ve-been-a-dunker-for-longer-than-i-ve-been-a-basketball-player/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [I knew I wasn't going to be a dunker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khris-middleton/i-knew-i-wasn-t-going-to-be-a-dunker/) [Khris Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khris-middleton/) > [I like Kevin Durant because he can score in so many ways, and Blake Griffin because he's an unbelievable dunker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-bagley-iii/i-like-kevin-durant-because-he-can-score-in-so-many-ways-and-blake/) [Marvin Bagley III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-bagley-iii/) > [I'm too athletic to play the dunker role at center.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-m-too-athletic-to-play-the-dunker-role-at-center/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [I'm a huge dunker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-collins/i-m-a-huge-dunker/) [John Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-collins/) > [The history behind the Garden and all the players that have come through and played on that court in the Garden, I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/the-history-behind-the-garden-and-all-the-players-that-have-come/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [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 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/) > [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/) ## More by Trae Young > [The history behind the Garden and all the players that have come through and played on that court in the Garden, I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/the-history-behind-the-garden-and-all-the-players-that-have-come/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [That's what my mindset is, making the right play and doing the right thing each and every possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/that-s-what-my-mindset-is-making-the-right-play-and-doing-the-right/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [I know what I need to work on, and I know what I need to prove and to show, and that's all that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/i-know-what-i-need-to-work-on-and-i-know-what-i-need-to-prove-and-to/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [If you ask the guys I played with when I was little, they'll all tell you the same thing. All I did was catch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/if-you-ask-the-guys-i-played-with-when-i-was-little-they-ll-all-tell/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [One of my dreams was being called a 'Diaper Dandy' by Dick Vitale. He calls me that all the time now. It's surreal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/one-of-my-dreams-was-being-called-a-diaper-dandy-by-dick-vitale-he/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [Who wouldn't want to be compared to a guy like Steph Curry?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/who-wouldn-t-want-to-be-compared-to-a-guy-like-steph-curry/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [I remember me being that kid growing up. Me being the kid that grew up going to games and being a ball boy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/i-remember-me-being-that-kid-growing-up-me-being-the-kid-that-grew-up/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [I would love playing with a guy like Porzingis who can score, stretch the floor, who can do a lot, a lot of different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/i-would-love-playing-with-a-guy-like-porzingis-who-can-score-stretch/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [I'm actually enjoying attention. Who wouldn't?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/i-m-actually-enjoying-attention-who-wouldn-t/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [When you're around somebody all the time, you butt heads every now and then. That's what happens in every family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/when-you-re-around-somebody-all-the-time-you-butt-heads-every-now-and/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [If I'm able to get drafted by the New York Knicks, it would be a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/if-i-m-able-to-get-drafted-by-the-new-york-knicks-it-would-be-a/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [People keep asking me if I feel pressure. But I don't feel pressure. I realize there's a lot on my plate, a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/people-keep-asking-me-if-i-feel-pressure-but-i-don-t-feel-pressure-i/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [I bring immediate impact off the court as much as I do on the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/i-bring-immediate-impact-off-the-court-as-much-as-i-do-on-the-court/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [I bring a lot to a team. I bring immediate impact. As far as my skillset, I can attack defenders in multiple ways and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/i-bring-a-lot-to-a-team-i-bring-immediate-impact-as-far-as-my/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) > [I'm light-skinned. I'm mixed with black and white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/i-m-light-skinned-i-m-mixed-with-black-and-white/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) [Explore all 45 Trae Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) ## 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": "I was never the big leaper, the dunker, the long and athletic kid who looked the part of a traditional basketball star. 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