--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can play three positions - five in…" description: "\"I can play three positions - five in college - but realistically three in the NBA.\" — Willie Cauley-Stein" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/willie-cauley-stein-6291_college_i-can-play-three-positions-five-in-colle_2087294.jpg" --- # I can play three positions - five in college - but… ![“I can play three positions - five in college - but realistically three in the NBA.” quote by Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/willie-cauley-stein-6291_college_i-can-play-three-positions-five-in-colle_2087294.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/willie-cauley-stein-6291_college_i-can-play-three-positions-five-in-colle_2087294.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/willie-cauley-stein-6291_college_i-can-play-three-positions-five-in-colle_2087294.jpg) > “I can play three positions - five in college - but realistically three in the NBA.” [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Versatility in basketball is valuable, but specialization is needed at the highest level. **In simple terms:** Being versatile helps, but NBA requires specialization. Key Takeaway Focus on mastering a primary position for pro success. Themes sports versatility specialization Mood determined pragmatic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - NBA drafts - team strategy - training programs - coaching decisions Key Concepts athletics career development Questions to Reflect On - Which position suits you best? - How can you maintain versatility while specializing? A Different Perspective Specializing may limit overall skill set. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [NBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [It's good that I can play in two positions, as a centre-back or as a holding midfielder, as I just want to get minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/it-s-good-that-i-can-play-in-two-positions-as-a-centre-back-or-as-a/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) > [A midfielder should be able to play several positions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/a-midfielder-should-be-able-to-play-several-positions/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [It is good if you can play in as many positions as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-foden/it-is-good-if-you-can-play-in-as-many-positions-as-possible/) [Phil Foden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-foden/) > [I'll play all five positions if my team needs me to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-ll-play-all-five-positions-if-my-team-needs-me-to/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [Most players, particularly in today's game that have specialized skill sets that play positions like receiver, they don't play every down - they're like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/most-players-particularly-in-today-s-game-that-have-specialized-skill/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [I like to be versatile and I can also play in other positions. But I probably would say I do enjoy playing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-smith-rowe/i-like-to-be-versatile-and-i-can-also-play-in-other-positions-but-i/) [Emile Smith Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-smith-rowe/) > [People were always saying how modern players need to be able to play in two or three positions, and those words stuck in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casemiro/people-were-always-saying-how-modern-players-need-to-be-able-to-play/) [Casemiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casemiro/) > [Anyone who wishes to learn how to play chess well must make himself or herself thoroughly conversant with the play in positions where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/anyone-who-wishes-to-learn-how-to-play-chess-well-must-make-himself/) [Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/) > [If you're versatile, you can play many positions. You just got to go out there and perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bennett/if-you-re-versatile-you-can-play-many-positions-you-just-got-to-go/) [Anthony Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bennett/) > [I just want to be playing! I love to play. But I think I can play in the three positions behind the striker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-mata/i-just-want-to-be-playing-i-love-to-play-but-i-think-i-can-play-in/) [Juan Mata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-mata/) > [Being able to guard the pick and roll makes you a high asset in the NBA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/being-able-to-guard-the-pick-and-roll-makes-you-a-high-asset-in-the/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [I can play No. 9, 10, 7 and 11 - I can play different positions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelechi-iheanacho/i-can-play-no-9-10-7-and-11-i-can-play-different-positions/) [Kelechi Iheanacho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelechi-iheanacho/) > [When I was at UCF, I played a lot of different positions, so I don't feel uncomfortable moving around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/when-i-was-at-ucf-i-played-a-lot-of-different-positions-so-i-don-t/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [I take care of my positions when they come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermell-charlo/i-take-care-of-my-positions-when-they-come/) [Jermell Charlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermell-charlo/) > [What we prefer to do is operate our investment bank in a way that is like what investment banks used to be, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-stephens/what-we-prefer-to-do-is-operate-our-investment-bank-in-a-way-that-is/) [Warren Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-stephens/) ## More by Willie Cauley-Stein > [I wish I still had all of my old schoolwork. I'd just have all the sketches around the schoolwork, and none of the schoolwork…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-wish-i-still-had-all-of-my-old-schoolwork-i-d-just-have-all-the/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [I'm just trying to win something... I play with a chip on my shoulder, a real passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-m-just-trying-to-win-something-i-play-with-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-a/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [I love the game, but I'm not going to play the game for the rest of my life, so you need something else you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-love-the-game-but-i-m-not-going-to-play-the-game-for-the-rest-of-my/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [I got some skills I can build on; I can be an all-around player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-got-some-skills-i-can-build-on-i-can-be-an-all-around-player/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. You know what you've done and what you've been through to get to where you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/it-doesn-t-matter-what-anyone-else-thinks-you-know-what-you-ve-done/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [You got to be interested in other things. If you focus on one thing, you're going to eventually - like, you're going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/you-got-to-be-interested-in-other-things-if-you-focus-on-one-thing/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [You hoop with a certain expression. That's your art. You've crafted it, so it is your art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/you-hoop-with-a-certain-expression-that-s-your-art-you-ve-crafted-it/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [I'm athletic enough to do guard stuff, so if you were to mold me into having guard moves and footwork in a big's body,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-m-athletic-enough-to-do-guard-stuff-so-if-you-were-to-mold-me-into/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [Being able to guard the pick and roll makes you a high asset in the NBA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/being-able-to-guard-the-pick-and-roll-makes-you-a-high-asset-in-the/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [I'm not your average athlete. I'm good at other things. I'm not just a basketball player. I'm multi-talented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-m-not-your-average-athlete-i-m-good-at-other-things-i-m-not-just-a/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [I don't really care about my game, honestly. I just want to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-don-t-really-care-about-my-game-honestly-i-just-want-to-win/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [I'm trying to be a franchise player one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-m-trying-to-be-a-franchise-player-one-day/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [Every game is a playoff game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/every-game-is-a-playoff-game/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [The chip comes from people saying I'm not good enough, or I can't score, or I'm not a real basketball player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/the-chip-comes-from-people-saying-i-m-not-good-enough-or-i-can-t/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [I used to be super self-conscious about my height. I mean, going everywhere and someone just looking at you - you're never not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-used-to-be-super-self-conscious-about-my-height-i-mean-going/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) [Explore all 98 Willie Cauley-Stein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) ## More College quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/) [Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/) > [I was totally sober in college and really, really focused. I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/) [K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/) > [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) [Browse all 7,391 College quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can play three positions - five in college - but realistically three in the NBA.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Willie Cauley-Stein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-can-play-three-positions-five-in-college-but-realistically-three-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "College" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-can-play-three-positions-five-in-college-but-realistically-three-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/willie-cauley-stein-6291_college_i-can-play-three-positions-five-in-colle_2087294.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/willie-cauley-stein-6291_college_i-can-play-three-positions-five-in-colle_2087294.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/willie-cauley-stein-6291_college_i-can-play-three-positions-five-in-colle_2087294.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can play three positions - five in college - but realistically three in the NBA.” — Willie Cauley-Stein", "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": "Willie Cauley-Stein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can play three positions -...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-can-play-three-positions-five-in-college-but-realistically-three-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/i-can-play-three-positions-five-in-college-but-realistically-three-in/#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 } } ] } ```