--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since I started playing basketball, I had…" description: "\"Since I started playing basketball, I had goals. I was going to do everything step by step. I'm proving it, my basketball is getting better.\" — Zaza Pa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/zaza-pachulia-5705_basketball_since-i-started-playing-basketball-i-had_1549586.jpg" --- # Since I started playing basketball, I had goals. I was… ![“Since I started playing basketball, I had goals. I was going to do everything step by step. I'm proving it, my basketball is getting better.” quote by Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/zaza-pachulia-5705_basketball_since-i-started-playing-basketball-i-had_1549586.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/zaza-pachulia-5705_basketball_since-i-started-playing-basketball-i-had_1549586.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/zaza-pachulia-5705_basketball_since-i-started-playing-basketball-i-had_1549586.jpg) > “Since I started playing basketball, I had goals. I was going to do everything step by step. I'm proving it, my basketball is getting better.” [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Setting incremental goals and consistent effort leads to measurable improvement. **In simple terms:** Step by step improves skill. Key Takeaway Break goals into steps. Themes sports goal setting progress Mood motivational determined Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - training routines - skill development - performance tracking Key Concepts incremental improvement discipline Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take today? - How will you track progress? A Different Perspective Patience is required for results. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Getting better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-better/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Playing basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-basketball/) [Step By Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step-by-step/) ## Related quotes > [I am sure that no man can derive more pleasure from money or power than I do from seeing a pair of basketball goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-naismith/i-am-sure-that-no-man-can-derive-more-pleasure-from-money-or-power/) [James Naismith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-naismith/) > [I know people know how good I am playing basketball... All I do is just use it as motivation: keep getting better, keep doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/i-know-people-know-how-good-i-am-playing-basketball-all-i-do-is-just/) [John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/) > [I have the highest goals for myself. That's going out there and being the best player on the floor every time. That's my mentality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-lavine/i-have-the-highest-goals-for-myself-that-s-going-out-there-and-being/) [Zach LaVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-lavine/) > [I don't think too much about how many goals I'm going to target. I work really hard and prepare really well for the season…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/i-don-t-think-too-much-about-how-many-goals-i-m-going-to-target-i/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [If I focus on the short-term goals, then the long-term goals are going to be in my favor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-dunn/if-i-focus-on-the-short-term-goals-then-the-long-term-goals-are-going/) [Crystal Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-dunn/) > [I just try to do day to day. I'm really bad like that. People get annoyed with me for not thinking far enough in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imogen-heap/i-just-try-to-do-day-to-day-i-m-really-bad-like-that-people-get/) [Imogen Heap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imogen-heap/) > [“Someone said that our goals keep us going, but it's our dreams that make us tick. So if you disconnect your goals from your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-n-kuili/someone-said-that-our-goals-keep-us-going-but-it-s-our-dreams-that/) Ray N. Kuili > [There are plenty of massive fights out there for me, I know that, but the goals always going to become world champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-groves/there-are-plenty-of-massive-fights-out-there-for-me-i-know-that-but/) [George Groves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-groves/) > [I want to stop goals going in the net.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jones/i-want-to-stop-goals-going-in-the-net/) [Phil Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jones/) > [Obviously if somebody scores 17 goals, you're not going to argue with him if he wants to take penalties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfried-zaha/obviously-if-somebody-scores-17-goals-you-re-not-going-to-argue-with/) [Wilfried Zaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfried-zaha/) > [You have to dream big, wish hard and chase after your goals, because no one is going to do it for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cee-lo-green/you-have-to-dream-big-wish-hard-and-chase-after-your-goals-because-no/) [Cee Lo Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cee-lo-green/) > [Some goals are not going to fulfill you. Choose goals that you value and care about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/some-goals-are-not-going-to-fulfill-you-choose-goals-that-you-value/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [I never say how many goals I'm going to score. My intention is to be happy and make sure that people around me are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/i-never-say-how-many-goals-i-m-going-to-score-my-intention-is-to-be/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [Optimism is important. You have to be a little silly about the goals you are going to set. There is a phrase I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-page/optimism-is-important-you-have-to-be-a-little-silly-about-the-goals/) [Larry Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-page/) > [I know that I've been making long field goals, and we're going to try long field goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-janikowski/i-know-that-i-ve-been-making-long-field-goals-and-we-re-going-to-try/) [Sebastian Janikowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-janikowski/) ## More by Zaza Pachulia > [Education is such an important tool for success, and probably the most important one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/education-is-such-an-important-tool-for-success-and-probably-the-most/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [Losing my dad made me more mature. Being an only child, I didn't have the right to act childish. I had to step up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/losing-my-dad-made-me-more-mature-being-an-only-child-i-didn-t-have/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [I'm not a dirty player. I love this game, and I'm playing hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/i-m-not-a-dirty-player-i-love-this-game-and-i-m-playing-hard/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [You might not be funny, but don't force it. Just be authentic because people are going to always appreciate that more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/you-might-not-be-funny-but-don-t-force-it-just-be-authentic-because/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [Nothing is easy, but it's definitely great to have a guy who can shoot from anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/nothing-is-easy-but-it-s-definitely-great-to-have-a-guy-who-can-shoot/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [Obviously, the hotel is related to my name, so my mom makes sure the staff, the service, the cleaning part of it is 100…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/obviously-the-hotel-is-related-to-my-name-so-my-mom-makes-sure-the/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [The little things are what get you to the next level. I believe in the little things. The screens you don't see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/the-little-things-are-what-get-you-to-the-next-level-i-believe-in-the/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [There's a lot of hating on social media - and I'm not the only one, I'm 100 percent sure. Pick the best player possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/there-s-a-lot-of-hating-on-social-media-and-i-m-not-the-only-one-i-m/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [You can't please everybody, right? Some people are supporters. Some people are against you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/you-can-t-please-everybody-right-some-people-are-supporters-some/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [This is the game of basketball. A lot of crazy stuff happens on the court, unfortunately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/this-is-the-game-of-basketball-a-lot-of-crazy-stuff-happens-on-the/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [After the season I always go back to my country and try to make the kids happy. That's the best feeling for me, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/after-the-season-i-always-go-back-to-my-country-and-try-to-make-the/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [My skin got thicker. I don't listen to stuff from outside or even if I hear or if I read something, I just let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/my-skin-got-thicker-i-don-t-listen-to-stuff-from-outside-or-even-if-i/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [I'm not trying to be dirty. I'm out there to play basketball and not fight. But if it comes to the situation, one thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/i-m-not-trying-to-be-dirty-i-m-out-there-to-play-basketball-and-not/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [His work ethic is insane. We all know Steph Curry on the court, making a lot of spectacular plays, shooting 3s from anywhere, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/his-work-ethic-is-insane-we-all-know-steph-curry-on-the-court-making/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [The best part of my career has been the relationships with the fans and the kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/the-best-part-of-my-career-has-been-the-relationships-with-the-fans/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) [Explore all 100 Zaza Pachulia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) ## 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": "Since I started playing basketball, I had goals. 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