Have you guys felt like quitting basketball?

[tgan3]

It just comes to a point where you realise you're not the best, you're good but not amongst the elites.

I've been playing bball for 10 years, i consider myself an great shooter, ballhandler with quickness and passing ability.

But then I realize, I can never be the best, not even amongst the elites or "pro level". im 5'9 barely touching rim. There are guys my height who are much stronger and can do crazy stuff like windmills and 360s. Then again, there are other guys who are even better shooters then me. They can make like a hundred freethrows in a row and like shoot 10 3's in a row like its nothing.

Its like something you consider life, but you aren't even a pro. So it's like you're not cut out for it.Its a bad feeling.

[griffmoney2084]

another michael jordan not playing for the love of the game. just out there to prove something

:roll:

[wang4three]

Sort of. I don't play as much as I'd like to. I don't have as much time as my work intensifies and my body has been beaten a lot over the years. I made the mistake of not really taking care of it since I graduated high school till pretty much last year. As a result, I have shoulders, back, and now ankle issues. Pretty much everytime I play my ankles get really sore afterwards and it hurts to walk for a week. I haven't played in months and it sucks. I love the game still, but at this point I have to be responsible to my body and it's not worth missing days at work cause I'm not mobile after playing.

[boozehound]

You will pretty much never be the best at anything you try in life. It doesnt mean you should quit trying, as long as you achieve satisfaction doing said activity.

Ill never be the best guitarist, or cook, or microscopist. But I can still be competent and have fun/success doing so.

[brwnman]

I quit for a year and a half before. Lost interest, health reasons, family reasons. Then I came back, somehow ended up getting a shot. Lost fluidity, and just basic playing instincts. I've been playing for 2 years since now, and love it more than ever. I don't care if I'm not the best player on the court, I play like I am, I believe I am. You just gotta keep improving. I'm 5'8(1/2), and I don't get anywhere near the rim, but I'm crafty, great court vision, quick and great body control, and most importantly, I'm smart, I know when and where to cut. So not only can I create for myself, but play off the ball when need be.

It's not about being a pro. I play ball as a hobby, not to go pro...

[tgan3]

You will pretty much never be the best at anything you try in life. It doesnt mean you should quit trying, as long as you achieve satisfaction doing said activity.


not the best, but if I could be close or something like this guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ_dUuxARmg

it'll be pretty good.

[mrhoopfan]

After my last bad ankle sprain................YES

[redhonda76]

I still play basketball but my best years had past long time. I'm 5'9, back when I was in my early 20s, I can grab rims, and crossover at will. Now that I'm 37, with bad knees and numerous sprained ankles, I'm more of a jump shooter now. I can barely grab the rim and can't get into the lanes like I used to. Now I know how Grant Hill felt like. I still play basketball and hopefully I can pass my knowledge and skills to my 2year old son when he gets older. I probably won't quit basketball but I still enjoyed playing it.

[wang4three]

Oh and to the point of realizing you're not the best.. That realization came to me after I started noticing that ROYs and #1 draft picks were 3-4 years younger than me, and now 7-8 years. I think Derrick Rose was the first guy to really hit how much older I became. After he was drafted, I was like "damn, he's only 19 and I'm 23. I haven't played organized basketball in 5 years. I was killing it with my legos when he was born." It's ok though, from there I just adopted that the game is fun and it's a good way to spend time with friends/get good cardio work in. I don't want to say my competitiveness died out, but it certainly has evolved.

I played at a park with a bunch of kids earlier this summer with my old high school friends. We played against some young HS kids there and even though they were all full of energy and endurance, we were able to beat them. It's not like we were that much bigger or athletically developed, but it was interesting to note that they were getting into each others faces for any blown layups, missed jump shots, missed rebounds, while we were just laughing and joking around as we played. I kept asking myself, do they even find the game fun when all they did was just get into each others faces and trash talk the entire game? What drove them to the sport if it just seems so frustrating? But I kinda think I was the same when I was younger. I do remember getting frustrated at teammates over pick up games and playing while injured (I was notoriously known for playing through any injury as a kid. My coaches always talked to my parents before they played me after an injury. I'd always lie and say I was fine.). Nowadays, things are lighter--I'm not willing to risk anything. Maybe you can say I'm settling to where I am as an "athlete" (and I use that term lightly), but I think the best way to approach any sport if you don't play professionally, is that it's fun and just a game. A fun way to exercise/get cardio, and possibly meet new people. I've must have played at least 1500 pick up games since high school, but I can probably only tell you maybe a handful of games I truly remember.

Just the way it as as you get older. Your life goals/focus changes and it's not all for the worst. Ok, I just went from semi-answering your question into a long, diverted tangent.

[hito da god]

i quit after i hurt my hip in my first year of college. it was at a try out for a JUCO team (that i feel i had a great chance at making) and i threw my pelvic alignment all out of wack. i just quit after that for about a year. after that i started working on my game again, quitting for another few months, and then deciding that i wanted to give it one last hoorah. now i'm leaving to a D-1 school (an actual college) for the first time and i will be trying out for a walk-on spot. i've been working on my game every day for six months now and i put on 15 lbs of muscle. i feel my skills and definitely bball IQ are at a D-1 level, but i might be a little underweight to play D-1 ball, even with the added muscle. we'll see what happens at try outs.

[B-Low]

I didn't really quit basketball. Life MADE me quit basketball. Since probably my junior year of college (back in 08) I've played basketball maybe 6-7 times. Between school, internships, graduation, work, friends working, friends moving, me moving, relationships etc...basketball didn't just take a backseat, it got left at home altogether. On the rare weekends that me and my friends are all in the same city and all off for a weekend we'll hit up a gym or playground and play a few games, but even then only maybe 1-2 of us are in good enough basketball shape to run a series of serious games. Usually just comes down to shooting/playing casual games while we joke around and talk. Unless some women are nearby, then you gotta kick it up a notch lol

[artificial]

You really are traumatized by height, right?


If the idea that you will (probably) never reach the NBA causes you too much pain, just quit. If you have the idea of either getting seriously into it or not play at all, maybe you gotta make a choice. If you really want to keep playing, I'm sure you'll eventually discover lots of paths you can't see at the moment.

It's just a matter of what you want to do, and what realistic goals you can set. In my case, basketball is not what I do for a living, nor has relationship with it. But I keep playing occasionally and I'm hooked to watching it, and that is a big part of me.

[joe]

Sort of off topic but I felt that exact same way with Halo 3. If you didn't know, there's actually a professional video game league called "MLG." I used to play all hours of the day day trying to go pro with Halo 3, MLG's flagship game. I was pretty good, but then I played against a few pros and semi-pros in random matchmaking and realized how miles ahead of me they were. I was good, better than anyone I knew by far... but they washed me up. And if they were on my team their stats would be 20x better than mine.

As far as basketball goes, I'm 5'6 and consider myself okay, but I only play pick-up games with my family and friends. But that Halo experience to me really mirrors exactly what you're talking about.

[Papaya Petee]

Actually, one game in my life made me quit basketball for over 2 months.

I got fouled tied game with 3 seconds left, and I missed both free throws. We ended up losing in overtime. I was so mad at myself I couldn't even look at the ball. It was the semi-finals of a JV basketball tournament. Luckily I came back this year and improved. I benched varsity as a sophomore, but who knows, maybe by my senior year I can be a 15 PPG scorer?

[rawimpact]

I quit when i got to college. I was never really that good, but still enjoyed it. I just didn't have time the first 2 years. By Junior year i was so bad i just gave up... no i just watch the game itself.

[talk at ya]

Even though I've always loved to watch basketball and I played when I was younger, I stopped playing at a young age to pursue swimming, and your feelings toward basketball sort of encompass what I felt about swimming. I mean I loved it, and having a good practice or dropping time or getting a cut was always such a rush. My senior year of High School was tough because I knew I wasn't good enough to swim at a D1 school, but I wanted to go to a big sports school (plus my major was only offered at bigger schools). I worked so hard that year hoping to drop a miraculous amount of time and maybe be just good enough to swim at a big school. Basically...that didn't happen, and I came to realize that I would never be an elite swimmer. Now I swim when I have access to a pool just because I love it, not because I'm trying to be the best.

I think with any sport you eventually come to that point when you wonder why you do it-no matter how good you are. Like others have said, if you're not a professional athlete, then there's no reason to play if you're not enjoying yourself.

[Ikill]

It just comes to a point where you realise you're not the best, you're good but not amongst the elites.

I've been playing bball for 10 years, i consider myself an great shooter, ballhandler with quickness and passing ability.

But then I realize, I can never be the best, not even amongst the elites or "pro level". im 5'9 barely touching rim. There are guys my height who are much stronger and can do crazy stuff like windmills and 360s. Then again, there are other guys who are even better shooters then me. They can make like a hundred freethrows in a row and like shoot 10 3's in a row like its nothing.

Its like something you consider life, but you aren't even a pro. So it's like you're not cut out for it.Its a bad feeling.
How old are you and are 5'9 with shoes

[Rake2204]

I've never felt like quitting basketball. I've thought about it, as in, "Will the day ever come where I really just cannot find any time ever to play?" but I try not to think about it too much. I've had high school, college, and work all come along but I make a point to find some time to play basketball.

I remember letting basketball take a backseat when I had my first long term girlfriend when I was 18. I was miserable and I decided basketball had to be there. It was my primary source of exercise if nothing else. As that primary exercise source now, it's a priority, so I make basketball fit somewhere all the time.

It can be depressing if you think the way you are, tgan. I can't say it hasn't crossed my mind. I've looked at all these professionals, minor professionals, D1 college athletes, D2 college athletes and it just feels like there's so many people above my level. The counterpoint though, is the fact I know there's even more people below my level. So I think it's a matter of perspective.

I know every time I work on my game, I'm passing somebody on the worldwide basketball ability rankings.

[SinJackal]

It just comes to a point where you realise you're not the best, you're good but not amongst the elites.

I've been playing bball for 10 years, i consider myself an great shooter, ballhandler with quickness and passing ability.

But then I realize, I can never be the best, not even amongst the elites or "pro level". im 5'9 barely touching rim. There are guys my height who are much stronger and can do crazy stuff like windmills and 360s. Then again, there are other guys who are even better shooters then me. They can make like a hundred freethrows in a row and like shoot 10 3's in a row like its nothing.

Its like something you consider life, but you aren't even a pro. So it's like you're not cut out for it.Its a bad feeling.

If you're talking about trying to make the NBA, and you're clearly not keeping up with everyone around you, then yes you should quit trying for the NBA. At 5'9" especially, not many guys that height ever make the NBA. When they do, they're very skilled. That's not to say you can't play with your height and athleticism, you can.

But if you have NBA aspirations, then yes, you should look for other routes. Feel free to play in college, but don't expect more. You don't want to hinge your whole life on "hopefully" making it in a pro sport. . .most don't make it even when they're pretty good. Make sure you have something else planned in life, and don't push all your chips into trying to make the NBA.

Now, if you're just talking about playing casually. . .there's no reason to quit. Even if you're not the best, it doesn't matter. It's a fun game to play. Play as much as you want. You don't always have to win for it to be fun. :P

[tpols]

I get really frustrated with all the ankle injuries. I grabbed a rebound at the YMCA in may that took me out for two months. I landed on my left ankle coming down andit totally bent to the side. My ligaments tore pretty hard. Couldn't walk properly for a few weeks and didn't have the flexibility in the ankle to run or jump for two months. The shit still hurts if I play for more than a hour today.

[ZenMaster]

Actually, one game in my life made me quit basketball for over 2 months.

I got fouled tied game with 3 seconds left, and I missed both free throws. We ended up losing in overtime. I was so mad at myself I couldn't even look at the ball. It was the semi-finals of a JV basketball tournament. Luckily I came back this year and improved. I benched varsity as a sophomore, but who knows, maybe by my senior year I can be a 15 PPG scorer?

If anything like that ever happens again you need to try and get your anger out in the opposite way.

I'm sure if a guy like Kobe missed 2 FT's in a deciding situation like that, he'd be at the gym shooting 1000 FT's the next day while visualizing the situation over and over again with the FT's going in.

Doing it like that will make you have a lot more confidence if you ever where to get in the same situation again, and you'd probably improve as an overall FT shooter as well but that's just a side bonus. You really need to visualize the situation again and again with you making the FT's in the gym, the thoughts you had in your head, the crowd affecting you and so on.

I know not coming through in a situation like that for your team sucks big time, but it's all about what you do next.

[RoseCity07]

I feel like quiting all the time time because some days some random bumb really shows me up. But I just keep playing.

I haven't played for a couple weeks though because these Hawaiian dudes that always play at this court and foul and hand check and cheat the score. I played with them all summer but I just got tired of them always some how winning by 1 point because the score got messed up. I don't like cheaters.

[Lebron23]

No

I love playing basketball during the weekends. I am planning to join a basketball league (Interbarangay Tournament) this coming December.

I am only in my early 20's. I have 3 basketball balls ( Spalding, FiBA Molten G7, and Voit).

[Quata]

I get really frustrated with all the ankle injuries. I grabbed a rebound at the YMCA in may that took me out for two months. I landed on my left ankle coming down andit totally bent to the side. My ligaments tore pretty hard. Couldn't walk properly for a few weeks and didn't have the flexibility in the ankle to run or jump for two months. The shit still hurts if I play for more than a hour today.
Thats what i'm recovering from at the moment, did it on a jump shot where i got bumped a little and lost my balance. Was on crutches for 2 weeks, its been 4 weeks now and im walking comfortably, but still not onto running or jumping yet though, hopefully working on that with the physio this week.

Never felt like stopping at all though, love playing way too much, but if i injure the same ankle again and am out for another 2 months then that might start to change my mind.

[RoseCity07]

The hardest thing for me is shin splints. Anyone have tips on how to prevent this? When I take a month off and come back I can run with comfort. But if I play to long I get shin splints all over again. I heard there are exercises to prevent this.

[tpols]

Thats what i'm recovering from at the moment, did it on a jump shot where i got bumped a little and lost my balance. Was on crutches for 2 weeks, its been 4 weeks now and im walking comfortably, but still not onto running or jumping yet though, hopefully working on that with the physio this week.

Never felt like stopping at all though, love playing way too much, but if i injure the same ankle again and am out for another 2 months then that might start to change my mind.
Yea I had rolled in playing tennis in like march so it did extra damage. I'm still playing, especially getting my shooting up.

[Quata]

The hardest thing for me is shin splints. Anyone have tips on how to prevent this? When I take a month off and come back I can run with comfort. But if I play to long I get shin splints all over again. I heard there are exercises to prevent this.
I'm just guessing here, but you might want to make sure you are wearing thick sports socks and shoes with a thicker/even sole. Its repeated blunt impact that causes them (ie basketball being the worst), so your best preventative measure is to reduce shock as much as you can (smoother running, better shock absorbing shoes/socks. Also, if it is a recurring problem, just don't play for long periods of time, unless a full match is too long, just avoid prolonged training sessions 2+ hours.
Also if you wait a month before going back into exercise your muscles will not be adapted to go hard out again, do a rest period then ease back into it.

[magnax1]

I haven't been able to play for about two years, but I still love to play. I wasn't ever that great, though the one year I tried out I made varsity in Highschool, but most years I just played with friends and was usually the second or third best player I knew. Anyway, no I never really wanted to quit playing basketball. I really love to play it, even though I was never amazing at it.
The only thing I don't like, is I got a really f'd up knee from an injury around middle school age, and it always hurts pretty bad when I play to long.

[dwadefan11]

No

I love playing basketball during the weekends. I am planning to join a basketball league (Interbarangay Tournament) this coming December.

I am only in my early 20's. I have 3 basketball balls ( Spalding, FiBA Molten G7, and Voit).

Voit is great, I bought one in mexico:lol

[Lebron23]

Voit is great, I bought one in mexico:lol

:cheers:

[AI3Anthony]

I will never ever stop playing the game of basketball. I'll be the 30-40 year old guy still going to the park trying to play with everyone else. I love the game too much to ever stop.

[TheAnchorman]

i love the game as well, i dont see myself quitting the game in the near future. then again i just turned 20 yesterday lol. my skill level is nothing to brag about but its good enough to hang with people at the local gym, and i do pride myself on my best abilities such as my passing and court vision.

ill probably quit playing extensively in my 30s but in terms of watching the game, and teaching it to my kids as i get older it will stay with me until the day I die.

[brantonli]

I find it mildly amusing reading this thread, because just yesterday I watched a couple of 50-60 year olds just draining jumpers all day and even making reverse layups.

[Swaggin916]

In the last year I have gotten so much into the game (was always into it but not like this) and it's such a bummer because I have been injured for all of it. I'm like you but with my knee... my knee is messed up. I can't do all what I want to on the court (most of it, but jumping off my right leg... no thanks), and it hurts to walk or stand for days after I play.

I really want to be the best, or one of the best at my local gym... I mean I think it's a realistic goal so I feel like working towards it. When I work towards something, I really obsess over it... and that has led to deterioration of my knee since I have kept playing due to the love of the game and wanting to improve. This past week though I have stopped playing in an attempt to heal my knee (and hammy and groin) and I will sit out for as long as it takes. I won't be the best with a bad knee, and I'm sick of regular things being a hassle.

Bottom line, your health is worth more than the in the moment satisfaction of playing bball. Hopefully you heal up within a year so you can get back out there and play... but if not, you aren't going to be playing much basketball in the second half of your life... and it's going to be a long 40 or 50 years if it's painful to walk. Just be smart.

BTW I am only 21.

[Papaya Petee]

If anything like that ever happens again you need to try and get your anger out in the opposite way.

I'm sure if a guy like Kobe missed 2 FT's in a deciding situation like that, he'd be at the gym shooting 1000 FT's the next day while visualizing the situation over and over again with the FT's going in.

Doing it like that will make you have a lot more confidence if you ever where to get in the same situation again, and you'd probably improve as an overall FT shooter as well but that's just a side bonus. You really need to visualize the situation again and again with you making the FT's in the gym, the thoughts you had in your head, the crowd affecting you and so on.

I know not coming through in a situation like that for your team sucks big time, but it's all about what you do next.


+1 :cheers:

[tgan3]

How old are you and are 5'9 with shoes

21 yo, close to 5'10 in shoes.

[crisoner]

I can't quit you...basketball!!!

[tgan3]

Actually, I think height doesn't really matter at the offensive end. Look at guys like Iverson or Nate Robinson/Aaron Brooks/Monta Ellis etc. They can score with the best of them. Smaller guys just use their better handling, speed and quickness and usually have better shot and range in their offensive arsenal.

It's the defensive part that shorter guys lose out on. None of these "short guys" are defensive stoppers. Iverson gets his steals, but they are by gambling the passing lanes.

Unless, the guy plays a belly to belly style of defense like Calvin Murphy or the constant quick hands and harrasment of Bogues. I do think a shorter guy might be able to contribute both offensively and defensively.

[tpols]

Actually, I think height doesn't really matter at the offensive end. Look at guys like Iverson or Nate Robinson/Aaron Brooks/Monta Ellis etc. They can score with the best of them. Smaller guys just use their better handling, speed and quickness and usually have better shot and range in their offensive arsenal.

It's the defensive part that shorter guys lose out on. None of these "short guys" are defensive stoppers. Iverson gets his steals, but they are by gambling the passing lanes.

Unless, the guy plays a belly to belly style of defense like Calvin Murphy or the constant quick hands and harrasment of Bogues. I do think a shorter guy might be able to contribute both offensively and defensively.
Iverson and robinson are just examples of guys that are fast enough and have good enough handles to juke bigger guys and get by them. If AI was 6'5 he wouuldn't be as quick and able to do the stuff he did.

Being tall is great for guys on offense in the post and for shooters. You need to be tall to grab rebounds as well.

[Bird]

I have never felt like quitting, but I have found that I play considerably less now that I am married and have a son.

Back in high school and college I probably played 4-5 times a week...if not every day, even while working.

Though I was never the best and still have friends around me who are better, I tend to fill certain aspects of the game and that keeps me motivated. That and the fact that everyone always underestimates the 5'7", chubby white guy when he steps on the court.

To those recovering from injuries due to basketball, I know how that feels. I broke my left wrist in a game, but thought it was only sprained at the time. Finished the game and played through the pain, only to find out 6 weeks later it was indeed a break (pain never went away, but less swollen). It sucked not being able to play (I still would go to the gym and shoot around, it was my non-dominant side), but I didn't lose the passion then. If anything, I created more passion, because I was so anxious to get back out there.

[thejumpa]

I've never seriously considered quitting playing basketball. Unless you have some injury that prevents you from playing, or some other extreme circumstance, you never should either. Your competitive nature won't let you. When I play a sport, I want to have fun and win. Unless I physically can't play, there is no reason to quit.

Now, if you are using NBA playing and other elite players as a benchmark, then you should check yourself. Those guys are pros for a reason. Even D3,D2,D1 players. They are really really ****ing good because they stayed in the gym and/or were born with natural talent. Be serious with yourself. It really doesn't matter how good you think you are, guys in college are most likely mucchhhh better and you can forget about the NBA. You really should try keeping everything in perspective.

I'll agree on one thing. When I see a guy like Derrick Rose,Westbrook,Curry,Evans, it can sometimes make me feel old. At 23, I'm about the same size, age, and comparable in terms of athleticism. The difference is that they made the decision to work their asses off and pursue it seriously. Fast forward a few years later, and they are multi millionaires at 20-22 years old. Not to mention....they would mop up the floor on 99% of the street courts out there. It's discouraging but you can't feel bad or quit the sport.

[Younggrease]

I've never seriously considered quitting playing basketball. Unless you have some injury that prevents you from playing, or some other extreme circumstance, you never should either. Your competitive nature won't let you. When I play a sport, I want to have fun and win. Unless I physically can't play, there is no reason to quit.

Now, if you are using NBA playing and other elite players as a benchmark, then you should check yourself. Those guys are pros for a reason. Even D3,D2,D1 players. They are really really ****ing good because they stayed in the gym and/or were born with natural talent. Be serious with yourself. It really doesn't matter how good you think you are, guys in college are most likely mucchhhh better and you can forget about the NBA. You really should try keeping everything in perspective.

I'll agree on one thing. When I see a guy like Derrick Rose,Westbrook,Curry,Evans, it can sometimes make me feel old. At 23, I'm about the same size, age, and comparable in terms of athleticism. The difference is that they made the decision to work their asses off and pursue it seriously. Fast forward a few years later, and they are multi millionaires at 20-22 years old. Not to mention....they would mop up the floor on 99% of the street courts out there. It's discouraging but you can't feel bad or quit the sport.

If your comparable in to Derrick Rose in terms of athletism then you need to get into the gym and work on your game.

[thejumpa]

If your comparable in to Derrick Rose in terms of athletism then you need to get into the gym and work on your game.

While that may be true, let's get one thing straight. He is a freak of an athlete. I am not. I'm comparable only in a general sense. That is, we both are agile and can jump, run fast, blah blah blah. But make no mistake about it....he is on a different world in most aspects. I wish I had his genes:oldlol:. Maybe some day.

[ShaqAttack3234]

I never thought about pursuing it as a career. I just play because I love the game, it keeps me in shape and I like to challenge myself as a shooter if I'm alone or as an overall player in pick up games. I'm only average height(5'8") and I have bad knees so I knew I wouldn't have a professional career, besides, my really talent is music. But, I'm proud of my abilities even if they're not professional level abilities, I'm proud to be able to hit NBA distance 3s without much trouble and grab the rim with just a 7'2" standing reach, but at the same time, I know I have limitations with ball handling, strength and size, it doesn't bother me in the least.

[LA_Showtime]

BruceBlitz just retired. You can be the next Michael Jordan of youtube. All it takes is a sociopath personality, no friends, and a desire to alienate yourself from the human population.