I was watching a documentary on Michael Jordan that described a conflict he had with the general manager of the Chicago Bulls. The team wasn’t having a great season and there was a chance that they wouldn’t make the playoffs. Michael thought that the general manager didn’t want to make the playoffs because then they would get an early draft pick the next season. But this conflicted with the way Michael approached the game, which was to give it your all each day every day and try to win. Try to make the playoffs. Even if it means you’ll get a worse draft pick.
You respect the game by playing it. It doesn’t matter which game you’re playing. Give it your all. Every time.