Basketball Quotes

You've got to have fun on the court. If you ain't having fun, then basketball ain't fun.

Look for players with character and ability. But remember, character comes first.

My acting is a bit like basketball. Most females in my films come off very well. I give great assist. And if I'm lucky, I even score.

The two ingredients in success in basketball are playing hard and playing intelligently.

Basketball is in my blood. It is my obligation to try.

You must be sure that you give back something that's beneficial to the game. Any of the teaching you do must be for the benefit of the men who play.

As all of us with any involvement in sports knows, no two umpires or no two referees have the same strike zone or call the same kind of a basketball game

Remember this, the choices you make in life, make you.

Regard your team as a family. Give the same attention to the bottom guy as you do the top guy. You have a responsibility to all of your players.

Create unselfishness as the most important team attribute.

It's not how big you are, it's how big you play.

Attitude is altitude.

Everyone wants to do what the great ones do; but very few are willing to do what they did to become great

As far as carrying the torch for the years to come, I don't know. I just want to be the best basketball player I can be.

Even when I'm old and grey, I won't be able to play it, but I'll still love the game.

I can score 20 points if I want to, but that's not my desire.

Don't try to imitate other coaches. Be your own person with your own style and do your own thing.

No matter how good you are, at top pf your game, always remember that you're a half a step away from the street.

I think everyone should experience defeat at least once during their career. You learn a lot from it.

I pray if I ever find out I have only about three minutes to live it's during a basketball game, because then I'll have, what, 10, 12 years to live?

They're really aggressive. They're like roaches on bread - you drop some on the floor and, boom, they're on it.

I love various sports, including basketball, tennis and billiards.

We make too much of winning. The mere fact of winning doesn't make you great.

When you're picking a basketball team, you'll take the brother over the guy with the yarmulke. Why? Because you're playing the odds.

I enjoy playing at the heart of it is just a kid who really loves playing the game of basketball.

Let your life be your argument.

Winning a postseason game is like winning five regular season games. There is just no feeling like it. Everything is magnified. Every free throw, turnover, shot and play.

I'm a firm believer in that you play the way you practice.

The biggest thing is getting our guys to understand, you can't let one mistake compound into another mistake

Set goals - high goals for you and your organization. When your organization has a goal to shoot for, you create teamwork, people working for a common good.

I was latching on to something that was part of my heritage, because many of the slaves who were brought here were Moslems.

Basketball teams, after the perfunctory lay-up drill, fall into the crowded isolation and personal style of 10 city kids shooting at the same basket or playing one-on-one.

When we went up against teams that were better, I just hoped that we could steal the victories.

I saw Islam as the correct way to live, and I chose to try to live that way.

Your mind is what makes everything else work.

I have to say I've worked very few days of my life. I used to have to cut the lawn, and when I was in junior high school, I worked at a concession stand at a stadium.

I don't think Michael had to retire for us to get the spotlight, because when you win, it commands attention.

I have definitely gone through my ups and downs and faced my adversity and my nay-sayers, but managed to do all right. It is a pretty classic tale.

We are not going to play them; they are going to play us.

I know the strengths and weaknesses of my teammates. I make my passing decisions accordingly

Most of my learning and philosophy regarding coaching basketball was developed after great frustration.

There is a lot of pressure put on me, but I don't put a lot of pressure on myself. I feel if I play my game, it will take care of itself.

I don't try to get players emotionally up for a game; it creates too many peaks and valleys... I strive for even keel; they will get up for the big games.

The greatness of Michael Jordan is his competitive drive. The weakness of Michael Jordan is his competitive drive

Growing up, my parents were very, very strict. And then I went to UCLA with John Wooden, who was just off the charts.

Winning teams at the NBA level, the college level, and the high school level all play team basketball. Championship teams have five players on the same page at all times.

Name 12 players better than me.

I'd like to think that the nature of the two teams - Boston being a championship team over the years and the Lakers, same thing - was a lot bigger than Larry Bird or Magic Johnson.

I felt like calling attention to AIDS. I had the AIDS ribbon colored into my hair during the playoffs in '95.

The mismatch is not what gets you beat. What gets you beat is giving up the uncontested, open shot.