Basketball Quotes

The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores.

I mean, the greatest athletes in the world are African-American.

I'm attacking the basket more. Because I'm more comfortable on the line, that's an area I want to get to.

I'm not against taking shots, but I am against taking bad shots.

Don't worry about losing. Think about winning.

I don't usually set personal goals.

Basketball is a sport that involves the subtle interweaving of players at full speed to the point where they are thinking and moving as one.

I expect more people from China and Asia to end up in the NBA.

Coaches can talk and talk and talk about something, but if you get it on tape and show it to them, it is so much more effective.

Sacrifice. Work. Self-discipline. I teach these things, and my boys don't forget them when they leave.

Play and practice like you are trying to make the team.

Magic is who I am on the basketball court. Earvin is who I am.

I'm one of the best defenders to ever play basketball, so I'm still the first option on defense.

I tell young players who want to be coaches, who think they can put up with all the headaches and heartaches, can you live without it? If you can live without it, don't get in it.

I'm no innovator. If anything I'm a stealer, or borrower. I've stolen or borrowed from more people than you can shake a stick at.

I owe all of this to the guys I've played with and all the coaches that have helped me get to where I'm at right now. I'm honored to be here.

We can't have two standards, one set for the dedicated young men who want to do something ambitious and one set for those who don't.

Basketball is what I do, it’s not who I am.

Promise yourself to make all your friends know there is something in them that is special and that you value.

But I think the image that's thrown out on television is a bad image. Because you see players who want to imitate hip-hop stars. And the NBA is taking advantage of the situation.

A player dreams of being a superstar, but he doesn't want people flocking all over him asking for an autograph.

I have always maintained that in basketball the importance of the mental to the physical is about four to one.

Success doesn't stop when you get there

My name's been on this check for a week now.

I never let our players get satisfied, I never let our Coaches get satisfied, I was never satisfied. We can always do it better.

When it gets down to it, basketball is basketball.

I live in L.A., so I go to basketball games. But I love baseball.

I gave everything I had to basketball. The passion is still there but the desire to play is not. It was a great ride.

We're all Americans trying to compete. Magic was competing for his team and Larry for his team.

That's what I do now: I lead and I teach. If we win basketball games from doing that, then that's great, but I lead and teach. Those are the two things I concentrate on.

They are taking steps, but they are baby steps.

My mom is one of 14 children. She's a great lady. She's a Taurus. Has been a profound influence in my life, still is to this day. Born in meager surroundings in rural South Carolina.

"By analogy, if we were to develop a soccer team, then we would not invite basketball and volleyball players to the try outs. We would invite soccer players to apply."

The key statistic is still to get to the foul line.

I sign so many autographs, my hand hurts every day.

In athletics there's always been a willingness to cheat if it looks like you're not cheating. I think that's just a quirk of human nature.

I make the game easy. Double and triple me, I'll kick it out to you for a wide-open shot. I'll add years to your career.

I play to win, whether during practice or a real game. And I will not let anything get in the way of me and my competitive enthusiasm to win.

Reverse the ball one time for a good shot, two times for a great shot, three times for a layup.

Promise to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit trouble to press on you.

I do not want players who do not have a keen desire to win and do not play hard and aggressively to accomplish that objective.

Leaders will not experience long-term success unless a lot of people want them to.

When the crowd appreciates you, it encourages you to be a little more daring, I think.

The guy said NBA players are one in a million, ... I said, 'Man, look, I'm going to be that one in a million.

Every time that I've won a championship I've looked at my guys around me and looked at their work ethic and said 'You know what, I'm going to win it this year. I feel that way now.

Make it a point to be around those with positive energy - people who want what's best for you, people who understand your goals and priorities.

I spent my whole childhood looking for an escape.

I started getting letters from college in the tenth grade.

We were able to get after the rebounds. We were able to control the paint. We were able to be physical down there.

The people at the top of the league think they need to rein me in so I don't become another Michael Jordan, somebody they aren't able to mold and shape and make their puppet.