Basketball Quotes

The people that are surrounding me have my best interest.

The Atlanta Hawks are a bunch of guys who would prefer to pass kidney stones than pass a basketball.

The single most important aspect of coaching is running effective practices

People want national championship banners. People want to talk about Indiana being competitive. How do we get there? We don't get there with milk and cookies.

I don't think I have ever been out of control.

I say 'come with it.' I'm not expecting anything easy. You have to earn your place. That's fine with me.

I smile all the time, even when I'm in a bad mood. I always try to keep a smile on my face.

I know a lot of people did a lot of heavy lifting to make me successful and I do everything in my power not to screw it up.

You can talk without saying a thing. I don't ever want to be that type of person.

When you read the book you see that these guys aren't holding any punches. They're straightforward. They're honest. They're giving you their honest opinion.

I don't create controversies. They're there long before I open my mouth. I just bring them to your attention.

It ain't like we're curing cancer or anything, we're watching basketball.

Someone created the box score, and he should be shot.

Always have your players go and pick-up the guy who draws the charge.

It is not overwhelmingly difficult for a committed group of players with only average individual basketball skills to put together a very good team defense.

Sometimes I'm not even satisfied when I got 6 points and 22 rebounds, because I'm always looking to do more.

Maybe my life isn't great. We don't have all the answers. Look at it from my side.

I would rather go to Baghdad than go to a professional basketball game.

What you accept in victory, you must accept in defeat.

If you want to thank me, go do something for somebody else

We painted a beautiful picture, but we just didn't finish it. Finishing is the difference between a beautiful picture and a masterpiece.

I was taught by teachers, and if it's one thing I have it's a basketball mind and I try to pass it on and pay it forward.

At the end of the day, no matter how well you score, you've got to be able to stop people

Five players on the floor functioning as a single unit: team, team, team-no one more important than the other.

The way my team are doing, we could get Wilt Chamberlain in a trade and find out that he's really two midgets Scotch-taped together.

My childhood dream was to play basketball, actually.

My life is very simple. I like simplicity and for my time to be my own, so that I have the freedom to devote the majority of it to Islam.

Here's a six-foot-ten guy in sneakers and the lady's asking me, 'Profession?'

The Hall of Fame has strong people.

You need to be more careful, or you could hurt yourself.

Confidence imparts a wonderful inspiration to the possessor.

Loyalty is a cohesive force that forges individuals into a team.

My philosophy of defense is to keep the pressure on an opponent until you get to his emotions

As a leader, you will receive a large amount of praise and criticism and you should not unduly affected by either.

I love football. My weekends are booked. Saturday college games and Sunday NFL and 'Monday Night Football.' Booked! Football is first, then basketball and then everything else.

If you've experienced having control, you don't want to be moved to a subordinate position, if you have your druthers.

I believe that if I committed to basketball, I could make an impact in the NBA. I now see football as my job and my greatest challenge.

Even when there are adverse circumstances, I try to do my job. And I usually do.

I was always in the gym. People would look at me crazy because I spent so much time there. But that's what it was about. I'm glad I did it.

My mother taught me to always be strong and always work hard. She's been working hard her whole life for me and my brother. I'm a lot like her in that I work hard for what I want. She taught me that.

Music has always been a big part of my life. It's kind of like a refuge for me. I just use it to get away.

They took one from us last time, so now we took one from them

When I'm finished playing, I want people to say, 'He handled this well, he kept his cool.'

It doesn't matter to me what place I get traded to. If I was traded someplace - I'd play anywhere.

To be honest with you, I (would) much rather play basketball and not be famous.

It doesn't bother me at all. Do I hold any hard feelings? Not at all, ... Life is too short to sit around and hold grudges. I don't hold any whatsoever.

I focus on one thing and one thing only - that's trying to win as many championships as I can.

For us to be the team that got him that historic 10th championship is special for us.

You know, I'm just 6'9" and 260. And just so happen to be very good at playing the game of basketball.

When you are honest and open with young people, they let you in.