Basketball Quotes

If it doesn't bother you, it won't bother them.

They run like deer, jump like deer and think like deer.

Positioning, anticipation and technique create quickness. Therefore, you can always get quicker

Every day when I get on the floor I give it my all and play because you never know what tomorrow holds.

The game honors toughness

Sometimes you will hate me because I will tell you the truth about your game. And the truth can hurt/humble you

What type of teammates do you want to play with? Be that teammate yourself

With accomplishments comes confidence and with confidence comes belief. It has to be in that order.

One player's selfish attitude can poison a locker room and make it hard, if not impossible, to establish team work

The NBA is all about winning, but at this level (college basketball) winning doesn't make you happy. You can win, and play lousy, and in my program, feel lousy. To me it's about: How good can we be.

I'm looking for activity. I put players in and take them out based on effort and defense, not making or missing shots

The day I stopped worrying about stats is the day I started winning

This is a team game and one man doesn't win and one man doesn't lose. In the end, the best team usually wins.

Tell Yao Ming, 'Ching-chong-yang-wah-ah-soh.'

I wasn't as critical during games as I was at practice. Players needed confidence during games more than criticism.

I've always led by example and I'm not that vocal.

If I don't believe it, then they don't need me on the court. I've just got to believe that in my heart.

I think race has been a burden for black Americans. Being Muslim has also been a challenge because so many people do not understand Islam.

They say Elvis is dead. I say, no, you're looking at him. Elvis isn't dead; he just changed color.

I don't believe professional athletes should be role models. I believe parents should be role models.

Yeah, I like cars and basketball. But you know what I like more? Bananas.

I ate too many Frosted Flakes. I don't remember what I said last night.

I always mean what I say, but I don't always say what I'm thinking.

Have a spiritual basis which guides you in life. Have a philosophy of life to live by.

A winner never whines.

I only use statistics to reinforce what I already think, or if it's something unusual.

I would never recruit a player who yells at his teammates, disrespected his high school coach, or scores 33 points a game and his team goes 10-10.

In the world there are believers and then there are non-believers. For all of you non-believers out there, I have something to say to you...never underestimate the heart of a champion.

Basketball's a game of mistakes.

Great teamwork is the only way we create the breakthroughs that define our careers.

From nobody to upstart. From upstart to contender. From contender to winner. From winner to champion. From champion to Dynasty.

I never comment on referees and I'm not going to break the habit of a lifetime for that prat.

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation.

1. Be on time. 2. Never criticize a teammate. 3. Never use profanity.

Our self image and our habits tend to go together. Change one and you will automatically change the other.

My rule was I wouldn't recruit a kid if he had grass in front of his house. That's not my world. My world has a cracked sidewalk.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

I play to win, whether during practice or a real game.

My parents are my backbone. Still are. They're the only group that will support you if you score zero or you score 40.

I never thought I'd lead the NBA in rebounding, but I got a lot of help from my team-mates - they did a lot of missing.

Discipline is the only sure way I know to convince people to believe in themselves

One of the biggest reasons I like coaching college ball is the kids. I feel I can impact players lives

You should always want your coach to be critical. It gives you an opportunity to learn and to overcome adversity

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.

It's important for the young players to practice other ball games as well, basketball or table tennis. On the tennis court, you can improve your eye through a kind of overexertion.

Perfection is impossibility but striving for perfection is not. Do the best you can. That is what counts.

To win the big games you must get to the Free Throw line, and then you must make them.

I think the real free person in society is one that's disciplined. It's the one that can choose; that is the free one.

I enjoy basketball. I enjoy coaching basketball. It's the out-of-season stuff I didn't handle well.

What do you do to help us win when you're not scoring baskets?