Awesome Basketball Quotes

• If you are afraid of failure, you don't deserve success.

  Nastia Liukin

  Basketball, Sports, Athlete

  Twitter post from Jan 3, 2012

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• One man cannot make a team.

  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

  Motivational, Basketball, Sports

  17 Copy quote

• What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player.

  John Wooden

  Life, Basketball, Motivational Sports

  John Wooden (2013). “Quotes from Coach John Wooden: Winning with Principle”, p.29, B&H Publishing Group

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• I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.

  Michael Jordan

  Inspirational, Life, Motivational

  "Nike Culture : The Sign of the Swoosh". Book by Robert Goldman, Stephen Papson (p. 49), 1998.

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• If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes.

  John Wooden

  Life, Positive, Basketball

  "The Wizard's wisdom: 'Woodenisms'", www.espn.com. June 4, 2010.

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• Basketball doesn't build character it reveals it.

  James Naismith

  Basketball, Character, Inspirational Basketball

  71 Copy quote

• You can't get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.

  Jerry West

  Inspirational, Life, Motivational

  73 Copy quote

• The secret is to have eight great players and four others who will cheer like crazy.

  Jerry Tarkanian

  Basketball, Sports, Teamwork

  54 Copy quote

• A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.

  John Wooden

  Life, Basketball, Teamwork

  John Wooden (2013). “Quotes from Coach John Wooden: Winning with Principle”, p.88, B&H Publishing Group

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• 

  If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it.

  Michael Jordan

  Motivational, Basketball, Running

  Michael Jordan (1994). “I can't accept not trying: Michael Jordan on the pursuit of excellence”

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• Be strong in body, clean in mind, lofty in ideals.

  James Naismith

  Inspirational, Motivational, Basketball

  54 Copy quote

• You don't play against opponents, you play against the game of basketball.

  Bobby Knight

  Basketball, Sports, Athlete

  14 Copy quote

• There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.

  Pat Riley

  Inspirational, Basketball, Sports

  95 Copy quote
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  You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.

  Michael Jordan

  Inspirational, Motivational, Happiness

  79 Copy quote

• If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

  Michael Jordan

  Inspirational, Basketball, Wisdom

  Michael Jordan (1994). “I can't accept not trying: Michael Jordan on the pursuit of excellence”

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• I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.

  Michael Jordan

  Inspirational, Life, Motivational

  356 Copy quote
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  Push yourself again and again. Don't give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.

  Larry Bird

  Motivational, Basketball, Sports

  117 Copy quote

• Basketball is like war in that offensive weapons are developed first, and it always takes a while for the defense to catch up.

  Red Auerbach

  Motivational, Basketball, Sports

  20 Copy quote

• One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team.

  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

  Basketball, Teamwork, Sports

  Twitter post from Mar 27, 2013

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• Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

  Michael Jordan

  Motivational, Basketball, Sports

  Michael Jordan (1994). “I can't accept not trying: Michael Jordan on the pursuit of excellence”

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• There is no such thing as life in-between.

  Pat Riley

  Motivational, Basketball, Sports

  Pat Riley (1993). “The winner within: a life plan for team players”, Putnam Adult

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• Coaching is easy. Winning is the hard part.

  Elgin Baylor

  Basketball, Winning, Coaching

  14 Copy quote

• Great players are willing to give up their own personal achievement for the achievement of the group. It enhances everybody.

  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

  Motivational, Basketball, Giving Up

  34 Copy quote

• Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise

  Michael Jordan

  Basketball, Nba, Fundamentals

  Michael Jordan (1994). “I can't accept not trying: Michael Jordan on the pursuit of excellence”

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• To do the right thing at the right season is a great art.

  Helio Gracie

  Basketball, Art, Mma

  73 Copy quote