Basketball Motivation Quotes

• 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”

  25 Copy quote

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• Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.

  John Wooden

  Basketball, Beautiful, God

  1212 Copy quote

• Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.

  John Wooden

  Life, Volleyball, Compassion

  John Wooden (2013). “Quotes from Coach John Wooden: Winning with Principle”, p.163, B&H Publishing Group

  9 Copy quote

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• Prepare for every game like you just lost your last game.

  Lon Kruger

  Basketball, Games, Coaching

  45 Copy quote

• Your program must have an overriding purpose which is clearly visible and which teaches lessons beyond winning.

  Don Meyer

  Basketball, Winning, Coaching

  17 Copy quote

• When you watch the game, be a student of the game.

  Don Meyer

  Basketball, Games, Coaching

  35 Copy quote

• Successful programs consist of people working hard, working together, while never worrying about who gets the credit.

  Don Meyer

  Basketball, Hard Work, Successful

  57 Copy quote

• Shout praise and whisper criticism.

  Don Meyer

  Basketball, Coaching, Criticism

  16 Copy quote

• It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.

  John Wooden

  Basketball, Motivational Sports, Courage

  John Wooden, Jack Tobin, Bill Walton (2004). “They Call Me Coach”, McGraw Hill Professional

  39 Copy quote

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• Recognize and reward players who put the team first, not just the gifted ones.

  Don Meyer

  Basketball, Team, Player

  50 Copy quote

• Simplify the game as much as possible. When you add, you must subtract.

  Don Meyer

  Basketball, Games, Coaching

  7 Copy quote

• It is not what you teach, but what you emphasize.

  Don Meyer

  Basketball, Coaching, Teach

  6 Copy quote

• Play off your great player... great teams have a go-to player and they play off of him.

  Don Meyer

  Basketball, Team, Player

  6 Copy quote

• Failure is good. It's fertilizer. Everything I've learned about coaching I've learned from making mistakes.

  Rick Pitino

  Basketball, Mistake, Coaching

  19 Copy quote

• If you get tough mentally, you can get tough physically and overcome fatigue.

  Pat Riley

  Basketball, Coaching, Overcoming

  38 Copy quote

• I asked a ref if he could give me a technical foul for thinking bad things about him. He said, of course not. I said, well, I think you stink. And he gave me a technical. You can't trust em.

  Jim Valvano

  Trust, Basketball, Motivational Sports

  68 Copy quote

• The secret of winning is working more as a team, less as individuals.

  Knute Rockne

  Basketball, Team, Winning

  47 Copy quote

• I think the most important thing about coaching is that you have to have a sense of confidence about what you're doing. You have to be a salesman and you have to get your players, particularly your leaders, to believe in what you're trying to accomplish on the basketball floor.

  Phil Jackson

  Basketball, Believe, Player

  17 Copy quote

• The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.

  John Wooden

  Leadership, Basketball, Teamwork

  John Wooden (2013). “Quotes from Coach John Wooden: Winning with Principle”, p.63, B&H Publishing Group

  40 Copy quote

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• What you specifically teach is what your players will do best.

  Dick Bennett

  Basketball, Player, Coaching

  5 Copy quote

• If you want team play, you must stress defense. Defense makes players unselfish.

  John Brady

  Basketball, Stress, Team

  14 Copy quote

• Criticize on defense and encourage on offense.

  John Brady

  Basketball, Coaching, Defense

  44 Copy quote

• Everybody on a championship team doesn't get publicity, but everyone can say he's a champion.

  Magic Johnson

  Inspiring, Basketball, Teamwork

  11 Copy quote

• 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.

  Denny Crum

  Basketball, Motivational Sports, Player

  15 Copy quote

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

  Pat Riley

  Basketball, Teamwork, Motivational Sports

  Pat Riley (1993). “Winner Within Success”, Putnam Publishing Group

  29 Copy quote

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