Great Basketball Quotes

• Fans never fall asleep at our games, because they're afraid they might get hit by a pass.

  George Raveling

  Inspirational, Basketball, Fall

  45 Copy quote
• 

  Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.

  Michael Jordan

  Inspirational, Life, Motivational

  280 Copy quote

• Basketball doesn't build character it reveals it.

  James Naismith

  Basketball, Character, Inspirational Basketball

  82 Copy quote
• 

  Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.

  Henry Ford

  Inspirational, Success, Leadership

  721 Copy quote

• The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot.

  Bill Russell

  Basketball, Motivational Sports, Block

  97 Copy quote
• 

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

  Michael Jordan

  Inspirational, Motivational, Happiness

  84 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

  23 Copy quote

• If you make every game a life and death proposition, you're going to have problems. For one thing, you'll be dead a lot.

  Dean Smith

  Inspirational, Funny, Basketball

  70 Copy quote

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

  James Naismith

  Inspirational, Motivational, Basketball

  58 Copy quote
• 

  I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.

  Michael Jordan

  Inspirational, Motivational, Change

  "I Can't Accept Not Trying : Michael Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence". Book by Michael Jordan (p. 129), 1994.

  202 Copy quote

  Show source
• 

  Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

  John Wooden

  Inspirational, Success, Basketball

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

  1663 Copy quote

  Show source

• 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”

  33 Copy quote

  Show source

• Basketball is a game that gives you every chance to be great, and puts every pressure on you to prove that you haven't got what it takes. It never takes away the chance, and it never eases up on the pressure.

  Bob Sundvold

  Inspirational, Basketball, Games

  45 Copy quote

• If you meet the Buddha in the lane, feed him the ball.

  Phil Jackson

  Basketball, Sports, Balls

  "How Watching Football Can Make You More Spiritual" by Suzanne Gerber, www.huffingtonpost.com. February 3, 2013.

  15 Copy quote

  Show source

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

  John Wooden

  Basketball, Beautiful, God

  1192 Copy quote

• The best teams have chemistry. They communicate with each other and they sacrifice personal glory for a common goal.

  Dave DeBusschere

  Motivational, Basketball, Team

  53 Copy quote

• Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character.

  John Wooden

  Basketball, Motivational Sports, Character

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

  81 Copy quote

  Show source

• Sometimes a player's greatest challenge is coming to grips with his role on the team.

  Scottie Pippen

  Basketball, Teamwork, Inspirational Sports

  63 Copy quote

• The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.

  Vince Lombardi

  Inspirational, Motivational, Basketball

  Vince Lombardi (2012). “What it Takes to be Number One”, p.70, Thomas Nelson Inc

  77 Copy quote

  Show source

• Good, Better, Best. Never let it rest. Until your Good is Better, and your Better is your Best.

  Unknown

  Inspirational, Motivational, Success

  "Dedication, Teamwork and Camaraderie: Tim Duncan" by Angela Guzman, www.beliefnet.com.

  914 Copy quote

  Show source

• A basketball team is like the five fingers on your hand. If you can get them all together, you have a fist. That's how I want you to play.

  Mike Krzyzewski

  Basketball, Team, Hands

  "Duke of the Court". Interview, www.achievement.org. May 22, 1997.

  64 Copy quote

  Show source

• 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

  85 Copy quote

  Show source
• 

  What to do with a mistake: recognize it, admit it, learn from it, forget it.

  Dean Smith

  Inspiring, Basketball, Sports

  75 Copy quote
• 

  Basketball is a beautiful game when the five players on the court play with one heartbeat.

  Dean Smith

  Basketball, Beautiful, Player

  Dean Smith, Gerald D. Bell, John Kilgo (2004). “The Carolina Way: Leadership Lessons from a Life in Coaching”, p.142, Penguin

  75 Copy quote

  Show source

• 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