Basketball Quotes

The legendary Michael Jordan once said, "Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game." Unfortunately, winning or losing plays an important part in enjoying any game. And to win, you need more than just skill alone. Though the game predominantly relies upon strength, speed, and skills, these attributes can only get you so far in a game of basketball. In addition to these important attributes, qualities like confidence and motivation can go a long way in helping you get that win. For players, an inspiring talk laced with famous sports quotes from the basketball greats can be the all important ingredient needed to gain victory.

For coaches, what better way to motivate a team than to remind them what the legends of basketball had to say. Fortunately, when it comes to motivational basketball quotes, there is no dearth of material available, with all the legends contributing to this ever growing collection. Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and more recently, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, the list can go on and on. So it doesn't matter if you are a player or a coach, there is something about these quotes that can give you that extra push, that extra help, that is needed when you have tapped your reserve of talent dry.

Famous Basketball Quotes by ...

... Michael Jordan

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

"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."

"I never looked at the consequences of missing a big shot... when you think about the consequences you always think of a negative result."

"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships."

"I play to win, whether during practice or a real game. And I will not let anything get in the way of me and my competitive enthusiasm to win."

"Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game."

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

"Even when I'm old and gray, I won't be able to play it, but I'll still love the game."

... Larry Bird

"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals."

"Once you are labeled 'the best' you want to stay up there, and you can't do it by loafing around. If I don't keep changing. I'm history."

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

"It doesn't matter who scores the points, it's who can get the ball to the scorer."

"I always know what's happening on the court. I see a situation occur, and I respond."

"First master the fundamentals."

"Leadership is getting players to believe in you. If you tell a teammate you're ready to play as tough as you're able to, you'd better go out there and do it. Players will see right through a phony. And they can tell when you're not giving it all you've got. Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It's being able to take it as well as dish it out. That's the only way you're going to get respect from the players."

... Magic Johnson

"I never think that there's something I can't do, whether it's beating my opponent one on one or practicing another hour because something about my game is just not right."

"If you're a competitive person, that stays with you. You don't stop. You always look over your shoulder."

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

"Ask not what your teammates can do for you. Ask what you can do for your teammates."

"You're the only one who can make the difference. Whatever your dream is, go for it."

"They said playing basketball would kill me. Well, not playing basketball was killing me."

Other Basketball Quotes

"Be strong in body, clean in mind, lofty in ideals." -- James Naismith

''One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team.'' -- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

"Basketball is like photography, if you don't focus, all you have is the negative." -- Dan Frisby

"Sometimes a player's greatest challenge is coming to grips with his role on the team." -- Scottie Pippen

"They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds." -- Wilt Chamberlain

''Everybody pulls for David, nobody roots for Goliath.'' -- Wilt Chamberlain

"There are really only two plays: Romeo and Juliet, and put the darn ball in the basket." -- Abe Lemons
''As far as carrying the torch for the years to come, I don't know. I just want to be the best basketball player I can be.'' - Kobe Bryant

Funny Quotes on Basketball

''This is the second most exciting indoor sport, and the other one shouldn't have spectators.'' -- Dick Vertleib

''They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds.'' -- Wilt Chamberlain

''We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors.'' -- Weldon Drew

''I'm tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok.'' -- Shaquille O'Neal

No matter what the occasion, I'm sure you'll find a quote here to suit your need. I hope you enjoy this list of basketball quotes, and that they provide a shot in the arm, when you need it the most.