239 Basketball Quotes
Welcome to the best collection of basketball quotes online!
- Basketball Quotes for Coaches
- Basketball Quotes Tips for Players
- Inspirational Basketball Quotes
- Basketball Quotes from John Wooden
- Basketball Quotes on Teamwork
- Basketball Quotes by Famous Players
- Basketball Quotes from Don Meyer
- Basketball Quotes About Great Players
Basketball Quotes for Coaches
A bad day coaching basketball is better than a good day doing almost anything else. Bob Hurley
It’s no accident that things are more likely to go your way when you stop worrying about whether you’re going to win or lose, and focus all your full attention on what’s happening right at this moment. Phil Jackson
Practice does not make the athlete. It is the quality and intensity of practice that makes the athlete, not just repeated practicing. Ray Meyer
Discipline is doing what has to be done, when it has to be done, as well as it can be done, and doing it that way all the time. Bob Knight
Discipline is the habit of taking consistent action until one can perform with unconscious competence. Discipline weighs ounces but regret weighs tons. Unknown
The ultimate goal of discipline is to teach self-discipline. Pat Summitt
We cannot accept in victory what we would not accept in defeat. Dick Bennett
Culture consists of the shared purpose, attitudes, values, goals, practices, behaviors, and habits that define a team or organization. Jon Gordon
Some say you have to use your five best players, but I found out you win with the five that fit together best as a team. Red Auerbach
If you’re going to have to beg them to play, it’s not going to work. Chuck Daly
Play Hard, Play Smart and Play Together. Hard means with effort, determination and courage; Smart means with proper execution and poise, Together means unselfishly, trusting your teammates and doing everything possible not to let them down. Unknown
How good can we expect to be if our best player is not our best teammate? Brad Stevens
There is a direct connection between attention to detail and improvement. Bill Walsh
It’s not what’s taught, it’s what’s caught that matters. Ed Schilling
In basketball, the mental is to the physical as 4 is to 1. Bob Knight
Every season is a journey. Every Journey is a lifetime. Mike Krzyzewski
TGHT: The game honors toughness. Brad Stevens
Practice makes habit. Perfect practice makes permanent! Unknown
You can’t be persuasive and abrasive at the same time. Unknown
Coaching is about development and relationships. Jermoy Sheets
I concluded some time ago that a major part of success of a team, or of an individual, has a great deal to do with the intangible qualities possessed. The real key is how a person sees himself [humility], how he feels about what he does [passion], how he works with others [unity], how he makes others betters [servanthood], and how he deals with frustration and success, truly learning from each situation [thankfulness], I believe those concepts are the essence of a good player, team, coach, or individual in any capacity in life. Dick Bennett Basketball Quotes
I want to continue to do is to help these young women be successful. .. You don’t just say goodbye at the end of their playing careers and end it there. Pat Summitt
We want to be the most enthusiastic and energetic team in the country. That’s what we can control. Shaka Smart
I have a basic philosophy that I’ve tried to follow during my coaching career. Whether you’re winning or losing, it is important to always be yourself. You can’t change because of the circumstances around you. Cotton Fitzsimmons
A common mistake among those who work in sport is spending a disproportional amount of time onx’s and o’s as compared to time spent learning about people. Mike Krzyzewski
Our team is a bundle of sticks. If you are one stick alone, it’s easy to break, but if it’s 12 sticks all together it’s hard to break. Unknown
Nobody is going to outwork us, but nobody will have more fun either. Unknown Coach
A good coach improves your game. A great coach improves your life. Michael S. Josephson
I just love the game of basketball so much. The game! I don’t need the 18,000 people screaming and all the peripheral things. To me, the most enjoyable part is the practice and preparation. Bob Knight
Good teams and players give second efforts, great teams give 3rd, 4th, and 5th efforts. Unknown
Practice without improvement is meaningless—evaluate yourself every day on how you did today and what you need to do tomorrow to improve. Chuck Knox
Championships & 20 win seasons are won on the road. Jim Haley
I always mean what I say, but I don’t always say what I’m thinking. Dean Smith
Bottom line, you’re either a risk taker, or your not, and if you don’t take risks, you’ll never win big. Geno Auriemma
My goal is to win the next game one possession at a time. That’s it. I don’t have any other goals. Brad Stevens
Fouling negates hustle. Rick Pitino
I don’t hire good coaches, I hire good people. If they turn out to be good coaches, too, that’s a plus. Geno Auriemma
Play to win, observe the rules, and act like a gentleman. Claire Bee
Basketball Quotes Tips for Players
If you think small things don’t matter, think of the last game you lost by one point. Unknown
Players play, but tough players win. Tom Izzo
Don’t mistake routine for commitment. Tommy Amaker
The only way for an individual to improve is to work at an uncomfortable pace in practice and during the improvement season (April-September) If you aren’t uncomfortable, chances are you aren’t improving. Brian Williams
In both practices and out of season individual skill workouts, this should be your Mindset: If you don’t experience some frustration, then it hasn’t been a good workout. No frustration means not working past your current limitations–which means not getting better. Be tough enough to handle frustration and let that make you better. Unknown
A hard head leads to sore rear end (from player sitting on the bench) Unknown
You must contribute your whole self to the team, not just your athletic self. Phil Jackson
It takes no talent to hustle. Unknown
If what you did yesterday still looks big to you. You haven’t done much today. Mike Krzyzewski
Expect to get hit hard when you take the ball to the basket. Don’t get upset. The best revenge is making the free throws. Unknown
Two keys to being effective with the ball are the shot fake and the pass fake. Bob Knight
The people at the top don’t work just harder or even much harder than everyone else. They work much, much harder. Malcolm Gladwell
If you are the best player on the playground, then you need to find a new playground. Alan Stein
It’s not about how many times you get the ball each game that matters, it’s what you do when you do get the ball that is important. Unknown
Play and practice like you are trying to make the team. Mike Krzyzewski
Players do not decide their future; they decide their habits and their habits decide their future! Unknown
Your toughest competition in life is anyone who is willing to work harder than you. Unknown
Champions don’t complain, they are too busy getting better. Unknown
It’s not the hours you put in, it’s what you put in the hours. Unknown
Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can’t. Jerry Rice
R.E.P.S.- Repetition Elevates Personal Skills. Unknown
The only discipline that lasts is self-discipline. Unknown
It’s not who starts the game, it’s who finishes the game—be a finisher. Unknown
Buy in or buy a ticket. Wes Peek Basketball Quotes
Courage is not the absence of fear, but simply moving on with dignity despite that fear. Pat Riley
If you want to be the best player, then you have to be the hardest worker. Unknown
Life is like a bucket of water. We are a part of the whole. But how big is the hole that is left when we take away a large cup of water? The hole suddenly fills up and…so life goes. The nature of life is that there is always someone who can and will take your place, when you think you are irreplaceable. Unknown
A player’s goal every practice and every improvement season skill workout should be to improve yourself for the benefit of the team. Unknown
If you pay attention to the grandstands…it won’t be long before you join them. Unknown
You play defense for 50% of the time you are on the floor , you have 5 players when you are on offense, so simple math says that 90% of the game does not involve shooting. Unknown
The best offensive players have ball in their hand as long as they need to…not as long as they want to. Unknown
Never let the fear of failing discourage you from trying. Sue Bird
You are most open when you first receive the ball—be ready to do something with it. Unknown
Attitudes are contagious…Is yours worth catching? Unknown
Your role is not your value. Bill Self
Don’t ever allow the pressure of competition to be greater than the pleasure of competition. Jimmy Rodgers
The best way to improve your shooting percentage is to take better shots. Unknown
Ball Screener – Goal is to Arrive at the screen without your Defender. Unknown
You don’t improve during the playoffs. You improve at practice. Unknown
Don’t tell me how tough the situation is, show me how tough you are at handling it. Unknown
It is as big a mistake to turn down a good shot as it is to take a bad one. Ed Murphy
The more things you can do, the harder you are to keep out of the lineup. Unknown
Body language says a lot about a person. What does yours say about you? Unknown
Screening Rule– Don’t Screen Air screen the defender. Unknown
Great efforts springs naturally from great attitude. Pat Riley
You either get better or we get worse. You don’t stay the same, so we have to use every practice and workout to get better. Mike Sorrell
It is amazing what can be accomplished when NO ONE CARES who gets the credit. Unknown
Winning takes character. Workers get the most out of themselves. When a body has limited talent, it must muster all its resources of character to overcome adversity. Pete Carril
Champions do not become champions on the court. They become recognized on the court. They become champions because of their daily routine and commitment to excellence. Unknown
Hearing ‘no’ is part of life. Reacting to ‘no’ is how life moves forward for you. Don’t let no paralyze you. Make it motivate you! Kevin Eastman
Learn to have fun when competing. Unknown
You have to go out and find the best competition to play against out of season to make yourself better. Unknown
Success doesn’t come from potential, success comes from production. Unknown
You have to play so hard that it hurts! Kyle Johnson
Lack of confidence is born from a lack of preparation. Unknown
The players that make the game-winners are the players that are not afraid to miss them. John Calipari
Don’t tell me how good you are, show me! Jack Michels Sr.
When you play hard, you don’t foul because you move your feet and get in position. Unknown
The best learning technique is pushing yourself past your limits until you make a mistake-Mistakes are your education. Unknown
Two keys to being effective with the ball are the shot fake and the pass fake. Bob Knight
Champions have no off-season. Dan Bailey
Your energy level is controlled by your thoughts. Unknown
False Hustle = cheap fouls, lunging, reaching, etc. Billy Donovan
The mind does not know the difference between a real and an imagined experience. Sean Galiher
When you’re through improving, you’re through. Unknown
I can check the level of your honesty and commitment by the quality of your effort on the court. You cannot separate sports from your life, no matter how hard you try. Your personality shows up on the court: greed, indifference, whatever, it all shows up. You cannot hide it. Pete Carril
Inspirational Basketball Quotes
A person really doesn’t become whole, until he becomes a part of something that’s bigger than himself. Jim Valvano
All great achievements have one thing in common–people with a passion to succeed. Pat Cash
Amazing how ‘truly’ tough people never seem to have to let anyone know they are tough. They just are and that’s enough! Kevin Eastman
Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt. Jose Ortega y Gassett
Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better. Pat Riley
Excuses are rampant in all walks of life except these: overachievers and successful people. They simply have no time and no need for excuses! Kevin Eastman
Negative thoughts are contagious and they get passed around like a disease. I inoculate myself against the fear of failure. Bill Foster
Good enough is neither. Unknown
Good is not enough if better is possible. Unknown
I do it because I can; I can because I want to; I want to because you said I couldn’t. Unknown
I seek to leave the world a litter better place than I found it. James Naismith
Never underestimate the heart of a champion. Rudy Tomjanovich
No excuses, no explanations. Tony Dungy
Once you’ve done the mental work, there comes a point (where) you have to throw yourself into the action and put your heart on the line. Phil Jackson Basketball Quotes
Skill development is a process-the player & coach have to be committed to-both need focus & enthusiasm the entire way-development takes time. Unknown
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. Mahatma Gandhi
The biggest difficulty in getting to the top of the ladder is getting through the crowd at the bottom. Bob Knight
The past is over, learn from it. The future is coming, prepare for it. The present is here, live it. Alan Stein
The true warrior understands and seizes that moment by giving an effort so intense and so intuitive that it could only be called one from the heart. Pat Riley
There are two pains in life, the pain of discipline, and the pain of regret. Take your choice. Unknown
Tradition never graduates. Unknown
United we stand—divided we fall. Unknown
We should do three things every day of our life. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is to think, we should spend some time in thought. And, number three is you should have your emotions moved to tears. Jim Valvano
When you make a mistake, 1) recognize it 2) admit it 3) Learn from it 4) Forget it. Dean Smith
Winning is a by-product of working hard, working together, and doing things the right way. Unknown
You measure a person by what it takes to discourage them. Bo Ryan
There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out. There’s no such thing as life in-between. Pat Riley
Basketball Quotes from John Wooden
You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one. John Wooden
Talent is God-given – be humble. Fame is man-given – be thankful. Conceit is self-given – be careful. John Wooden
If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over? John Wooden
A player who makes a team great is better than a great player. John Wooden
Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out. John Wooden
Never mistake activity for achievement. John Wooden
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
It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts. John Wooden
Confidence comes from being prepared. John Wooden
Be quick, but don’t hurry. John Wooden
Success is a peace of mind which is a direct result of knowing that you did your best to become what you are capable of becoming. John Wooden
Anyone who doesn’t make mistakes isn’t working hard enough. John Wooden
Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. John Wooden
When opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare. John Wooden
Good players can take coaching; great players can take coaching and learn. John Wooden Basketball Quotes
The choices you make in life, make you. John Wooden
Remember this, the choices you make in life, make you. John Wooden
Basketball Quotes on Teamwork
Basketball is a team game. But that doesn’t mean all five players should have the same amount of shots. Dean Smith
Individual success is a myth. No one succeeds all by herself. Pat Summitt
A Spelling Lesson: Unity begins with yoU ! Unknown
To be called a great teammate is the greatest compliment you can receive as a player. Unknown
People want to be on a team. They want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. They want to be in a situation where they feel that they are doing something for the greater good. Mike Krzyzewski
Teamwork doesn’t come naturally. It must be taught. Pat Summitt
Michael Jordan, Magic, and myself all learned how to play the game in college in programs that emphasized the team. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Teamwork: The fuel that produces uncommon results in common people. Unknown
Self-confidence is good & it’s important for your success; it’s also important to show confidence in others to make sure the team has success! Unknown
Bring your game, not your name. Ronald Powell
A team with five individuals thinking ‘team ‘ will defeat a group of superior individuals thinking of themselves. Dean Smith Basketball Quotes
Great teamwork is the only way we create the breakthroughs that define our careers. Pat Riley
Our titles would not have been possible without the unselfishness displayed by all our teams, the team wins, not the individuals. John Wooden
Good teams become great ones when the members trust each other enough to surrender the Me for the We. Phil Jackson
It can take an entire season to build a team and one incident to destroy the chemistry that was built. Unknown
An individual performance can change an outcome of a game but a team’s performance can change the outcome of a season. Coach Greg Dolan
There have been times that I have failed. But, there have never been times that I thought I would fail. Michael Jordan
As a parent, I have a job as a role model to my children, and by extension, to other young people. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Ask not what your teammates can do for you. Ask what you can do for your teammates. Earvin “Magic” Johnson
I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life, and that is why…I succeed. Michael Jordan
Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory. Bill Russell
Don’t let winning make you soft. Don’t let losing make you quit. Don’t let your teammates down in any situation. Larry Bird
We win because we play together as a team. John Havlicek
I didn’t do anything very pretty. My contributions were in the intangibles. But, they were the type of things that help lead a team. Wes Unseld
I have no individual goals. We play for one reason and that’s to win the title. Practice is more important than the games, and I will practice when I’m hurt, when 95 percent of the players in this league would sit out. I expect all of you to do the same thing. You will follow my lead. Michael Jordan
Due to my size limitation, when I came into the NBA other players tried to test me right away. But once they saw I wasn’t going to be tentative or intimidated, most of that stuff stopped. Now it’s fun to go out there against the league’s best, knowing that you have earned their respect through hard work and dedication. Mark Price
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. Earvin “Magic” Johnson
I was taught to play the game from a total team concept–to be able to do everything reasonably well and some things extraordinarily well. If I’m not shooting well, I’ll try to be an asset in other ways-like defense, passing, rebounding, and hustle. Rick Barry
If you are honest with yourself and can look into a mirror and believe that you have given 100 percent, you should feel proud. If you cannot, then there is more work to be done. John Havlicek
Leadership is diving for a loose ball…It’s about being able to take it as well as dish it out. That’s the only way you’re going to get respect from other players. Larry Bird
Limits, like fears, are often just an illusion. Michael Jordan
My father is my idol, so I always did everything like him. Earvin “Magic” Johnson
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
One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
I never looked at the consequences of missing a big shot… when you think about the consequences you always think of a negative result. Michael Jordan
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. Wilt Chamberlain
Use your scoring ability to be a better passer, and your passing skills to become a better scorer. Steve Nash Basketball Quotes
When time is running out and the score is close, most players are thinking, I don’t want to be the one to lose the game, but I’m thinking, What do I have to do to win? Jerry West
You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. Michael Jordan
I never think about missing a free throw. All that goes through my mind when I’m at the line is seeing the ball go through the bottom of the net. Brad Daugherty
You maximize your potential by being humble, develop a work ethic, strive to be a good person, and to be the best teammate you can be. Steve Nash
You don’t get much done if you only work on the days when you feel like it. Jerry West
I’m a firm believer in quiet confidence. By that I mean knowing inwardly that you are good, and not exhibiting a boastful attitude outwardly. If an athlete doesn’t believe in himself, no one else will. Dick Van Arsdale
At 49, I can say something I never would have said when I was a player. I am a better person because of my failures and disgraces. Bill Walton
You should always want your coach to be critical. It gives you an opportunity to learn and to overcome adversity. Steve Nash
You’re always going to face criticism, you’re always going to face challenges, but those things are there to make you stronger and more committed. David Robinson
I am always thinking how can I get myself better. Steve Nash
Have fun doing whatever it is that you desire to accomplish. Learn it one step at a time, emphasizing the fundamentals, and do it because you love it, not because it’s work. Paul Westphal
I dribbled by the hour with my left hand when I was young. I didn’t have full control, but I got so I could move the ball back and forth from one hand to the other without breaking the cadence of my dribble. I wasn’t dribbling behind my back or setting up any trick stuff, but I was laying the groundwork for it. Bob Cousy
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
Basketball Quotes from Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when you serve your teammates with unselfish motives. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your team’s mascot) when you would rather encourage a teammate to succeed than benefit personally from his or her mistakes. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when you understand your commitment to your teammates. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when You play without the option of defeat. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when you understand the irrelevance of individual awards. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when you think you can, and you do. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when you do the little things right, even when nobody is watching. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when You understand your commitment to your teammates. Don Meyer
Proper prior planning prevents pitiful poor performance. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when your effort is constant and your play is consistent regardless of the situation. Don Meyer
In practice, don’t just run basketball drills, teach the players how to play basketball. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when You have an unquenchable need to exceed your past limitations. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when you understand your role and strive to perform it better. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when you will exchange your blood, sweat, and tears for the benefit of the team. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when you give more than what is asked and take less than what is deserved. Don Meyer Basketball Quotes
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when you use your mistakes to improve instead of using them as excuses. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when you don’t care if you are the one who sets the screen or the one who hits the winning three because fulfilling your role, whatever that role is, is most important. Don Meyer
It is foolish to expect a young man to follow your advice and to ignore your example. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when you play with pain without creating a scene. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when you understand that basketball is a team sport. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when you finish playing and only your body leaves the floor your heart and soul are captured within the game. Don Meyer
Be what ya is, ’cause if ya be what you ain’t, ya ain’t what ya is. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when You play and know, without a doubt, that you competed like a champion. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot) when your ability to make your teammates better increases each time you play. Don Meyer
Do you look at the ball or do you see the game? Don Meyer
Contact from the defense is never an excuse to lose the ball. Don Meyer
You can have discipline and be demanding without being demeaning. Don Meyer
You are a (insert your school’s mascot)) when you have a desire to excel for the benefit of those relying on you. Don Meyer
Basketball Quotes About Great Players
