Basketball Quotes

I play basketball on Sundays and I'm a very spiritual guy; I read a lot of Eastern philosophy and I meditate.

I continually stress to my players that all I expect from them at practice and in the games is their maximum effort.

Five guys on the court working together can achieve more than five talented individuals who come and go as individuals.

Desire outweighs footwork when it comes to crashing the glass

Never give up! Failure and rejection are only the first step to succeeding.

When I dunk, I put something on it. I want the ball to hit the floor before I do.

I haven't always recruited for the best talent. I've taken a few guys who would fit for different reasons. Leadership. Toughness

Coaches who let a championship team back off from becoming a dynasty are cowards.

We would have two less championships here if it was not for Manu Ginobili. In my eyes, he's the stud of the world.

Whether I start or come off the bench makes no difference to me. My game has always been go as hard as I can as long as I can

The greatest sin a coach can commit is to allow kids to slide by. This goes for the classroom as well as the court

Don't give up. Don't ever give up.

I don't know if I practiced more than anybody, but I sure practiced enough. I still wonder if somebody - somewhere - was practicing more than me.

First master the fundamentals.

The glory of sport is witnessing a well-coached team perform as a single unit, striving for a common goal and ultimately bringing distinction to the jersey the players represent.

You have to earn your right to win the game with effort and togetherness

The NBA has the best point guards in the world, so it is important that I come ready to play every night.

Being a typical Pisces, I might have experienced mood shifts, but I don't remember any depression, or needing to do anything, or to have someone bring me out of being depressed.

A lot of guys go through their whole careers and don't win a championship, but are still great coaches.

You have no choices about how you lose, but you do have a choice about how you come back and prepare to win again.

My best move is probably my pull up jump shot.

The tough player is the one who is difficult to play against and easy to play with

Mick Jagger is in better shape than far too many NBA players. It's up in the air whether the same can be said of Keith Richards.

You build your program from the ideas of great coaches.

Never underestimate the heart of a champion.

I didn't get into teaching and coaching for the number of wins or the money. It was a passion for trying to help young people

If you're afraid to fail, then you're probably going to fail.

Pressure can burst a pipe, or pressure can make a diamond.

This is where young players today want to land. They want to be NBA players because of the money.

People who enjoy what they do, invariably do it well.

My thoughts before a big race are usually pretty simple. I tell myself: Get out of the blocks, run your race, stay relaxed. If you run your race, you'll win... channel your energy. Focus.

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

I'm not going to try to go out there and outdo him. I don't have to try to outdo him, I'm Shaq.

This summer is going to be a different summer for a lot of people. Everyone is going to take care of their own business and everyone is going to do what's best for them, including me.

A team is a group of players who support one another on court and who think of the group before they think of themselves

The Spurs are a great WNBA team.

Stop by stop by stop. Play aggressively. Sprint back on 'D' and pay attention to how we're supposed to guard as a team

A person really doesn't become whole, until he becomes a part of something that's bigger than himself.

Nate Robinson has a lot of jumping ability, but I don't see Josh losing.

I'm going back to the old Shaq. I was normal last year - I was an earthling last summer. I had to go back to my alien roots.

If you're going to hire an assassin, let him go out and kill someone. I can't be Shaq taking six or seven shots.

If you've got a Corvette that runs into a brick wall, you know what's going to happen. He's a Corvette. I'm a brick wall.

My rookie year, I was very immature.

Magic Johnson, former basketball player, may run for mayor of L.A. in the next election. Remember the good 'ol days when only qualified people ran for office like actors and professional wrestlers.

I'll always be Number 1 to myself.

There's more to life than basketball. The most important thing is your family and taking care of each other and loving each other no matter what.

Remember that basketball is a game of habits. If you make the other guy deviate from his habits, you've got him

He knew I enjoyed the relationships of college basketball. All along, he was the wise one.

He could be dominant - if he played in the WNBA.

I think the NBA players have to be held accountable in a reasonable way, just like any other professionals.