Motivational basketball Quotes

Shout praise and whisper criticism.

— Don Meyer

Every day you teach attitude.

— Don Meyer

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

— Don Meyer

Always acknowledge hustle plays in practice.

— Lou Campanelli

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

— Don Meyer

There is no such thing as life in-between.

— Pat Riley

Discipline and demand without being demeaning.

— Don Meyer

Basketball doesn't build character it reveals it.

— James Naismith

Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise

— Michael Jordan

Effort and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.

— John F. Kennedy

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

— Don Meyer

If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it.

— Michael Jordan

Good teams become great ones when the members trust each other enough to surrender the Me for the We.

— Phil Jackson

A player who makes a team great is better than a great player.

— John Wooden

Parents would rather have their son get all-state than his team win the state championship.

— Don Meyer

Teams that play together beat those with superior players who play more as individuals.

— Jack Ramsay

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

— John Wooden

You can run a lot of plays when your X is twice as big as the other guys' O. It makes your…

— Paul Westphal

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

— Don Meyer

You always have to give 100%,because if you don't someone, somewhere will give 100% and they will beat you when you meet.

— Ed Macauley

I just love the game of basketball so much. The game! I don't need the 18,000 people screaming and all the peripheral…

— Bobby Knight

They said you have to use your five best players but I found you win with the five who fit together the…

— Red Auerbach

If you are honest with yourself and can look into a mirror and believe that you have given 100 percent, you should…

— John Havlicek

The big time is not a place; it's the state of your heart. It's not something you get; it's something you become.

— Frosty Westering

I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed. Some people want it to…

— Michael Jordan

Offense is spacing and spacing is offense.

— Chuck Daly

The will must be stronger than the skill.

— Muhammad Ali

False Hustle = cheap fouls, lunging, reaching, etc.

— Billy Donovan

Criticize on defense and encourage on offense.

— John Brady

One man cannot make a team.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

All really successful coaches have a system.

— Jim Valvano

Champions never complain, they are too busy getting better

— John Wooden

Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

— Michael Jordan

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

— Lon Kruger

The invention of basketball was not an accident. It was developed to meet a need.

— James Naismith

Good shooters take the shots; best shooters take most of the shots.

— Don Meyer

If you are afraid of failure, you don't deserve success.

— Nastia Liukin

There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.

— Pat Riley

To do the right thing at the right season is a great art.

— Helio Gracie

Champions have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.

— Muhammad Ali