Inspirational basketball Quotes

You don't have to live anybody else's story.

— Stephen Curry

Don't let what other people think decide who you are.

— Dennis Rodman

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

— Don Meyer

Basketball doesn't build character it reveals it.

— James Naismith

It's not how big you are, it's how big you play

— John Wooden

You play with your soul as well as your body.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Play the game with a smile.

— Earl Monroe

All really successful coaches have a system.

— Jim Valvano

Basketball really had its origin in Indiana, which remains the center of the sport.

— James Naismith

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

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

— Michael Jordan

Character never quits; and with patience and persistence; Dreams do come true!

— Pete Maravich

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

— James Naismith

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

— Kobe Bryant

In practice, don't just run basketball drills, teach the players how to play basketball.

— Don Meyer

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

— Paul Westphal

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

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

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

— Don Meyer

This is a team game and one man doesn't win and one man doesn't lose. In the end, the best team usually…

— Wilt Chamberlain

I'm surrounded by nothing but great people. I've been blessed with that, so really, I've got no choice but to be an…

— Tim Duncan

I enjoy jokes, smiling, and making people smile. I may be a little different, but that's OK, who wants to be normal…

— Tim Duncan

The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.

— Kobe Bryant

I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and…

— Kobe Bryant

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

Practice habits were crucial to my development in basketball. I didn't play against the toughest competition in high school, but one reason…

— Larry Bird

I was shocked cause I didn't even know that they made my jersey. I didn't know that they made it so fast,…

— Jeremy Lin

Competition is great for everyone. Sports can teach you so much at an early age, including camaraderie and sportsmanship. Competition aspect is…

— Tim Duncan

One man cannot make a team.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The coach should be the absolute boss, but he still should maintain an open mind.

— Red Auerbach

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

— Nastia Liukin

Create unselfishness as the most important team attribute.

— Bill Russell

Defense doesn't break down on the help, it breaks down on the recovery.

— Chuck Daly

The only way you're going to get through life, happily, is being yourself.

— Nikki Blonsky

What you specifically teach is what your players will do best.

— Dick Bennett

We try to stress the little things because little things lead to big things.

— Steve Alford

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

— Magic Johnson

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

— George Raveling

I'm not the guy who's afraid of failure. I like to take risks, take the big shot and all that.

— Stephen Curry