Motivational basketball Quotes

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

— Don Meyer

Every day you teach attitude.

— Don Meyer

Offense is spacing and spacing is offense.

— Chuck Daly

Basketball doesn't build character it reveals it.

— James Naismith

Discipline and demand without being demeaning.

— Don Meyer

Criticize on defense and encourage on offense.

— John Brady

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

— Billy Donovan

All really successful coaches have a system.

— Jim Valvano

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

— Muhammad Ali

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

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

— Pat Riley

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

— Don Meyer

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

— James Naismith

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

— Lon Kruger

Champions never complain, they are too busy getting better

— John Wooden

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

— Red Auerbach

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

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

— John Wooden

When I was young, I never wanted to leave the court until I got things exactly correct. My dream was to become…

— Larry Bird

A guy who gives you less than what he has to give is, one, telling you what he thinks of you, and…

— Pete Carril

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

One man cannot make a team.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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

— Michael Jordan

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

— Jack Ramsay

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

— Don Meyer

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

— John Wooden

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

— Phil Jackson

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

Every season is a journey. Every journey is a lifetime.

— Mike Krzyzewski

Keep it simple, when you get too complex you forget the obvious.

— Al McGuire

If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them

— Michael Jordan

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

— Steve Alford

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

— Dick Bennett

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

— Chuck Daly