Player Quotes by John Wooden

A Dominican monk, Father Henri Didon, used it as a watchword for his pupils in sports at Arcueil College in Paris. Baron…

— John Wooden

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

— John Wooden

I discovered early on that the player who learned the fundamentals of basketball is going to have a much better chance of…

— John Wooden

I also wanted my basketball players to know that I really cared about them. Forget basketball; as a person, I cared, I…

— John Wooden

I never yelled at my players much. That would have been artificial stimulation, which doesn't last very long. I think it's like…

— John Wooden

Good coaching is about leadership and instilling respect in your players. Dictators lead through fear - good coaches do not.

— John Wooden

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

— John Wooden

I talked to the players and tried to make them aware of what was good and bad, but I didn't try to…

— John Wooden

Too many people look on outscoring someone as winning, I never tried to get that across to my players.

— John Wooden

One of my constant reminders was, "End practice on a happy note." I wanted the boys to want to come out to…

— John Wooden

The greatest ally you have to get things working well and the players performing as a team is the bench. Don't be…

— John Wooden

My bench never heard me mention winning. My whole emphasis was for each one of my players to try to learn to…

— John Wooden

What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player.

— John Wooden

The player who puts the ball through the hoop has ten hands.

— John Wooden

Since the most important responsibility of a coach in regard to the actual playing of the game is to teach his players…

— John Wooden

I do not want players who do not have a keen desire to win and do not play hard and aggressively to…

— John Wooden

I never let our players get satisfied, I never let our Coaches get satisfied, I was never satisfied. We can always do…

— John Wooden

You cannot attain and maintain physical condition unless you are morally and mentally conditioned. And it is impossible to be in moral…

— John Wooden

Although I wanted my players to work to win, I tried to convince them they had always won when they had done…

— John Wooden

If a player's not doing the things he should, put him on the bench. He'll come around.

— John Wooden

I always talked to my players about today. It's the only day that matters.

— John Wooden

A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good…

— John Wooden

Players with fight never lose a game, they just run out of time

— John Wooden

It is difficult for young players to learn - because of the great emphasis on records - but, ideally, the joy and…

— John Wooden

We may not be the best conditioned team in the country, but our players think they are.

— John Wooden