Oscar Robertson

When I started playing, I wasn't fast, I was gangly, my jumpshot was terrible.

— Oscar Robertson

It's a sad commentary when I have to say that sometimes in our country we are real sensitive to race.

— Oscar Robertson

College coaches want to power the ball inside, they want (their post players) to power the ball up, but no one can…

— Oscar Robertson

Basketball is basketball.

— Oscar Robertson

Now, I guess, people want stars. People are trying to invent stars.

— Oscar Robertson

People will think there are no other great ballplayers. Look at Garnett. Look at Duncan, Shaq, Kobe. Look at the players with…

— Oscar Robertson

But I like to think an athlete is an athlete.

— Oscar Robertson

Just because it is an All-Star Game doesn't mean that you are playing as efficiently as you should.

— Oscar Robertson

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

— Oscar Robertson

Look, I think you should promote the game, but I think you should make it what it ought to be. Not some…

— Oscar Robertson

I don't blame David Stern because a player gets on the court and he doesn't put out competitively. No one can make…

— Oscar Robertson

They should have a rule: in order to be a sportswriter, you have to have played that sport, at some level; high…

— Oscar Robertson

But when I did it (the triple-double), I didn't even know it until someone told me.

— Oscar Robertson

You have to teach now - tell a kid how to box out, tell him how to pass, teach him footwork. Players…

— Oscar Robertson

You see what happens in college and high school games today - a three-point shot or a dunk. I think that's the…

— Oscar Robertson

People say that, but I think the NBA was bigger than Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.

— Oscar Robertson

You need a teaching coach who understands the game of basketball, not just some guy coming on the court talking about Xs…

— Oscar Robertson

Just fundamental things - I played guard and I played forward, so you get into a position where you are pivoting out…

— Oscar Robertson

But after that you don't see a lot of real good fundamental play. You see a showboat-type basketball which is almost parallel…

— Oscar Robertson

I think that teaching coaches are the norm now.

— Oscar Robertson

The Olympics were great, because you had to make the team, and then go to the games. Now, I don't know, these…

— Oscar Robertson

I think no one has written a history of the great coaches who were around 30 to 40 years ago who taught the fundamentals.

— Oscar Robertson

When I came into the league, once a team drafted you, they owned you forever. If they didn't like the clothes you…

— Oscar Robertson

When you play against different people from all walks of life you can't do the same thing against every player defensively or…

— Oscar Robertson

If you're a basketball player, you've got to shoot.

— Oscar Robertson