Famous Basketball Quotes

Basketball is one of the most popular sports around the world. Some well-known quotes related to this amazing sport help us realize that, despite all the fame, not everyone has it easy, as the career of any sports personality is marred by ups and downs.

Given here are some of the best basketball quotes, that will help you realize, that when the going gets tough, the tough get going!

People ask me if I could fly, I said, "yeah.... for a little while. - Michael Jordan

I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying. - Michael Jordan

Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen. - Michael Jordan

A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals. - Larry Bird.

When you are not practicing, remember, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you meet him he will win. - Ed Macauley

You can't win if you don't play as a unit. - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

A team will always appreciate a great individual if he's willing to sacrifice for the group. - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

All kids need is a little help, a little hope and somebody who believes in them. -Magic Johnson

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. - John Wooden

Never underestimate the heart of a champion. - Rudy Tomjanovich

Excellence is the unlimited ability to improve the quality of what you have to offer. - Rick Pitino

What to do with a mistake--recognize it, admit it, learn from it, forget it. - Dean Smith

Everything happens for a reason. I'm used to it, I prepare for it. Like I say, at the end of the day, those in charge of their own destiny are going to do what's rights for them and their family. - Shaquille O'Neal

Great effort springs naturally from great attitude. - Pat Riley

Remember this, the choices you make in life, make you. - John Wooden

Pressure can burst a pipe or pressure can make a diamond. - Robert Horry

As far as carrying the torch for the years to come, I don't know. I just want to be the best basketball player I can be. - Kobe Bryant

Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise. - Kobe Bryant

I believe that whatever we have, regardless of a trade being done or not, I feel we have a shot. I've just got to believe that we're going to be all right. I've got to just play basketball. - Allen Iverson

I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot. - Kobe Bryant

What I'm doing right now, I'm chasing perfection. - Kobe Bryant

I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. - Michael Jordan

Even when I'm old and gray, I won't be able to play it, but I'll still love the game. - Michael Jordan

I never looked at the consequences of missing a big shot... when you think about the consequences you always think of a negative result. - Michael Jordan

You don't play against opponents. You play against the game of basketball. - Bobby Knight

I play to win, whether during practice or a real game. And I will not let anything get in the way of me and my competitive enthusiasm to win. - Michael Jordan

My body could stand the crutches but my mind couldn't stand the sideline. - Michael Jordan

Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game. - Michael Jordan

I don't need too much. Glamour and all that stuff don't excite me. I am just glad I have the game of basketball in my life. - LeBron James

Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. - Michael Jordan

I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I don't do things half-heartedly. Because I know if I do, then I can expect half-hearted results. - Michael Jordan

It's heavy duty to try to do everything and please everybody... My job was to go out there and play the game of basketball as best I can, ... People may not agree with that... I can't live with what everyone's impression of what I should or what I shouldn't do. - Michael Jordan

The game is my wife. It demands loyalty and responsibility, and it gives me back fulfillment and peace. - Michael Jordan

These quotes truly help us realize that, in the face of adversity, it is only our sportsman spirit that helps us get through.