Motivational Basketball Quotes

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

  Michael Jordan

  Basketball, Nba, Trying

  Michael Jordan (1994). “I can't accept not trying: Michael Jordan on the pursuit of excellence”

  14 Copy quote

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• It is not the critic who counts...The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Success, Courage, Badass

  Address at the Sorbonne, Paris, 23 Apr. 1910. Richard M. Nixon quoted this passage in his address to the nation announcing his decision to resign the presidency, 8 Aug. 1974. See Theodore Roosevelt 1; Theodore Roosevelt 2; Theodore Roosevelt 5

  36 Copy quote

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• Champions never complain, they are too busy getting better

  John Wooden

  Champion, Get Better, Complaining

  64 Copy quote

• The big time is not a place; it's the state of your heart. It's not something you get; it's something you become.

  Frosty Westering

  Success, Basketball, Heart

  62 Copy quote

• College coaches measure success in championships. High School coaches measure success to titles. Youth coaches measure success in smiles.

  Paul McAllister

  School, College, Coaching

  48 Copy quote

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

  Al McGuire

  Motivational, Basketball, Sports

  20 Copy quote

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

  George Raveling

  Inspirational, Basketball, Fall

  46 Copy quote

• I just love the game of basketball so much. The game! I don't need the 18,000 people screaming and all the peripheral things. To me, the most enjoyable part is the practice and preparation.

  Bobby Knight

  Leadership, Basketball, Practice

  10 Copy quote

• Shout praise and whisper criticism.

  Don Meyer

  Basketball, Coaching, Criticism

  17 Copy quote

• A person really doesn't become whole, until he becomes a part of something that's bigger than himself.

  Jim Valvano

  Motivational, Basketball, Sports

  54 Copy quote
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  Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.

  John Wooden

  Inspirational, Motivational, Success

  John Wooden (2010). “Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success (Large Print 16pt)”, p.148, ReadHowYouWant.com

  173 Copy quote

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• They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds.

  Winston Churchill

  Inspirational, Motivational, Basketball

  40 Copy quote

• Great teamwork is the only way we create the breakthroughs that define our careers.

  Pat Riley

  Basketball, Teamwork, Motivational Sports

  Pat Riley (1993). “Winner Within Success”, Putnam Publishing Group

  30 Copy quote

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• Criticize on defense and encourage on offense.

  John Brady

  Basketball, Coaching, Defense

  45 Copy quote

• 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

  Life, Basketball, Business

  7 Copy quote

• Never mistake activity for achievement.

  John Wooden

  Inspirational, Basketball, Motivational Sports

  John Wooden (1997). “Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court”, p.8, McGraw Hill Professional

  17 Copy quote

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• Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character.

  John Wooden

  Basketball, Motivational Sports, Character

  "The Wizard's wisdom: 'Woodenisms'", www.espn.com. June 4, 2010.

  91 Copy quote

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• You can't get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.

  Jerry West

  Inspirational, Life, Motivational

  91 Copy quote
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  Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.

  John Wooden

  Inspirational, Motivational, Positive

  "The Wizard's wisdom: 'Woodenisms'", www.espn.com. June 4, 2010.

  87 Copy quote

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• Any American boy can be a basketball star if he grows up, up, up.

  Bill Vaughan

  Funny, Basketball, Stars

  8 Copy quote

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

  John Wooden

  Life, Basketball, Motivational Sports

  John Wooden (2013). “Quotes from Coach John Wooden: Winning with Principle”, p.29, B&H Publishing Group

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• It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.

  John Wooden

  Motivational, Inspiring, Graduation

  John Wooden (2013). “Quotes from Coach John Wooden: Winning with Principle”, p.160, B&H Publishing Group

  101 Copy quote

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  Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

  John Wooden

  Inspirational, Success, Basketball

  John Wooden, Jack Tobin, Bill Walton (2004). “They Call Me Coach”, McGraw Hill Professional

  1806 Copy quote

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• Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.

  John Wooden

  Inspirational, Life, Motivational

  "This Speech Was Given Before The #4Women4AllWomen Run" by Powdered Feet, womensrunning.competitor.com. January 25, 2017.

  316 Copy quote

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• Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.

  John Wooden

  Basketball, Beautiful, God

  1275 Copy quote