You must understand as a kid of color in those days, the Harlem Globetrotters were like being movie stars.

I've been the type of person [and] the type of athlete, I don't like to be given anything. I like to earn.

Belief in yourself is what happens when you know you've done the thing things that entitle you to success.

We couldn't sustain it. And they got a lot of kids that can shoot. We just couldn't close out well enough.

This is a tough game. There are times when you've got to play hurt, when you've got to block out the pain.

Fundamental preparation is always effective. Work on those parts of your game that are fundamentally weak.

In 1981, at age 31, I was voted the best player in basketball, and the most valuable player in the league.

If you are confident you have done everything possible to prepare yourself, then there is nothing to fear.

Self-esteem is directly linked to deserving success. You must deserve victory to feel good about yourself.

Our offensive philosophy is to simply find a way to get the ball into the hands of our team's best player.

Mr. Watras asked me whether I was practicing, and I told him I was practicing my tissue basketball skills.

Footballs, basketballs, microphones, gas and grass... Just some of the few things that J-Ro likes to pass.

I love basketball, but playing basketball doesn't fully define who I am. I was always a good student, too.

Spend time with your family and try to spend time doing things that you enjoy doing other than basketball.

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

As a military child I first learned how to deal with different types of people and how to deal with order.

For order and a society to exist - and a basketball team is a society within itself - it needs discipline.

I think just by the nature of getting older, I hope that I'm a smarter basketball player than I was at 23.

The rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics endured for about eight years, and the interest grew each year.

At age 31, in 1981, I was voted the best player in basketball, and the most valuable player in the league.

Music has always been a big part of my life. It's kind of like a refuge for me. I just use it to get away.

He's got to bring something stronger than that. That's like bringing milk to a bar, it's not strong enough

To use a basketball metaphor, West Wing cast was a group that liked to pass as much as they liked to shoot.

There's always room for improvement. We have a nucleus that's pretty good. You want players that will help.

Failure is good. It's fertilizer. Everything I've learned about coaching I've learned from making mistakes.

A leader's job is to develop committed followers. Bad leaders destroy their followers' sense of commitment.

If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome.

I didn't say anything. Got nothing to say. I'm a married man; I don't need a relationship with another man.

I played basketball in high school, and I love watching sports - I'll watch everything except maybe hockey.

It's important for us, if we're going to be a good team, to be a good defensive team in the fourth quarter.

I think coaches sometimes foul their own players out of game by benching them too long when in foul trouble

I think the NBA players have to be held accountable in a reasonable way, just like any other professionals.

I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.

If you're playing basketball with someone who's better than you, you have to get better or else it's no fun

I would spend almost as much time planning a practice as conducting it. Everything was planned out each day

You're never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you're never as bad as they say when you lose.

I grew up on basketball, volleyball, that sort of thing. For me, track and field was a whole 'nother beast.

Georgetown. Alonzo was the guy I always heard about. I've always wanted to measure myself against the best.

Chemistry is important. If you like your teammates, it's going to be easier to play with them on the court.

I felt that a number of people might have questioned my loyalty, but I continue to be a patriotic American.

In all my years one thing has never changed; You win with serious, tough-minded players. That never changes

You got to believe in yourself. Hell, I believe I'm the best-looking guy in the world and I might be right.

I'm the NBA's best NFL player, and I've always been the sexiest 7-footer in the NBA - for 12 years running.

I've always felt that, you know, the Almighty has a lot of things to do other than help my basketball team.

It's hard when your father's the coach. Sometimes you don't know where one leaves off and the other begins.

I wanted a NBA basketball gym at my house and that's what I worked hard for and I was able to achieve that.

Evaluate wins and losses objectively, focusing more on effort and execution than on the outcome of the game

We just got our ass beat by a much better team. It happens once in a while. Does every team win every game?

I always designed my practice plans the night before and then made tweaks a few hours before practice began

You have a choice to make when you're not playing. Either you're invested and a great teammate, or your not

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