Best Quotes From Basketball Players: Words That Inspire and Motivate
Basketball is not only a sport filled with incredible athletic feats and intense competition, but it also offers moments of profound wisdom and memorable quotes from its greatest players. These quotes capture the essence of the game, the mindset of its athletes, and the life lessons that transcend the court.
From motivational statements to humorous anecdotes, the words of basketball legends have inspired fans and players alike. This list celebrates the best quotes from basketball players, highlighting their impact and the timeless messages they convey.
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Table of Contents
#10: Hakeem Olajuwon (7’0″, 255 lbs)
Position: Center
“I always keep a ball in the car. You never know.” (circa 1995)
Accolades:
- 2× NBA Champion
- 2× Finals MVP
- 1× MVP
#9: Bill Russell (6’10”, 215 lbs)
Position: Center
“The most important measure of how good a game I played was how much better I’d made my teammates play.” (circa 1970)
Accolades:
- 11× NBA Champion
- 5× MVP
#8: Allen Iverson (6’0″, 165 lbs)
Position: Shooting Guard / Point Guard
“I don’t want to be Michael Jordan, I don’t want to be Magic, I don’t want to be Bird or Isiah. I don’t want to be any of those guys. When my career is over, I want to look in the mirror and say I did it my way.” (circa 2001)
Accolades:
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- 1× MVP
#7: Tim Duncan (6’11”, 250 lbs)
Position: Power Forward / Center
“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.” (circa 2005)
Accolades:
- 5× NBA Champion
- 3× Finals MVP
- 2× MVP
#6: Shaquille O’Neal (7’1″, 325 lbs)
Position: Center
“Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.” (circa 2000)
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Accolades:
- 4× NBA Champion
- 3× Finals MVP
- 1× MVP
#5: Magic Johnson (6’9″, 220 lbs)
Position: Point Guard
“Ask not what your teammates can do for you. Ask what you can do for your teammates.” (circa 1985)
Accolades:
- 5× NBA Champion
- 3× Finals MVP
- 3× MVP
#4: Larry Bird (6’9″, 220 lbs)
Position: Small Forward / Power Forward
“I’ve got a theory that if you give 100% all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.” (circa 1980)
Accolades:
- 3× NBA Champion
- 3× MVP
- 9× NBA All-Star
- 9× All-NBA First Team
- 3× NBA All-Defensive Team
#3: Kobe Bryant (6’6″, 212 lbs)
Position: Shooting Guard
“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.” (circa 2015)
Accolades:
- 5× NBA Champion
- 2× Finals MVP
- 1× MVP
#2: LeBron James (6’9″, 250 lbs)
Position: Small Forward
“You can’t be afraid to fail. It’s the only way you succeed—you’re not gonna succeed all the time, and I know that.” (circa 2010)
Accolades:
- 4× NBA Champion
- 4× Finals MVP
- 4× MVP
#1: Michael Jordan (6’6″, 216 lbs)
Position: Shooting Guard
“I’ve missed more than 9,000 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.” (circa 1997)
Accolades:
- 6× NBA Champion
- 6× Finals MVP
- 5× MVP
