296+ Basketball Quotes To Inspire You in 2024 (Updated)

Hours Updated on Categories Inspirational Quotes

Today We put together a list of the best inspirational quotes for your basketball business, that are loved and highly shared throughout our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages.

These basketball quotes are those little reminders we all need every now and then and some are powerful enough to inspire us for the whole week.

Here Are the 60 Most Inspiring Basketball Quotes

  • “The only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it is possible.” – Charles Barkley
  • “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke
  • “It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.” – Magic Johnson
  • “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
  • “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King
  • “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Basketball is like photography, if you don’t focus, all you have is the negative.” – Dan Frisby
  • “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson
  • “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.” – Tim Duncan
  • “I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “The only difference between a good shot and a bad shot is if it goes in or not.” – Charles Barkley
  • “Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.” – John Wooden
  • “In the game of basketball, a player’s ability to perform is largely based on his ability to control his mind.” – Bill Russell
  • “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
  • “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden
  • “The only limits are, as always, those of vision.” – James Broughton
  • “The game of basketball has been everything to me. My place of refuge, place I’ve always gone where I needed comfort and peace. It’s been the site of intense pain and the most intense feelings of joy and satisfaction.” – Michael Jordan
  • “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan
  • “What do you do with a mistake: recognize it, admit it, learn from it, forget it.” – Dean Smith
  • “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
  • “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” – Michael Jordan
  • “The only person who can tell you ‘you can’t’ is you. And you don’t have to listen.” – Nike
  • “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” – Zig Ziglar
  • “It’s not the hours you put in, it’s what you put in the hours.” – Unknown
  • “I would tell players to relax and never think about what’s at stake. Just think about the basketball game. If you start to think about who is going to win the championship, you’ve lost your focus.” – Michael Jordan
  • “I’ve always believed that success for anyone is all about drive, dedication, and desire, but for me, it’s also been about confidence and faith.” – Stephen Curry
  • “The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.” – Pele
  • “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.” – John Wooden
  • “Basketball is like war in that offensive weapons are developed first, and it always takes a while for the defense to catch up.” – Red Auerbach
  • “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden
  • “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
  • “My responsibility is getting all my players playing for the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back.” – Unknown
  • “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that I’m going to be positive and not wake up feeling desperate.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.” – John Wooden
  • “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi
  • “The most important measure of how good a game I played was how much better I’d made my teammates play.” – Bill Russell
  • “To learn to succeed, you must first learn to fail.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Winning takes precedence over all. There’s no gray area. No almosts.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.” – Jerry West
  • “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” – Michael Jordan
  • “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson
  • “The only thing that’s changed is I’ve gotten older. I’ve grown up.” – LeBron James
  • “Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden
  • “I would tell players to relax and never think about what’s at stake. Just think about the basketball game. If you start to think about who is going to win the championship, you’ve lost your focus.” – Michael Jordan
  • “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
  • “I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “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
  • “The only limits are, as always, those of vision.” – James Broughton
  • “The game of basketball has been everything to me. My place of refuge, a place I’ve always gone when I needed comfort and peace.” – Michael Jordan
  • “In the game of basketball, a player’s ability to perform is largely based on his ability to control his mind.” – Bill Russell
  • “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King
  • “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
  • “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke
  • “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan
  • “The only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it is possible.” – Charles Barkley
  • “The only person who can tell you ‘you can’t’ is you. And you don’t have to listen.” – Nike
  • “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” – Zig Ziglar
  • “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
  • “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.” – Tim Duncan
  • “The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.” – Pele
  • “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that I’m going to be positive and not wake up feeling desperate.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.” – John Wooden
  • “Winning takes precedence over all. There’s no gray area. No almosts.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.” – Jerry West
  • “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi
  • “To learn to succeed, you must first learn to fail.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.” – Kobe Bryant

Top 50 Best Basketball Quotes

  • “The only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it is possible.” – Charles Barkley
  • “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke
  • “It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.” – Magic Johnson
  • “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
  • “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King
  • “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Basketball is like photography, if you don’t focus, all you have is the negative.” – Dan Frisby
  • “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson
  • “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.” – Tim Duncan
  • “I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “The only difference between a good shot and a bad shot is if it goes in or not.” – Charles Barkley
  • “Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.” – John Wooden
  • “In the game of basketball, a player’s ability to perform is largely based on his ability to control his mind.” – Bill Russell
  • “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
  • “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden
  • “The only limits are, as always, those of vision.” – James Broughton
  • “The game of basketball has been everything to me. My place of refuge, place I’ve always gone where I needed comfort and peace.” – Michael Jordan
  • “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan
  • “What do you do with a mistake: recognize it, admit it, learn from it, forget it.” – Dean Smith
  • “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
  • “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” – Michael Jordan
  • “The only person who can tell you ‘you can’t’ is you. And you don’t have to listen.” – Nike
  • “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” – Zig Ziglar
  • “It’s not the hours you put in, it’s what you put in the hours.” – Unknown
  • “I would tell players to relax and never think about what’s at stake. Just think about the basketball game. If you start to think about who is going to win the championship, you’ve lost your focus.” – Michael Jordan
  • “I’ve always believed that success for anyone is all about drive, dedication, and desire, but for me, it’s also been about confidence and faith.” – Stephen Curry
  • “The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.” – Pele
  • “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.” – John Wooden
  • “Basketball is like war in that offensive weapons are developed first, and it always takes a while for the defense to catch up.” – Red Auerbach
  • “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden
  • “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
  • “My responsibility is getting all my players playing for the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back.” – Unknown
  • “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that I’m going to be positive and not wake up feeling desperate.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.” – John Wooden
  • “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi
  • “The most important measure of how good a game I played was how much better I’d made my teammates play.” – Bill Russell
  • “To learn to succeed, you must first learn to fail.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Winning takes precedence over all. There’s no gray area. No almosts.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.” – Jerry West
  • “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” – Michael Jordan
  • “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson
  • “The only thing that’s changed is I’ve gotten older. I’ve grown up.” – LeBron James
  • “Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden
  • “I would tell players to relax and never think about what’s at stake. Just think about the basketball game. If you start to think about who is going to win the championship, you’ve lost your focus.” – Michael Jordan
  • “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
  • “I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “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

Short Basketball Quotes For Instagram

  • Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” – Christian D. Larson
  • “The only shot you miss is the one you don’t take.” – Unknown
  • “Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.” – Vince Lombardi
  • “Sweat plus sacrifice equals success.” – Charles Finley
  • “Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.” – Larry Bird
  • “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” – Gary Player
  • “It’s not about the size of the player, but the size of the heart.” – Unknown
  • “The only easy day was yesterday.” – US Navy SEALs
  • “Champions play as they practice. Create a consistency of excellence in all your habits.” – Mike Krzyzewski
  • “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vince Lombardi
  • “Basketball is like life – it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and respect for authority.” – Unknown
  • “You can’t have a million-dollar dream with a minimum-wage work ethic.” – Unknown
  • “In basketball and in life, true joy comes from being fully present in each and every moment.” – Phil Jackson
  • “I can. I will. End of story.” – Unknown
  • “Hustle beats talent when talent doesn’t hustle.” – Ross Simmonds
  • “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Your work is a reflection of your commitment to excellence.” – Unknown
  • “The best teamwork comes from men who are working independently toward one goal.” – James Cash Penney
  • “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will.” – Vince Lombardi
  • “Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy.” – Robert Half
  • “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi
  • “You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.” – John Wooden
  • “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pele
  • “Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson
  • “You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.” – John Wooden
  • “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
  • “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson
  • “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.” – John Wooden
  • “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
  • “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that I’m going to be positive and not wake up feeling desperate.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.” – John Wooden
  • “I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden
  • “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan
  • “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
  • “The only limits are, as always, those of vision.” – James Broughton
  • “To learn to succeed, you must first learn to fail.” – Michael Jordan
  • “The most important measure of how good a game I played was how much better I’d made my teammates play.” – Bill Russell
  • “Winning takes precedence over all. There’s no gray area. No almosts.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.” – Jerry West
  • “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi
  • “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
  • “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
  • “The only person who can tell you ‘you can’t’ is you. And you don’t have to listen.” – Nike
  • “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” – Zig Ziglar
  • “The only easy day was yesterday.” – US Navy SEALs

Famous Basketball Quotes

  • “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan
  • “It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.” – Magic Johnson
  • “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
  • “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King
  • “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan
  • “The game of basketball has been everything to me. My place of refuge, a place I’ve always gone when I needed comfort and peace.” – Michael Jordan
  • “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
  • “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson
  • “Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.” – John Wooden
  • “In the game of basketball, a player’s ability to perform is largely based on his ability to control his mind.” – Bill Russell
  • “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
  • “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan
  • “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
  • “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” – Michael Jordan
  • “The only person who can tell you ‘you can’t’ is you. And you don’t have to listen.” – Nike
  • “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” – Zig Ziglar
  • “You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.” – John Wooden
  • “The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.” – Pele
  • “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that I’m going to be positive and not wake up feeling desperate.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.” – John Wooden
  • “I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “To learn to succeed, you must first learn to fail.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pele
  • “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
  • “Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy.” – Robert Half
  • “Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson
  • “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden
  • “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
  • “Winning takes precedence over all. There’s no gray area. No almosts.” – Kobe Bryant

Positive Quotes For Basketball

  • “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” – Christian D. Larson
  • “The only shot you miss is the one you don’t take.” – Unknown
  • “Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.” – Vince Lombardi
  • “Sweat plus sacrifice equals success.” – Charles Finley
  • “Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.” – Larry Bird
  • “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” – Gary Player
  • “It’s not about the size of the player, but the size of the heart.” – Unknown
  • “The only easy day was yesterday.” – US Navy SEALs
  • “Champions play as they practice. Create a consistency of excellence in all your habits.” – Mike Krzyzewski
  • “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vince Lombardi
  • “Basketball is like life – it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and respect for authority.” – Unknown
  • “You can’t have a million-dollar dream with a minimum-wage work ethic.” – Unknown
  • “In basketball and in life, true joy comes from being fully present in each and every moment.” – Phil Jackson
  • “I can. I will. End of story.” – Unknown
  • “Hustle beats talent when talent doesn’t hustle.” – Ross Simmonds
  • “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Your work is a reflection of your commitment to excellence.” – Unknown
  • “The best teamwork comes from men who are working independently toward one goal.” – James Cash Penney
  • “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will.” – Vince Lombardi
  • “Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy.” – Robert Half
  • “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi
  • “You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.” – John Wooden
  • “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pele
  • “Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson
  • “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
  • “The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.” – Pele
  • “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that I’m going to be positive and not wake up feeling desperate.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.” – John Wooden
  • “I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “To learn to succeed, you must first learn to fail.” – Michael Jordan
  • “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
  • “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan
  • “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
  • “The only limits are, as always, those of vision.” – James Broughton
  • “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
  • “Winning takes precedence over all. There’s no gray area. No almosts.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.” – Jerry West
  • “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi
  • “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
  • “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
  • “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” – Zig Ziglar
  • “The only person who can tell you ‘you can’t’ is you. And you don’t have to listen.” – Nike
  • “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden
  • “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
  • “Winning takes precedence over all. There’s no gray area. No almosts.” – Kobe Bryant
  • “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.” – Jerry West
  • “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” – Michael Jordan

Funny Basketball Quotes

  • “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.” – Michael Jordan
  • “I told him, ‘Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?’ He said, ‘Coach, I don’t know and I don’t care.'” – Frank Layden
  • “It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by then I was too famous.” – Robert Benchley
  • “The only way to stop LeBron is to text him that his hairline is receding.” – Unknown
  • “I would tell players to relax and never think about what’s at stake. Just think about the basketball game. If you start to think about who is going to win the championship, you’ve lost your focus.” – Michael Jordan
  • “I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.” – John Wooden
  • “I’ve been criticized for not having game. But I’m not worried. I’m LeBron James.” – LeBron James
  • “The only thing I’m addicted to right now is winning.” – LeBron James
  • “You can’t win unless you learn how to lose.” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
  • “I’m a basketball player. That’s what I do and what I love but that’s just not all who I am. I’m talented in a lot of different areas.” – LeBron James
  • “I’ll be honest with you, I’m not an athlete. I’m a professional baseball player.” – John Kruk
  • “I may be a dummy at some things, but I’m not a dummy at that.” – Charles Barkley
  • “My theory is that if you buy an ice-cream cone and make it hit your mouth, you can learn to play tennis. If you stick it on your forehead, your chances aren’t as good.” – Vic Braden
  • “I’ve never been a dunker. I’ve got four legs, and I can get up pretty high, but I can’t get up like those guys.” – Charles Barkley
  • “My basketball coach was a guy named Mike Krzyzewski, who’s now known as Coach K of Duke University. He ran his basketball practices the same way I ran my science labs. Very structured. Very organized.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson
  • “The secret is to have eight great players and four others who will cheer like crazy.” – Jerry Tarkanian
  • “I don’t care who you are, if you’re playing against him, you better bring your lunch.” – Tom Thibodeau on LeBron James
  • “I don’t want to shoot my mouth in the foot.” – Charles Barkley
  • “I know I’m never as good or bad as one single performance. I’ve never believed in my critics or my worshippers, and I’ve always been able to leave the game at the arena.” – Charles Barkley
  • “I’ve always wanted to be the best basketball player I could be. I wanted to play in the NBA, and if I couldn’t be a basketball player, I wanted to be an NBA coach.” – Larry Bird
  • “My basketball shoes are like new—except for the dust and the lines on the soles.” – Unknown
  • “I think that the team that wins Game 5 will win the series. Unless we lose Game 5.” – Charles Barkley
  • “When I dunk, I put something on it. I want the ball to hit the floor before I do.” – Darryl Dawkins
  • “We’re shooting 100 percent — 60 percent from the field and 40 percent from the free-throw line.” – Norm Stewart
  • “I’m like, why are you talking to me? I’m in the league. I’m in the NFL. And this guy’s talking to me about staying in my league. Him and his wig and his red nose.” – Shaquille O’Neal on meeting a clown
  • “I have a policy that I never criticize a player until they are dead. That way, I’m safe from any criticism.” – Phil Jackson
  • “I’ve tried to master a lot of things: shooting, ball-handling, defense. But I’ve never figured out how to take a charge.” – Larry Bird
  • “I told my team during the game, ‘It’s easy to get discouraged because you’re going to miss some shots. It’s harder to defend when you’re missing shots, but that’s what you have to do to win.'” – Geno Auriemma
  • “When I was young, I never wanted to leave the court until I got things exactly correct. My dream was to become a pro.” – Larry Bird
  • “I’m tired of hearing about money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok.” – Shaquille O’Neal
  • “I’m so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark.” – Muhammad Ali
  • “I’d hate to be a free throw in a close game. That shot has no choice but to go in.” – Chris Webber
  • “You know, a lot of people say they didn’t want to die until the Cubs won the World Series. Well, I’ve won two NBA championships, and I might die any minute now.” – Bill Murray
  • “The only thing that really bothered me about the joke was that it was from a guy I counted on to bury a jumper when it matters most.” – LeBron James on Kevin Durant’s “Inside the NBA” joke
  • “I was too busy celebrating with the cheerleaders. You know, one thing leads to another, and I’m on the shoulders of some beautiful blond.” – Bill Walton on missing the end of the 1977 NBA Finals
  • “I look at [basketball] like, ‘This is what I do, and if you like it, great, and if you don’t, don’t watch.'” – Charles Barkley
  • “I’ve always said that winning in Montreal is the most beautiful thing in the world, but winning in New York is like having your cake and eating it, too.” – Stephon Marbury
  • “When you’re a coach, you have to have a policy: if they do it for one, they have to do it for everyone.” – Mike D’Antoni
  • “What is so fascinating about sitting around watching a bunch of pituitary cases stuff a ball through a hoop? And yet, it’s just one of those American addictions.” – George Will
  • “I would tell players to relax and never think about what’s at stake. Just think about the basketball game. If you start to think about who is going to win the championship, you’ve lost your focus.” – Michael Jordan
  • “I’ve been criticized for not having game. But I’m not worried. I’m LeBron James.” – LeBron James
  • “I’ll be honest with you, I’m not an athlete. I’m a professional baseball player.” – John Kruk
  • “I know I’m never as good or bad as one single performance. I’ve never believed in my critics or my worshippers, and I’ve always been able to leave the game at the arena.” – Charles Barkley
  • “I’ve always wanted to be the best basketball player I could be. I wanted to play in the NBA, and if I couldn’t be a basketball player, I wanted to be an NBA coach.” – Larry Bird
  • “My basketball shoes are like new—except for the dust and the lines on the soles.” – Unknown
  • “I think that the team that wins Game 5 will win the series. Unless we lose Game 5.” – Charles Barkley
  • “When I dunk, I put something on it. I want the ball to hit the floor before I do.” – Darryl Dawkins
  • “We’re shooting 100 percent — 60 percent from the field and 40 percent from the free-throw line.” – Norm Stewart
  • “I’m like, why are you talking to me? I’m in the league. I’m in the NFL. And this guy’s talking to me about staying in my league. Him and his wig and his red nose.” – Shaquille O’Neal on meeting a clown
  • “I have a policy that I never criticize a player until they are dead. That way, I’m safe from any criticism.” – Phil Jackson

My Personal Favourite Basketball Quotes

  • “The only shot you miss is the one you don’t take.” – Unknown
  • “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pele
  • “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
  • “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King
  • “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” – Zig Ziglar
  • “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
  • “Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.” – Larry Bird
  • “Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy.” – Robert Half
  • “The only person who can tell you ‘you can’t’ is you. And you don’t have to listen.” – Nike
  • “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” – Michael Jordan

We hope you enjoyed these inspirational basketball quotes today and that they helped your day be a little bit better.

Which basketball quote from above is your favorite and why? Share it with us in the comments!

Grind Success is a place where entrepreneurs, start-ups, and business owners can find wide-ranging information, advice, resources, and tools for starting, running and growing their businesses.