Play Basketball Quotes

#1. 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

#2. What I told [my teammates] after the game was I'm just fortunate [for] my 16 years because, this [injury] can happen every single night you go out and play ... It can be over in one instant, so you should appreciate everyday.

Charles Barkley

#3. Every team that plays us plays above their heads. That's because of me.

Shaquille O'Neal

#4. I need to work with great directors and actors, people who are better than me, so that I am challenged. It is like playing sports - surfing, basketball, it doesn't matter what it is, if you play with people who are better than you, then you get better too. It is the same thing with acting.

Paul Walker

#5. I knew Rick Pitino was going to make them play that outbreak, monkey defense. He's been doing it all his life.

Shaquille O'Neal

#6. I just go out there and play basketball. God's given me the ability. The only thing I can do is go out and play.

Chamique Holdsclaw

#7. Imagine Michael Jackson trying to play basketball or Michael Jordan trying to become a musician. They might not have been so successful if they would have chosen to do so. Regardless

Harshajyoti Das

#8. I play fantasy basketball and fantasy football, soccer.

Andy Murray

#9. The man above has given me some unbelievable abilities to play the game of basketball. I just try to take advantage of it every night. I got the trust of my teammates and my coaching staff to go in there and let it go.

LeBron James

#10. I'd love to play basketball with the president, or throw the football around or something like that.

Robert Griffin III

#11. I didn't so much think I needed to address the shooting need. What we needed was somebody who could come in and play the two-three (shooting guard-small forward) spot. If he could've been a pure shooter, great. But if not, we still needed somebody to give us minutes there. I like the guys we've got.

Joe Dumars

#12. Why is it that if you happen to be black and over six feet tall, everybody thinks you supposed to play basketball or football?

Terry McMillan

#13. But that's the thing about basketball: you don't play games on paper.

Bill Simmons

#14. Millions of guys play millions of basketball games every day of the week at the playground or the YMCA. But LeBron James gets $20 million a year because he can jam on all of those guys. We're always going to want to see LeBron and Kobe go at it.

Adam Carolla

#15. My opinion about basketball, the way I was taught, was when you step on the court, you play to win.

Larry Bird

#16. I only want to play basketball, and play it well and be happy about it. But I realize that with being famous, comes a lot of demands.

Yao Ming

#17. I also play a little bit of Tiger Woods once in awhile. Get on the golf course there, and pretend that I'm beating him.

Jason Kidd

#18. One of the questions I get asked a lot is, 'What do you do to stay in shape?' My glib answer is, 'I play.' But I mean it. Sure, I go to the gym, but I don't spend my life there. Most of my activity is outdoors, whether it's basketball or mountain biking or rock climbing.

Jason Lewis

#19. I'm a firm believer in that you play the way you practice.

Larry Bird

#20. You know what's amazing to me? America. There have been so many people who have stepped up, and I'm just proud to be an American. Yeah, there were some mistakes made, but I don't play the blame game. Let's move forward and rebuild New Orleans.

Charles Barkley

#21. That's how we like to play basketball, is be physical down there in the paint and force teams to the perimeter.

Bill Laimbeer

#22. People got to realize that the owners who been paying me are a lot richer than I am. It's not like I was born rich; I had to play basketball to make this type of money.

Moses Malone

#23. For example, Michael Jordan earns $100million a year but continues to play basketball and remains a modest human being.

Franz Beckenbauer

#24. Everyone thought I was going to die like a year later, they didn't know. So I helped educate sports, and then the world, that a man living with HIV can play basketball. He's not going to give it to anybody by playing basketball.

Magic Johnson

#25. In recent generations, women's sports have been a blessing. Some of us can remember the bad old days in the '50s, when we would discover in casual schoolyard play that a girl could outrun most of us or hold her own in basketball or hit a softball - but there were no teams, no coaches, for girls.

George Vecsey

#26. We didnt come out with any energy. We know were not good enough to let the game come to us. We have to come with high energy, play hard team basketball and do everything the right way. Coming into the season, we all knew we didnt have too much room for error.

Chris Bosh

#27. Basketball was always a game to me. One of the greatest things in life for me was to be able to play what I loved dearly and get paid for it. So it was always a game to me and that's how I perceived everything.

Larry Bird

#28. I played Little League baseball, but I also played basketball. Basketball was my primary sport. When you play basketball seriously, a lot of times, through the summer season, you continue playing. So that replaced me playing baseball.

Chadwick Boseman

#29. I wanted to do two things when I was growing up, about your age. I wanted to play in the NBA, and I wanted to be a businessman after my basketball career was over, and that is what I am doing now.

Magic Johnson

#30. Just because I had a good game doesn't change who I am,
my identity is in Christ and not in basketball, I love playing basketball and it's my job but at the same time I recognize that I'm a sinner and that's not gonna change regardless of how well I play on the court

Jeremy Lin

#31. This is a mind over matter thing. We have to find it within ourselves to play for two hours. We love the game, so it's not like we're doing something we hate. We're doing something we love.

Kay Yow

#32. You understand, you do not invent stuff on this team. Guys that invent stuff will not play for me. Make the easy play

John Calipari

#33. The thing I like about my body is that it's strong. I can move furniture around my apartment. I can ride my horse ... I can play basketball. It's a well functioning machine.

Cindy Crawford

#34. Working with all of these kids is great. It doesn't get any better than this, to come down and inspire kids who want to play the game of basketball and put smiles on their faces.

LeBron James

#35. I know how to play my guard spot, ... He can worry about the low post.

Kobe Bryant

#36. We are not going to play them; they are going to play us.

Henry Iba

#37. Always acknowledge hustle plays in practice.

Lou Campanelli

#38. Joy comes from places you least expect it. It's usually the simple things, like watching my son play basketball or going through Central Park when the blossoms are blooming.

Dave Gahan

#39. Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. It's where I walked. It's where I ran. It's where I cried. It's where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart.

LeBron James

#40. Collecting shoes is my biggest hobby. I've got a couple hundred pairs of Nikes and Jordans. I got a lot of hats, too. I like to play basketball, but nothing competition wise.

Chumlee

#41. Our goal is not to win. It's to play together and play hard. Then, winning takes care of itself.

Mike Krzyzewski

#42. You need your best players to play their best when their best is needed

Jeff Van Gundy

#43. I don't really have anything to say. Basketball is not a game that you can play with your mouth. It needs action to prove yourself.

Yao Ming

#44. I was a total jock growing up. I went to super-dorky basketball clinics and was handpicked to play on a state team called the Texas Heat.

Erin Wasson

#45. It's fun to play defense. It's fun to watch the opponent sweat on offense, start complaining to the officials, and eventually be taken out of the game because he's making so many offensive mistakes

Maury John

#46. I'm one of the best defenders to ever play basketball, so I'm still the first option on defense.

Metta World Peace

#47. The only reason I went to college was to play basketball. I injured my knee and couldn't play.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

#48. I've got five grandkids. They play baseball, they play football, they play basketball. I go to all the games. You always have that urge to say something when you're watching them. But I've learned to keep it to myself. I've blurted out some things and embarrassed myself.

John Madden

#49. People think I'm into sports because I'm a man. But I'm not into sports. I like Gatorade, but that's about as far as it goes. By the way, you don't have to be sweaty and play basketball to enjoy Gatorade. You can just be a thirsty dude. Gatorade forgets about this demographic!

Mitch Hedberg

#50. It doesn't matter to me what place I get traded to. If I was traded someplace - I'd play anywhere.

Kobe Bryant

#51. Hey, I'm just looking for an excuse to retire so I can play summer league baseball, go coach my nephews, play pickup basketball. I've always had that ability to move on to the next thing.

Doug Flutie

#52. Never be ready to play yesterday. Being ready to play today is what's important

Pat Riley

#53. When I was younger, I'd get very empirical with myself. "I have a hypothesis about myself. I'll put myself in a situation, see what happens, then I'll draw a conclusion based on the empirical evidence. Hypothesis: I can play basketball." So I'd try. "Conclusion: I cannot play basketball."

Demetri Martin

#54. It's part of my game, getting to the free-throw line and being aggressive. If you say that I get superstar calls or I get babied by the refs, that's just taking away from how I play. That's disrespectful to me.

Kevin Durant

#55. I'll never worry about not being successful. I'll just take it one day at a time, one season at a time. And play as hard as I can.

Bo Jackson

#56. If you want team play, you must stress defense. Defense makes players unselfish.

John Brady

#57. They say I couldn't play football, I was too small. They say I couldn't play basketball, I wasn't tall. They say I couldn't play baseball at all and now everyday of my life, I ball.

Lil' Wayne

#58. Now I see why everybody who plays for him doesn't like him.

Shaquille O'Neal

#59. Standing on that platform, I said a silent prayer. I thanked God for giving me the strength and the opportunity to come back, to play basketball again, and to be part of that whole magnificent Olympic experience. It's a memory I will always cherish.

Magic Johnson

#60. Champions play as they practice. Create a consistency of excellence in all your habits.

Mike Krzyzewski

#61. I would never predict a run like that. Last season, that's beyond reality. I think we can go 25-14. I think we can play 10 games over .500, even more than (that) over .500, and that would be a great run. Any time you go 30-15 or something like that, that's pretty incredible basketball.

George Karl

#62. Want to go upstairs and play ball?"
"Now, you're talking. Naked basketball. Always my favorite."
"Loser gets fucked first."
"Jesus, Thursday, every time you set that rule you cheat."
"What do you mean, I cheat? I usually lose."
"That's exactly what I mean.

Mercy Celeste

#63. I was a kid who loved to play games. Any kind of game, any kind of ball. Give me a baseball, give me a basketball, give me something I can bounce and throw.

Terry Bradshaw

#64. You know, God gave me a gift to do other things besides play the game of basketball.

LeBron James

#65. I've got four brothers, so with them and all our friends we had these sports parties in the basement. We'd play basketball, mini-sticks, baseball in the backyard, football, whatever it was. We were busy 24/7.

Rob Gronkowski

#66. Tennis was always there for me, which was lucky. I would go play baseball, basketball, football, hang with my brother, do whatever, and at the end of the day I'd come back and say, 'Hey, Mom, would you hit 15 minutes worth of balls with me?'

Jimmy Connors

#67. Probably the most important aspect of individual defensive play is the 'close-out.' This approach to the ball should be made in a 'step-drag action' with advanced foot moving forward first and then the back foot in a boxer's type shuffling of the feet.

Tex Winter

#68. I play a lot of basketball and racquetball, as they're both great for your feet and hand eye coordination. Other drills can help as well, such as simply catching a football in distant positions from different heights and velocities.

Antonio Cromartie

#69. I can play basketball, run track, and play volleyball, so yeah, I've always been an athlete at heart.

Vivica A. Fox

#70. It's hard to play well, but it's easy to work hard.

Kevin Durant

#71. But basketball was always something I was good at, that I was passionate about. I just didn't have the confidence to play in front of people at the time, at that early age. Now, I feel like I'm ready to play in front of people and play on the big stage.

Lil B

#72. I think it's important I stay connected to every part of my personality. I play basketball. I rock climb. I paint. I'm a little bit scattered, but it's so I can convincingly play all these characters.

Ansel Elgort

#73. People see my body and ask me what I do to work out. I play a lot of basketball, so I'm constantly dribbling and running up the court. I take a basketball with me everywhere I go!

Romeo Miller

#74. A lot of people talk about the Fab Five, and they were wonderful, one of the best teams you'll ever see in college basketball. But the '89 team is the best one to ever play at Michigan in my opinion because they won the national championship. Winning a championship is winning a championship.

Trey Burke

#75. I don't need my players to like me. I need them to play for me

Jerry Sloan

#76. There's so many young peoople who start to play basketball and never learn the fundamentals.

Oscar Robertson

#77. It's a luxury to play. I get to play basketball for a living. I'm a lucky guy and I'm thankful for everything I have and what I get to do. I realize how many people would give their left foot to just play one game in the NBA. This is the NBA!

Chris Bosh

#78. I tried golf for a while, but I wasn't very good at it, so I didn't play a lot of golf. I enjoy all sports, not just football. I like basketball, baseball, and I got into the World Cup. So really, sports in general are my life, and football specifically.

John Madden

#79. I knew I wasn't going to play professional basketball.

Bob McNair

#80. When I watch kids play basketball, they don't know how to think the game. They know what it should look like, but they don't know why.

Lisa Leslie

#81. Practice habits were crucial to my development in basketball. I didn't play against the toughest competition in high school, but one reason I was able to do well in college was that I mastered the fundamentals. You've got to have them down before you can even think about playing.

Larry Bird

#82. One thing my dad always told me, was he would make sure I always had what he didn't have. He couldn't play basketball because he didn't have tennis shoes - so I had five pairs of tennis shoes.

Robert Griffin III

#83. I'm Larry Sanders. I'm a person. I'm a father. I'm an artist. I'm a writer. I'm a painter. I'm a musician. And sometimes I play basketball.

Larry Sanders

#84. Elders of the Creedish church made celibacy sound as easy as choosing not to play basketball.
Just say no.

Chuck Palahniuk

#85. I made my first mix tape when I was 14. I used to play basketball and ride bikes, but I think I just latched onto music because I figured I could be really good at it on my own.

Wiz Khalifa

#86. If I can go to the U.S. Army and fight the war at 18 why can't you play basketball for 48 minutes?

Jermaine O'Neal

#87. Obama's the one who never worked a day in his life. He never earned a penny that wasn't public money. How many fund-raisers does he attend every week? How often does he play basketball and golf? I wish I had that kind of time.

Roger Ailes

#88. I lived to play basketball. Growing up as a kid, Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics were my favorite team. The way they played, the teamwork, the sacrifice, the commitment, the joy, the camaraderie, the relationship with the fans.

Bill Walton

#89. I tell the young kids, you have eight or nine months of the year to play basketball and the rest of the year you can relax. So, you've got to be ready. It doesn't last forever.

Ray Allen

#90. A big market is something that doesn't really concern me too much. It's cool to think about, it's good for off-the-court deals. But I'm more of a basketball player. That's what I want to be known as. And this is the best place for me to play basketball. I'm glad I'm here.

Kevin Durant

#91. People always assume I play basketball because I'm tall. I'd like to ask people if they play miniature golf because they're short, but I had a feeling breaking that one out right now wasn't going to endear me to anyone.

Aprilynne Pike

#92. My teammates at Duke - all of them, black and white - were a band of brothers who came together to play at the highest level for the best coach in basketball.

Grant Hill

#93. The motivation for me is just the game itself, just playing the game the right way and trying to win, compete every time I step out there on the floor. That's motivation enough for me to go out there and play well.

Kobe Bryant

#94. My thing is, I want to play basketball, I would enjoy playing in the D-League, but at the same time I don't want to take an opportunity away from a young guy to get exposure. I'm still thinking about it.

Michael Finley

#95. I led the state in defensive interceptions my senior year, with seven in nine games. Then I went to Montana to play basketball and found out quickly that my college career wasn't going to work out how I'd envisioned it.

Jeff Ament

#96. The NBA is all about winning, but at this level (college basketball) winning doesn't make you happy. You can win, and play lousy, and in my program, feel lousy. To me it's about: How good can we be.

Geno Auriemma

#97. We win because we play together as a team.

John Havlicek

#98. Baseball is the only game left for people. To play basketball, you have to be 7 feet 6 inches. To play football, you have to be the same width.

Bill Veeck

#99. I also developed an interest in sports, and played in informal games at a nearby school yard where the neighborhood children met to play touch football, baseball, basketball and occasionally, ice hockey.

Steven Chu

#100. 'Play the right way' means play unselfishly, respect each other's achievements, play hard, fulfill your role

Gregg Popovich