Famous Basketball Quotations

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"The second half was a back-and-forth basketball game. Give Arkansas credit. They made some plays and their kids played hard and I thought it was a great college basketball game that both teams had a chance to win at times."
by Billy Donovan
"They're a good basketball team and we knew they wouldn't quit. They handled our pressure very well in the first quarter and we couldn't get our run going."
by Mike Waldo
"This past week was a really tough, as basketball practice goes from 4-6 p.m. then on to play practice from 6-10 p.m.. There's not too much else to do."
by Jason Shelton
"Tonight, it wasn't spectacular basketball, but it was an absolute dogfight."
by Brian Goorjian
"To me, he's as unique a college basketball player as I've seen in some time. The thing I love the most is that he loves the game and works tirelessly at the game. You can't have the offensive repertoire that he has unless you spend hour upon hour in the gym. As a coach, that's something you really admire."
by Sean Miller
"Tucson is a big basketball city, ... The Wildcats are No. 1, but I think we're second."
by Robert Sarver
"We are very excited to add Bobby Gonzalez as our head coach to an already storied basketball tradition at Seton Hall. Our search process was very thorough and we talked with extremely talented candidates, but in the end we felt Bobby stood out as the best coach to represent the university and lead our student-athletes. He has an established presence in the metropolitan area and his teams have been perennial winners on the court."
by Joe Quinlan
"We are very appreciative of Jeff's efforts and dedication to Luther College and the men's basketball program over the past 15 years. Under Jeff's leadership, the men's basketball program has been competitive, continually displayed a high level of integrity, and enriched the lives of our student-athletes both on and off the basketball court."
by Joe Thompson
"We are thrilled to bring College Hoops 2K6 to the Xbox 360. College basketball fans are die-hard, so we worked hard to deliver a game that would bring the intensity of college basketball to life. College Hoops 2K6 creates unique and exciting atmospheres, which are only enhanced by the power of the Xbox 360."
by Greg Thomas
"We have a student body that is fired up about Bears basketball. It's a whole different level, the best our students have been since I've been here. This is a big game."
by Barry Hinson
"We had some fans claim that they can get a cheaper rate during the State Fair than during state basketball. (CHSAA) thought the problem had been taken care of; then I went to an outreach meeting with some of the small outlying schools and they asked about it again."
by Chuck Howell
"We're not even going to discuss it. It's a basketball team and we've got to focus on what we need to do."
by Phil Jackson
"We were playing in as good of a basketball place there is in the country. We competed for, I would say 40 minutes, but we just didn't do the little things that we needed to do to win the ballgame."
by Mike McConathy
"We set basketball back about 100 years in the first half. They shut down everything we tried to do and we shut down everything they tried to do. So in the second half, I played dumb. I told the kids to spread the floor, don't run any sets and just play basketball."
by Phil Colicchio
"We?re showing signs of playing our best basketball as we?re approaching March. That?s where you want to be at."
by Marty Barnes
"We've just been a little more focused. We're not giving up easy baskets like we were. A lot of it was just we weren't paying attention to details. We just have a new fire. We just accepted playing a different style of basketball a little bit."
by Kyle Korver
"When you're a GM ? or a personnel manager or assistant GM ? you're already in the basketball world. Which isn't the world of dealing, of business, of thinking how this fits with that. I wanted knowledge that went to another level. I wanted a statistical side other people don't have."
by Leslie Alexander
"You just want to be playing your best basketball of the season right now. We still have to take care of business at McFarland and go from there. As tough as the Badger South is, I hope that will help us come tournament time."
by Pat Murphy
"Allen has been playing some great basketball for us and Chris is playing like he did a few seasons ago. We need to keep picking up wins if we're going to be a playoff team."
by Maurice Cheeks
"You don't feel like an outsider, because at the end of the day it's the basketball game and everything you work for so many years coming up to this point."
by Pokey Chatman
"Andrew played a great game. He just played outstanding basketball. We need more guys playing at his level."
by Mark Slonaker
"Baseball is not like football or basketball, ... There are 27 outs to get and whichever team is best suited to get those 27 outs, to control that tempo, is going to be there at the end. We've gotten a huge lift from Chacon and Wright and I still believe in my heart of hearts the big guy is going to be dynamite for us down the stretch."
by Joe Torre
"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."
by Magic Johnson
"Erica is coming along well. She is making better decisions with the basketball and we love her defensive intensity. We obviously need that."
by Diane Foli
"He's part-time baseball player/basketball player/bowler/ golfer. I don't know about football."
by Kenny Lofton
"Helping the Opals win the gold medal is a goal of mine. That will be great for women's basketball in this country."
by Lauren Jackson
"I know a lot of people are so excited for George Mason. It's great for college basketball. Believe me, I'm mesmerized."
by Billy Donovan
"I had a shirt when I was little, because I played so much basketball, that said, `When you're off, shoot until you're on.' You just keep fighting through it until you get back into the game."
by Josh McCown
"I think Texas is a really good basketball state. We're ranked about 15th in our area. That tells you what the competition is like."
by Buddy Carlisle
"I think his career in basketball has come to the pinnacle at this point where he can celebrate everything he's done with his former players, current players, the players who will come after all of us. This is a testimony to how great of a coach he is, but as a person first and foremost just by the simple fact that he has this much support from everybody he's been around and everyone who's been under his tutelage."
by Ray Allen
"I'm very happy and proud for them because they've been model citizens. They keep our 100 percent graduation rate intact. But more than anything they're fine people. They're good basketball players, but I'm most proud of the fact that they have helped us move our program forward. Their last home game will be something to remember."
by Leonard Hamilton
"In college basketball this year, a one and two and three seed are pretty much the same quality team. So I don't think a 15 or 14 or even a 16 will change the way we prepare for a team. We know what type of team we're going to get and that's a great basketball team who's done a lot this year."
by Ibrahim Jaaber
"It's just getting better. The quality of basketball in the state is maintaining at a pretty high level. It's something that we get people out here to watch and get little girls interested in playing."
by Kendra Wecker
"It's just dirty basketball. It's plain, outright, dirty basketball. I don't mind the competition, someone going at me on both ends of the floor ... but when guys start throwing elbows and kick you when you're down, that's dirty basketball and I don't respect guys like that."
by Ray Allen
"Obviously, I'm pleased with the way we played tonight. We got a lot of good basketball from a lot of different players."
by Brian Gregory
"Our team is definitely playing its best basketball right now. If you look over the course of the last eight games, we've really been playing great defensive team basketball."
by Ben Howland
"Our quickness on defense caused them problems. We're playing our best basketball right now."
by Don Eckerle
"One of the biggest things that people say is that kids love football, they love baseball, they love soccer, they love basketball, but put a hockey stick in their hands and we'll find out where their true love is."
by Larry MacDonald
"People have problems throughout society. Basketball isn't any different. We're much more visible targets when it happens."
by Adonal Foyle
"Platt High School is a very good and very well-coached basketball team. For our kids to stay with them for as long as they did is a major accomplishment for them and something to look forward to for next year."
by Dennis Redican
"That was a big deal at the time, because no blacks were integrated with whites in anything - not in sports, basketball, football, nothing."
by Lionel Hampton
"That team knows how to shoot the basketball. I've been doing this a long time and never saw a team shoot like that before, especially from the perimeter. They were phenomenal."
by Jay Stanley
"That's probably the best quarter of basketball we've played all year."
by Chris Guess
"Once people start playing the game, they're going to forget we're not in the NCAA Tournament and just play basketball, because that's what we do."
by Connor Barwin
"She's got a very bright future. She's a very talented young lady who understands the game of basketball and the team concept. She understands her strengths and the strengths of the people around her. You want somebody like her out on the floor playing for you."
by Merle Olberding
"Our defensive intensity was spectacular around the perimeter. We're in the elite eight now and we're playing some good basketball against some good teams."
by Randy Reed
"It's great for college basketball."
by Larry Shyatt
"It's great for college basketball, for the league. He brings such a spirit and enthusiasm to the court."
by Tubby Smith
"It's been a brilliant season. Two of the squad members are also representing Yorkshire at basketball and we wish them well too."
by Mark Allen
"If this were women's NCAA basketball, this would be like going into Tennessee - there's nothing like it. We're fired up for this; when you walk out and there are 15,000 people screaming and the walk-out is like the NBA finals - hey, it this doesn't get our kids ready nothing will."
by Scott Bauman
"I just feel that the stall ball game is killing high school basketball. It is a strategy to win though and it can work. We also had a tough time guarding Kyle Irwin because he gets inside and draws fouls."
by Rick Clark
"He's just a tremendous competitor and we're so happy with him. He just helps us be a better basketball team."
by Johnny Davis
"It was basketball that really got me into (high jumping). I still played basketball even after I really got into high jumping, but more than one sport didn't hurt me in the high jump, that's for sure."
by Matt Fisher
"It was a great college basketball game, there were a lot of lead changes, the guys were playing hard on both sides. We got back in the game and we had a chance to win it. You have to give UNO credit, they played their hearts out. My guys played well; each team had chances."
by Dave Dickerson
"As a college basketball player, this is what you want a chance to have an opportunity to do."
by Lee Humphrey
"I'd like to have the first 10 minutes of the basketball game back. I thought we played a tremendous last 25 minutes. ... I thought the first 10 minutes we played afraid."
by Laurie Kelly
"I have been trying to do this since high school. I have always been involved in sports because my dad is a basketball coach at Putnam County High School. My father has been a basketball, football, track and cross country coach."
by Brandon Williams
"All the basketball players in the city, the NBA guys, the coaches, everybody told me to go see Herb. He's shaped the games of so many players."
by Malik Rose
"He was my first basketball coach,"
by Keyon Dooling
"And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is a famous basketball player. I want to really learn the business."
by Shaquille O'Neal
"Any time Detroit scores more than 100 points and holds the other team below 100 points, they almost always win."
by Doug Collins (basketball commentator).
"Football is the fourth most popular sport in America after American Football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey."
by Alan Parry
"George Shinn. He's the owner of the Charlotte Harlots basketball team."
by Ralph Kiner
"I played in Joe Louis in a playoff game. I played there when the roof caved in for half a season. The facility is great for basketball because it goes straight up, so you feel like the fans are on top of you."
by Bill Laimbeer
"I thought Chris Hunter's play for us coming off the bench was a big difference for our production and our ability to win this basketball game this evening."
by Tommy Amaker
"I was very familiar with him and Eddie [Jones] and Rick Brunson, ... I just know what he's about. He's a steady basketball player, rarely makes mistakes on the floor."
by Kobe Bryant
"I was very familiar with him and Eddie (Jones) and Rick Brunson, ... I just know what he's about. He's a steady basketball player, rarely makes mistakes on the floor."
by Kobe Bryant
"I've never even been inside of a dome. I've played football in a basketball gym, but never basketball inside a football arena."
by Lamar Butler
"It doesn't get any easier. We are going home to play the best team in basketball. That's the beauty of this league, you do it on a nightly basis and we can keep trying to get better."
by Lawrence Frank
"It is what you learn after you know it all that counts."
by John Wooden
"It was a good season for me individually. I'm more proud of what we accomplished as a team, getting to the post-season. At the end of the season, here we are � playing our best basketball."
by Kobe Bryant
"It's heavy duty to try to do everything and please everybody . . . My job was to go out there and play the game of basketball as best I can, ... People may not agree with that . . . I can't live with what everyone's impression of what I should or what I shouldn't do."
by Michael Jordan
"Most of our future lies ahead."
by Denny Crum
"We caught a team I thought was playing some of its best basketball. I thought Chris Hunter was a catalyst. He helped us get out of the box early. I thought with our defensive struggles, Chris would give us a better defensive presence."
by Tommy Amaker
"We have great trust in Vince's judgment. He wanted to put it on his shoulders and win it. It went in and out. We gave ourselves an opportunity for an offensive rebound. The basketball gods saw it another way."
by Lawrence Frank
"We had more consistent injuries than we had consistent basketball plays. We could never get that consistent feel of a starting lineup, playing with a set group of guys for a long period of time. That's hard to deal with."
by Rafer Alston
"You just try to take it one day at a time, ... You step on the basketball floor and just play. It's fun. I'm comfortable with it."
by Kobe Bryant
"If all I'm remembered for is being a good basketball player, then I've done a bad job with the rest of my life."
by Isiah Thomas
"Let me tell you a story. The day after Columbine, I was interviewed for the Tom Brokaw news program. The reporter had been assigned a theory and was seeking sound bites to support it. Wouldn't you say, she asked, that killings like this are influenced by violent movies? No, I said, I wouldn't say that. But what about 'Basketball Diaries'? She asked. Doesn't that have a scene of a boy walking into a school with a machine gun? The obscure 1995 Leonardo Di Caprio movie did indeed have a brief fantasy scene of that nature, I said, but the movie failed at the box office, and it's unlikely the Columbine killers saw it. The reporter looked disappointed, so I offered her my theory. Events like this, I said, if they are influenced by anything, are influenced by news programs like your own. When an unbalanced kid walks into a school and starts shooting, it becomes a major media event. Cable news drops ordinary programming and goes around the clock with it. The story is assigned a logo and a theme song; These two kids were packaged as the Trench Coat Mafia. The message is clear to other disturbed kids around the country: If I shoot up my school, I can be famous. The TV will talk about nothing else but me. Experts will try to figure out what I was thinking. The kids and teachers at school will see they shouldn't have messed with me. I'll go out in a blaze of glory."
by Roger Ebert
"Hockey is a sport for white men. Basketball is a sport for black men. Golf is a sport for white men dressed like black pimps."
by Renée Hicks
"It was a dream, not a nightmare, a beautiful dream I could never imagine in a thousand nods. There was a girl next to me who wasn't beautiful until she smiled and I felt that smile come at me in heat waves following, soaking through my body and out my finger tips in shafts of color and I knew somewhere in the world, somewhere, that there was love for me."
by Basketball Diaries
"Hang in there. Hang in there because the greatest quarterbacks complete only six of 10 passes. The best basketball players make only 50% of their shots. The top oil companies, with all their geologists, drill 10 dry holes for every wet one. And even the most successful actors flunk 29 auditions for television commercials before they land one. So, HANG IN THERE ."
by Anon.
"We blacks look for leadership in men and women of such youth and inexperience, as well as poverty of education and character, that it is no wonder that we sometimes seem rudderless. . . . We see basketball players and pop singers as possible role models."
by Arthur Ashe
"Basketball, hockey and track meets are action heaped upon action, climax upon climax, until the onlooker's responses become deadened. Baseball is for the leisurely afternoons of summer and for the unchanging dreams."
by Roger Kahn
"Baseball happens to be a game of cumulative tension but football, basketball and hockey are played with hand grenades and machine guns."
by John Leonard
"Basketball"
by Anonymous
"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."
by Bill Veeck
"America is sick. It's a country that worships basketball players and supermodels as deities and treats the poor as an enemy. You can see a human being shot to death on network television, but a human breast is too obscene to make the cut. We love war, we love our country, but we hate each other. Our entire society is structured around making money, often at the expense of another, and 'entertainment' assures us that it's all normal. Families are almost nonexistent, and the only safe neighborhoods are patrolled by armed guards with attack dogs. In short, we're heading for a huge Crash. Crash Site is attempting to accelerate the decline any way it can, and hopes to position itself somewhere in the middle of the New Republic once America is rebuilt. We're not conservatives, we're not liberals. We're Common Sense Hardliners."
by Crashsite
"Now tell me this. What would you consider the greatest spectator sport in the country today? Would you say it was baseball, basketball, footba..."
by Frank S. Nugent


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