Top 99 Inspirational Quotes From Basketball Players

Looking for some inspiration? Check out these top 99 quotes from basketball players that will motivate and encourage you to shoot for the stars.

Michael Jordan

1. “I’ve missed more than 9000 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.”

2. “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.”

3. “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”

LeBron James

4. “I like criticism. It makes you strong.”

5. “I always say, decisions made in anger are never good. So I try to wait before I react.”

6. “I’m going to use all my tools, my God-given ability, and make the best life I can with it.”

Kobe Bryant

7. “Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.”

8. “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.”

9. “The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.”

Stephen Curry

10. “Success is not an accident, success is actually a choice.”

11. “The only limits are the ones you put on yourself.”

12. “I can get better. I haven’t reached my ceiling yet on how well I can shoot the basketball.”

Kevin Durant

13. “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.”

14. “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.”

15. “I just try to play the game and be as good as I can be.”

Shaquille O’Neal

16. “I’m a little bit different. I don’t come from a normal background.”

17. “Excellence is not a singular act but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.”

18. “I’m a big teddy bear.”

Allen Iverson

19. “I don’t know what my future holds, but I do know who holds my future.”

20. “I always say that when I step on the court, I’m ready to play. And if you’re not, then I’m going to embarrass you.”

21. “I don’t want to be forgotten. I don’t want my name to go away in history.”

Dwayne Wade

22. “Success is just being happy. And I try so many different things. I do a lot of different things. Because I think God has helped me to love myself. I know who God is, and I love God.”

23. “I’ve been blessed to have a long career, and the key has been balance.”

24. “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.”

Paul Pierce

25. “I’m not afraid of big moments.”

26. “I’m a competitor. I love to compete, and I think that’s the biggest thing.”

27. “I think greatness is just something you have to strive for.”

Dirk Nowitzki

28. “I was always a believer in work, and I still am.”

29. “I’m not the most athletic guy, not the fastest guy, not the highest jumper, but I’ve always been able to shoot the ball.”

30. “I’m extremely competitive, so I compete in everything I do.”

Tim Duncan

31. “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.”

32. “I don’t like to be called a superstar, but I guess I have to live with that tag. I’m just a regular guy who likes what he does.”

33. “I don’t know how much I have left in the tank, but I do know I still love the game.”

Kevin Garnett

34. “Anything is possible.”

35. “I’m loyal to the people that are loyal to me.”

36. “I’m a workaholic.”

Draymond Green

37. “I’m not a scorer. I never have been. I try to do everything.”

38. “I’m not the tallest, I’m not the most athletic, but I’m going to work everybody.”

39. “I’m not a guy who’s going to score 30 points a night, but I’m a guy who’s going to do everything else to help my team win.”

Chris Paul

40. “I’m not one of those guys who’s afraid of failure. I welcome it. I think it’s inevitable, and I think it’s important to fail and get up and go again.”

41. “I’m a big believer in hard work, grinding it out, and not stopping until it’s done.”

42. “I’m not a coach, I’m a player, but I’ve always tried to be a player that coaches love.”

Carmelo Anthony

43. “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”

44. “I’m not trying to score 50 points a night anymore. I’m just trying to do whatever it takes to win.”

45. “I’m not the type of guy to pat myself on the back.”

James Harden

46. “I’m not a flashy guy. I don’t wear jewelry or anything like that.”

47. “I’m not worried about individual accolades or anything like that.”

48. “I’m not trying to be the next Michael Jordan, I’m just trying to be James Harden.”

Steve Nash

49. “I’m not going to be a guy who says, ‘I’m going to take the last shot’ or ‘I’m going to score 30 points.’”

50. “I’m not the fastest or the tallest guy, but I’ll go to the hoop.”

51. “I’m not really chasing anything other than just trying to be the best version of myself.”

Ray Allen

52. “I’m not a star. I’m just a role player.”

53. “I’m not a guy who demands respect from anyone.”

54. “I’m not trying to be a superstar or anything like that. I just want to contribute to my team and win.”

Blake Griffin

55. “I’m not going to shy away from any competition.”

56. “I’m not a guy who’s going to go out there and try to show people up.”

57. “I’m not really worried about what people say about me.”

Paul George

58. “I’m not a flashy guy. I don’t do anything that’s going to make you go, ‘Wow.’”

59. “I’m not going to be a guy who’s going to be a prima donna or anything like that.”

60. “I’m not the type of guy who’s going to talk trash or anything like that.”

Chris Bosh

61. “I’m not trying to be anybody else but myself.”

62. “I’m not the most talented guy, but I work hard.”

63. “I’m not the kind of guy who’s going to go out there and try to be the hero.”

Dwight Howard

64. “I’m not trying to be Kobe or LeBron. I’m just Dwight.”

65. “I’m not trying to be the best center in the league, I’m just trying