We all need some inspiration now and then, especially when things get tight and overwhelming. If you are looking for inspiration, these NBA quotes from famous basketball players will build a powerful impression in your mind.
While basketball can be a great source of entertainment, stories from top players are powerful sources of motivation.
Kobe Bryant once said: "The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great at whatever they want to do."
The main distinction between top players and ordinary people is their enormous dedication and constant motivation. Similarly, we all have to put in extra effort to achieve our dreams.
This article brings you a collation of touching words from basketball legends such as Charles Barkley, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, and more.
30+ Inspirational Basketball Quotes by Top Players
"I focus on one thing only. That is trying to win as many championships as I can." - Kobe Bryant
"You can't be afraid to fail, it's the only way to succeed all the time, and I know that." - LeBron James
"I've missed more than nine thousand shots in my career. I've lost more than 300 games. 26 times, I have been trusted to take the winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan
Creator: Scott Cunningham, Scott Cunningham | Credit: NBAE via Getty Images Copyright: 1998 NBAE
"Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard." - Kevin Durant
"My parents are my backbone. Still are. They are the only group that will support you if you score zero or you score 40." - Kobe Bryant
"I've always believed that success for anyone is all about drive, dedication, and desire. But for me, it's always about confidence and faith." - Stephen Curry
"If you're afraid of failure you don't deserve to be successful." - Charles Barkley
"If you are afraid to fail, then you are probably going to fail." - Kobe Bryant
"One man can be a crucial ingredient in a team, but one man can not make a team." - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." - Phil Jackson
"Everything negative: pressure, challenge. It is all an opportunity for me to rise" - Kobe Bryant
"I know fear is an obstacle for some people, but it is an illusion to me. Failure always made me try harder the next time." - Michael Jordan
"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses the skills to accomplish his goals." - Larry Bird
"No alarm clock needed, my passion wakes me up." - Kyrie Irving
"At the end of 2003, my game was complete - shooting, defense, using the dribble, transition, midrange stuff was all there. Then it was about fine-tuning and trying to improve in each area." - Kobe Bryant
"I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying." - Michael Jordan
"I know that I am never as good or bad as any single performance. I have never believed my critics or worshippers, and I have always been able to leave the game at the arena." - Charles Barkley
"A lot of late nights in the gym. A lot of early mornings. Especially when your friends are going out, you are going to the gym. Those are the sacrifices that you have to make if you want to be an NBA player." - Jason Kidd
"It is different from being 21 and you think there is an endless amount of opportunities. At 33, the ending is much, much closer." - Kobe Bryant
"I want to practice to the point where it's almost uncomfortable how fast you shoot so that in the game things kind of slow down." - Stephen Curry
"My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength." - Michael Jordan
"I couldn't care less if the guy I'm guarding has HIV. I'm going to slam him anyway." - Dennis Rodman
"When I lose the sense of motivation and the sense to prove something as a basketball player, it's time for me to move away from the game." - Michael Jordan
"Once you are labeled the best, you want to stay up there. You can't do it by loafing around. If I don't keep changing, I'm history." - Larry Bird
"As I sit here now, when I take off my shoe and I look at my scar. I see the beauty in it. I see the hard work; all the sacrifices. I see the journey that it took back to this point of being healthy, and I see the beauty in that struggle. That's what makes it beautiful." - Kobe Bryant
"I've never been afraid of big moments. I get butterflies. I get nervous and anxious. But I think those are all good signs that I'm ready for the moment." - Stephen Curry
"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
"I always laugh when people ask me about rebounding techniques. I've got a technique, it's called just-go-get-the-damn-ball." - Charles Barkley
"I try to do the right thing at the right time. They may just be little things, but usually, they make the difference between winning and losing." - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
"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 have lost your focus." - Michael Jordan
"To succeed you have to believe in something with such passion that it becomes reality." - Lucy Doncic
"If you want to look good in front of thousands, you have to outwork thousands in front of nobody." - Damian Lillard
Conclusion: Inspirational Basketball Quotes
Sometimes, wisdom in just a few sentences is what you need to keep going. Listening to the words of people who have succeeded is motivation and encouragement for everyone afraid of going after their dreams.
Basketball isn't just a game. It teaches how to deal with differences and hardships. We hope that these inspirational basketball quotes help you achieve your dreams.
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