Explore Quotes by Bill Russell

Most people have a harder time letting themselves love than finding someone to love them.

I think what has happened to our basketball team, we've been badly distracted. They're not reading too many positive things in the paper.

Commitment separates those who live their dreams from those who live their lives regretting the opportunities they have squandered.

I think that David Stern is probably the greatest commissioner that any sport has ever had in the history of this country.

What's more important than who's going to be the first black manager is who's going to be the first black sports editor of the New York Times.

People say it was the greatest individual rivalry they've ever seen. I agree with that. Let me assure you that if either Wilt's or Russ' coach had ever told one of them he couldn't guard the other guy, he would have lost that player forever.

We couldn't sustain it. And they got a lot of kids that can shoot. We just couldn't close out well enough.

What distinguishes a great player is his presence. When he goes on to the court, his presence dominates the atmosphere.

The last five or six days, I've been running. The last two days, I've been running pretty hard. Everybody's got to be someplace.

Durability is part of what makes a great athlete.

You got to have the killer instinct. If you do not have it, forget about basketball and go into social psychology or something. If you sometimes wonder if you've got it, you ain't got it. No pussycats, please.

Create unselfishness as the most important team attribute.

Heart in champions has to do with the depth of our motivation and how well your mind and body react to pressure - that is, being able to do what you do best under maximum pain and stress.