Quotes on Basketball

Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It's being able to take it as well as dish it out. That's the only way you're going to get respect from the players.

For me, it always goes back to something I learned in basketball. There's winning and there's losing, and in life you have to know they both will happen. But what's never been acceptable to me is quitting.

I have a plan of action, but the game is a game of adjustments.

I realize that although I'd like to make films as a career after I'm done playing, I really love basketball; I really love my career, an opportunity to compete every day and to push myself physically, mentally and emotionally.

I think someone should explain to the child that it's OK to make mistakes. That's how we learn. When we compete, we make mistakes.

As far as carrying the torch for the years to come, I don't know. I just want to be the best basketball player I can be.

After I made it to the NBA, I said that I didn't want to be the last player from Africa. After my rookie year, I went to the league and talked about this, and they embraced my idea and started conducting basketball clinics in Africa, and that's when I knew I wouldn't be the last African.

I will waste not even a precious second today in anger or hate or jealousy or selfishness. I know that the seeds I sow I will harvest, because every action, good or bad, is always followed by an equal reaction. I will plant only good seeds this day.

I can't tell you what an honor it is, to even be mentioned in the same breath with Arthur Ashe. This is something I certainly will treasure forever.

I can never stop working hard. Each day I feel that I have to improve. Hardwork...Determination...I gotta keep pushing myself.

When you are honest and open with young people, they let you in.

I was around when my father finished the last payment of his house. I remember like it was yesterday. He had worked all those years to own that house and he cried. He was so excited and so happy and I want to see other people get that feeling, too.

Everybody on a championship team doesn't get publicity, but everyone can say he's a champion.

Young people want you to be real with them.

I have to tell you, I'm proudest of my life off the court. There will always be great basketball players who bounce that little round ball, but my proudest moments are affecting people's lives, effecting change, being a role model in the community.

I'm a big believer in dreaming. If you don't dream it, you can't become it.

When I had troubles, I'd go out - with basketball, you can do it by yourself, too. So you'd go out and shoot, and you'd fantasize.

You have no choices about how you lose, but you do have a choice about how you come back and prepare to win again.

Basketball may have been invented in Massachusetts, but it was made for Indiana.

I've never allowed my political life, or my life as a basketball player, to define the totality of my humanity or my personality.

Look, I have no qualms about having played basketball. The game has done so much for me. Look at the places I've been, for one thing.