Basketball Quotes: 5 Quotes On Tenacity & Basketball

I often sit back and think about all the great athletes and the unique stories many of them have about becoming successful at what they do. Every athlete I know has faced adversity of some sort. The difference between great athletes is that they know how to persevere during the toughest times. They know how to push through the wall, mold, and adjust to get to their ultimate goal. These basketball quotes embody what it means to never give up and to maximize your own personal potential.

1. "Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do." -PELE 

The only way you can maximize your full potential is if you have an all around understanding of what you want to achieve. Great players pay attention to detail and they are looking for every advantage over their competitor. I can always remember my college coach telling us players to enjoy the process. Initially I didn't know what this meant, but eventually I realized it meant enjoy the hard practices, sore muscles, long days and time it takes to be a champion. When you finish a workout or practice session and know you gave your all, it's a satisfying feeling. When you know hard work is preparing you for success, that's something amazing to look forward to. Having this mindset will allow you to love the game through the ups and downs and no matter what you will want to get better and reach your full potential.

2. "Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did." -NEWT GINGRICH

As a former pro athlete, I can clearly remember waking up and feeling like my body could no longer train or workout. The feeling of exhaustion and aching muscles is tough to overcome and mentally defeats most people. Finding the tenacity to overcome, will leave an exhilarating feeling of accomplishment and achievement. In all sports, players eventually hit a wall that seems insurmountable. The challenge is figuring out a way to get over the wall or better yet break through it. I think this quote applies to anything in life since we have all hit a wall of some sort and had to either give up or break through. The ones that choose to make it happen, lead successful satisfied lives and this is no different when dealing with sports.

3. "I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature." -JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER 

Athletes overcome many obstacles that may not even involve basketball. There are tremendous documentaries of athletes overcoming huge life obstacles that would have deterred the average person. Perseverance is a quality that can not be faked and requires mental strength as much as physical ability. During intense games or practices, players will become exhausted and physically drained. When this happens, one of the first issues a player will face is the mental aspect of the game. Your mind will tell you to stop or give in. Often times plays and assignments are forgotten and when this starts, you're heading in the wrong direction. You have to go against your human nature to give in and continue to persevere through the pain and exhaustion. 

4. "You can't get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good." -JERRY WEST 

Basketball involves a continual flow of ups and downs. Players get injured, shots don't fall and expectations are not met quite often in an athlete's career. It's very hard to stay even keel when things change instantly, but athletes that are able to battle through adversity and stay on their course will be the ones who ultimately become successful. It's easy to work hard in practice when you won the night before. It's easy to get better when things around you are falling into place, but the most important work you will put in will be based around the days that don't go according to plan. This is where the separation between good and great really takes place. The desire to train on days when you don't feel like it comes from a desire and drive within. If you can channel this and bring it out, you will give yourself a chance to maximize your potential.

5. "Your biggest opponent isn't the other guy. It's human nature." -BOBBY KNIGHT 

I included this basketball quote last because I personally think its the most important of them all. I believe it's essential for athletes to first believe in their skills and abilities before worrying about what an opponent is doing. My personal goal was always to be the best version of me possible. I knew if I put the time, effort and energy into becoming the best player I could be, it would prepare me for any opponent and any challenge in front of me. I would be lying if I said I never had thoughts of giving up. I would be lying if I denied thinking that I may not be good enough. I can truthfully say that when those thoughts crept up on me, I quickly shot them down and proved to myself in the gym that I was willing and worthy. As a player make sure to truly believe in yourself, it will take you far in life!

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