To help get you and your team excited and motivated we found 10 of our favorite quotes centered around teamwork, effort and lessons from the game of basketball. Check 'em out below!
I Think Team first, it allows me to succeed, it allows my team to succeed." -Lebron James
Like LeBron said, putting the team goals first will help you win games and ultimately win championships. Be an unselfish player, communicate on offense and defense, lift your teammates up in and outside of practice, and success is sure to follow.
A basketball team is like the five fingers on your hand. If you can get them all together, you have a fist. That’s how I want you to play." -Mike Krzyzewski
Coach Krzyzewski said it best, a team that is together and strong is a team that can execute plays efficiently, communicate well and defend, and win games.
All the successful teams I’ve ever seen have three characteristics: They play unselfish, they play together, and they play hard." -Larry Brown
There is a difference between being ambitious and being selfish. Selfishness can overtake a team and lead to division. Everything you do on the court should be for the overall benefit to the team.
Some say you have to use your five best players, but I found out you win with the five that fit together best as a team." -Red Auerbach
Another great quote demonstrating the importance of playing as a team. You can have the 5 best players on the court but players who fit together know the ins and outs of each other. They play smooth, can read each other, and help each other get better every day.
I know that I’m never as good or bad as any single performance. I’ve never believed my critics or my worshippers, and I’ve always been able to leave the game at the arena." -Charles Barkley
One game, moment, or practice does not define who you are as a player. Don't let a single performance feed your ego or weigh you down. Instead, constantly self-evaluate and learn the areas you can improve in and put in the work!
The key is not the ‘will to win’… everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important." -Bob Knight
Like Bob Knight said, preparation is key. It's more than going to practice and playing in games. Players need to do the little things like getting extra shots up, stretching, proper nutrition and recovery.
You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good." -Jerry West
You're not going to feel your best every day, but if you want to reach your goals you have to be willing to push through the hard days!
Basketball is a lifelong game. You continue to learn from the game day in and day out, and all along the way, you get better." -Scottie Pippen
Pippen said it best, there is something you can learn/take away from the game. Reflect on each game, watch film, and talk with your coaches to find the areas you can improve in.
There is a lot of basketball beyond our control, but a player should never let anyone try harder than he does." -Dean Smith
There are certainly things in a game that you can't control like the fans, refs, and competitors. One thing you can always control is your work ethic. Give your best effort and don't let anyone outwork you this season and good things will follow!
One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team." -Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
We keep circling back to this, but it's so important to play as a team! One person can score a lot of points but not only one person can defend, and not only one person can run an offense. It all starts in practice, work on building a great team culture with everyone working their hardest to improve in their position.
We hope everyone's season start off on a high note and remember like we always say, train hard, train smart, and train with a purpose, let's get it!
Check out our other basketball quotes to help prepare you for games, comeback from tough losses and more!