“What distinguishes a great player is his presence. When he goes on to the court, his presence dominates the atmosphere.”— Bill Russell, sportsfeelgoodstories.com
“The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot.”— Bill Russell, sportsfeelgoodstories.com
“Retiring was my final victory. Not staying a minute too long, or a season too long, let me leave on my own terms. Knowing when to retire is difficult for any athlete or businessperson. You have to give up so much and start another life. But making that decision and sticking to it is one of the most…”— Bill Russell, csmonitor.com
“Red was a mathematician as well as a basketball man, and he drew on that as a coach. … Even in the final minutes of games, the abacus in Red’s mind was clicking away: ‘Okay, we’ve got three minutes, we’re up by ten, that means if we play good defense and don’t throw the ball away, we need three more…”— Bill Russell, csmonitor.com
“Most guys have a spot they like to start from, and nothing annoys them more than to see you there first, waiting for them. When I played Wilt, he used to get so annoyed when I would get to his spot because it meant he had to move me off his spot to start his game.”— Bill Russell, csmonitor.com
“I loved making passes in from out of bounds because I could see each of my teammates so distinctly in the rush of bodies moving this way and that. … [B]ecause I had acquired enough technique, I could slow those bodies down in my mind’s eye before I released the ball.”— Bill Russell, csmonitor.com
“Because I knew Wilt as I did, I was always seeking to take advantage of his good nature. I did whatever I could to make sure I would never get him angry or fired up. My battle plan with him was always to keep him feeling as comfortable as possible with his own game. If he ever felt pressured or show…”— Bill Russell, csmonitor.com
“We were turning the ball over and we were giving up offensive boards. We needed to stop giving the ball up and blocking out better.”— Tim Duncan, successories.com
“We know what we have left, and we just have to kind of get it done. We still have a chance to end up with one of our best seasons yet, so we just have to turn that corner and get back on a roll before the playoffs come around.”— Tim Duncan, successories.com
“They were solid all along. That's what killed us. Defensively, we tried to make them make some mistakes and get some turnovers, but they moved the ball well. Elton Brand was incredible. It seemed like he didn't miss a shot out there.”— Tim Duncan, successories.com
“We did a good job to fight back into it. We got the stops and jus made too many mistakes down the stretch.”— Tim Duncan, successories.com
“They did a great job double-teaming me. I got in foul trouble, my shots weren't going down, and things just weren't working my way. I tried to be as aggressive as I could, but they were defending me very well. I finally got some shots to go down late in the game when it seemed like it didn't matter…”— Tim Duncan, successories.com
“I don't hate anyone, at least not for more than 48 minutes, barring overtime.”— Charles Barkley, books.google.com
“I'm not a role model. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids.”— Charles Barkley, napavalleyregister.com
“We don't need refs, but I guess white guys need something to do.”— Charles Barkley, books.google.com
“The only difference between a good shot and a bad shot is if it goes in or not.”— Charles Barkley, books.google.com
“Basketball used to be so much fun. Now I don't sleep for a week at a time. There's a reason I never smile out there anymore. This is the coldest, flesh-peddlingest business around. Other people miss practice and you never hear anything. If I did, the front office would be down at the AP office typin…”— Pete Maravich, si.com
“Management has all the cards. They get the people and I work with what we get. At least I don't bitch and moan and demand to be traded. You think it's a bundle of laughs playing with a team that wins 35 every year? I still think this is a playoff team. I love New Orleans. I've spent a lot of my life…”— Pete Maravich, si.com
“I've always tried to leave my heart out there on the court...I appreciate every fan that has ever rooted for me and booed me.”— Kevin Garnett, brandonsteiner.com
“I choose to let the Timberwolves focus on what they're focused on and I'm focused on what I'm focused on. I still live in Minny. I still got love for Minny. You know what it is. I'm still a Timberwolf until I die, as I am a Celtic. And that's what it is.”— Kevin Garnett, kstp.com