201+ Best NBA Quotes (with Commentary)

The NBA, the world’s premier basketball league, has witnessed countless iconic moments, players, and game-changing performances. From legendary athletes like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to modern-day superstars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, the NBA has produced a treasure trove of unforgettable quotes.

These words inspire not only on the court but also in life, reflecting resilience, determination, and the unrelenting pursuit of greatness. Whether it’s a statement about the game, life, or the power of teamwork, these NBA quotes capture the essence of what it means to be a part of this high-flying world.

Motivational NBA Quotes to Inspire You

• “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” — Michael Jordan
• “The greatest teacher is failure.” — Kobe Bryant
• “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” — Tim Notke
• “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” — Wayne Gretzky (often quoted by NBA players)
• “Everything is practice.” — Allen Iverson
• “Success is no accident.” — Pele
• “Don’t stop when you’re tired. Stop when you’re done.” — Kobe Bryant
• “I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” — Michael Jordan
• “You can’t be afraid to fail. It’s the only way you succeed.” — LeBron James
• “What you put into the game is what you get out of it.” — Steve Nash
• “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” — Michael Jordan
• “Basketball is a beautiful game when the five players on the court play with one heartbeat.” — Dean Smith
• “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” — Michael Jordan
• “It’s not about the shoes, it’s about what you do in them.” — Michael Jordan
• “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” — LeBron James
• “I can’t do it without my teammates.” — Kobe Bryant
• “There’s no substitute for hard work.” — Kobe Bryant
• “I never had a problem with confidence.” — LeBron James
• “A champion is someone who gets up when they can’t.” — Jack Dempsey
• “I never looked at the consequences of missing a big shot… when you think about the consequences, you always think of a negative result.” — Michael Jordan

Wisdom from NBA Legends

• “The only way to prove that you’re a good sport is to lose.” — Ernie Banks
• “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” — Michael Jordan
• “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” — Michael Jordan
• “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
• “I like to think I am a perfectionist.” — Kobe Bryant
• “If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail.” — Kobe Bryant
• “The game is about respect.” — Kevin Garnett
• “The hardest thing is to have the confidence to shoot that ball, but you have to take that risk.” — Michael Jordan
• “To be the best, you have to play the best.” — Kobe Bryant
• “It’s not about the shoes, it’s about what you do in them.” — Michael Jordan
• “I’ve learned that you don’t have to be perfect to be a champion.” — Michael Jordan
• “Don’t count the days, make the days count.” — Muhammad Ali
• “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” — Billie Jean King
• “The more I practice, the luckier I get.” — Jerry Barber
• “Winning means you’re willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else.” — Vince Lombardi
• “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” — John Wooden
• “I always want to be the hardest working player.” — Kobe Bryant
• “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” — Wayne Gretzky
• “The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back.” — Vince Lombardi
• “The best players don’t need to show off; they make others around them better.” — Kobe Bryant

NBA Quotes on Leadership and Teamwork

• “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” — Phil Jackson
• “Great teams are built on trust.” — Jerry West
• “A player who makes the team great is more valuable than a great player.” — John Wooden
• “Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.” — Simon Sinek
• “I am not a role model. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.” — Charles Barkley
• “Good teams become great ones when the members trust each other enough to surrender the ‘me’ for the ‘we.’” — Phil Jackson
• “The key to success is teamwork.” — Larry Bird
• “When you’re a part of a team, it’s more important to build chemistry and trust than to think about individual accolades.” — Kevin Durant
• “A good teammate is someone who elevates others around them.” — Carmelo Anthony
• “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.” — Jerry West
• “I never really worried about being the best player, I just wanted to be part of the team.” — Kobe Bryant
• “You can’t be afraid to fail.” — Michael Jordan
• “Teamwork makes the dream work.” — John C. Maxwell
• “A good teammate doesn’t hesitate to help others, even when things are tough.” — Paul George
• “Winning is about believing in each other and working together.” — LeBron James
• “I always want to be the guy who will make the big play in the moment.” — Kobe Bryant
• “Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next.” — George Steinbrenner
• “In order to be the best, you have to beat the best.” — Michael Jordan
• “A team will always be greater than the sum of its parts.” — Jerry West
• “My teammates were always the ones that made me feel like I could succeed.” — Michael Jordan

Funny and Lighthearted NBA Quotes

• “I love this game.” — Michael Jordan
• “I’m just trying to be a good basketball player, that’s it.” — Kobe Bryant
• “I have no idea how to dunk on a 10-foot hoop. I just throw it up there and hope it goes in.” — Shaquille O’Neal
• “I don’t want to be the next Michael Jordan. I only want to be Kobe Bryant.” — Kobe Bryant
• “It’s not about the money, it’s about the love of the game.” — Kobe Bryant
• “I’m gonna take this game over.” — LeBron James
• “I’m just happy to be playing. I don’t take anything for granted.” — Dirk Nowitzki
• “I don’t always believe in myself, but when I do, I believe in me.” — Charles Barkley
• “I’ve got a little more swag than that guy.” — Michael Jordan
• “Basketball is my favorite sport, because it is just so much fun.” — LeBron James
• “They all doubted me, but I kept my head up.” — Stephen Curry
• “I can’t get enough of this game.” — Shaquille O’Neal
• “I have the best job in the world.” — Chris Paul
• “I don’t even know how I got here. It’s all a blur.” — Derrick Rose
• “The game is easier when you’re having fun.” — Dwight Howard
• “You don’t play for the fame, you play for the game.” — Michael Jordan
• “I’ll tell you this, we’re going to have a lot of fun.” — Russell Westbrook
• “I’m just out here having a good time.” — James Harden
• “I always try to bring my best every time I step on the court.” — Kobe Bryant
• “You can’t stop the wave, but you can learn to surf.” — LeBron James

NBA Quotes on Overcoming Adversity

• “Success is no accident.” — Kobe Bryant
• “You learn to play through the pain.” — LeBron James
• “There’s no substitute for hard work.” — Kobe Bryant
• “Never give up.” — Michael Jordan
• “Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.” — William Arthur Ward
• “If you’re afraid to fail, you’ll never make it.” — Kobe Bryant
• “You can’t let anything keep you from what you’re meant to do.” — Michael Jordan
• “The comeback is always stronger than the setback.” — Stephen Curry
• “The only way to avoid criticism is to do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” — Aristotle
• “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” — Booker T. Washington
• “The journey is not easy, but it’s worth it.” — Michael Jordan
• “The road to success is not easy, but it’s the only road worth taking.” — Michael Jordan
• “In life, adversity will come. How you respond is what defines you.” — Tim Duncan
• “Failure is just another opportunity to succeed.” — LeBron James
• “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond.” — Charles R. Swindoll
• “The struggle is the reason for the success.” — Kobe Bryant
• “Success is a journey, not a destination.” — Ben Sweetland
• “To be the best, you have to overcome the hardest challenges.” — Michael Jordan
• “Don’t be afraid of the challenges. They will push you to greatness.” — LeBron James
• “No one is invincible, but you can fight back.” — Kobe Bryant

Inspirational Quotes for Young NBA Players

• “The more I practice, the luckier I get.” — Jerry Barber
• “Don’t wait for opportunities to come. Go create them.” — Michael Jordan
• “Never stop working for what you want.” — Kobe Bryant
• “It takes time to become great.” — LeBron James
• “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” — Tim Notke
• “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” — Michael Jordan
• “I have no fear of failure.” — Kobe Bryant
• “Don’t stop when you’re tired. Stop when you’re done.” — Kobe Bryant
• “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” — Zig Ziglar
• “The grind never stops.” — Kevin Durant
• “Basketball is a game of self-belief.” — Kobe Bryant
• “If you want to be great, you have to be relentless.” — LeBron James
• “To succeed, you must first believe you can.” — Michael Jordan
• “Believe in yourself, work hard, and anything is possible.” — Kevin Durant
• “When you do your best, it will come back to you.” — Stephen Curry
• “Stay humble, work hard, and respect the game.” — Kobe Bryant
• “Your hard work will pay off if you keep pushing.” — Michael Jordan
• “It’s not about talent, it’s about how hard you work for it.” — Tim Duncan
• “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” — H. Jackson Brown Jr.
• “Success comes from hard work and dedication.” — Michael Jordan

Humbling NBA Quotes on Failure

• “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” — Michael Jordan
• “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” — Henry Ford
• “When you fail, it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.” — Michael Jordan
• “Don’t be afraid to fail, be afraid of not trying.” — Michael Jordan
• “The key to success is failure.” — Steve Jobs
• “You can’t succeed without experiencing failure.” — Michael Jordan
• “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.” — Truman Capote
• “Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.” — Keri Russell
• “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” — Michael Jordan
• “If you aren’t failing, you aren’t trying hard enough.” — LeBron James
• “Failure teaches you lessons that success can’t.” — Kobe Bryant
• “The only time you fail is when you fall down and stay down.” — Stephen Curry
• “You don’t win without failure.” — Kobe Bryant
• “If you’re not failing, you’re not trying.” — Michael Jordan
• “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Nelson Mandela
• “Success is not the absence of failure; it’s the persistence through failure.” — Aisha Tyler
• “The moment you give up is the moment you let someone else win.” — Kobe Bryant
• “Without failure, there’s no growth.” — Kobe Bryant
• “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill
• “Failure is not the opposite of success. It’s part of success.” — Arianna Huffington

Final Thoughts

NBA players have taught us that success doesn’t come without struggle and sacrifice. Through failure and adversity, they rise to greatness. Every quote from these legends holds a lesson in persistence, passion, and teamwork.

As you chase your own dreams, remember that just like these NBA stars, with hard work and resilience, you too can overcome challenges and achieve success.