The Top 10 Basketball Motivational Quotes

Looking for some inspiration on the court? Check out our top 10 list of basketball motivational quotes!

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan

“The only way to prove that you’re a good sport is to lose.” – Ernie Banks

“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that’s why I’ve been successful.” – Michael Jordan

“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden

“If you are going to lead, you are going to have to follow first.” – Kobe Bryant

“Even when I lost, I learned how to win.” – Muhammad Ali

“How you approach each day and each challenge is an important part of success.” – Lisa Leslie

“Make each day your masterpiece.” – John Wooden

“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the best.” –John Wooden

John Wooden was an American basketball coach who is considered one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game. He was the Head Coach at UCLA for 27 years, winning 10 NCAA Championships Wooden was known for his Pyramid of Success, which outlined the steps necessary to achieve success in any field. This quote is from that pyramid and speaks to the importance of always striving to improve and be your best self.

“There is no substitute for hard work ” – Thomas Edison

This quote is often attributed to Thomas Edison, but it’s actually from a speech he gave in 1878. Edison was known for his hard work ethic, and this quote captures that sentiment perfectly. It’s a great reminder that there is no substitute for hard work if you want to be successful.

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan

This quote from basketball legend Michael Jordan is a great reminder that you never know what you can achieve unless you try. Even if you fail, you’ll always be better off for having tried.

“The only way to prove that you’re a good sport is to lose.” – Ernie Banks

This quote from Baseball Legend Ernie Banks is a great reminder that how you handle yourself in defeat is just as important as how you handle yourself in victory. It takes a good sport to be able to take losing gracefully.

“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi

This quote from legendary football coach Vince Lombardi is a great reminder that it’s not about how many times you get knocked down, it’s about how many times you get back up again. Resilience is an important quality for any athlete.

“Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” – Vince Lombardi

Another great quote from Vince Lombardi that captures the importance of having the right mindset in any competition. It’s not enough just to want to win, but if you don’t have the desire to win then you probably won’t.
“Without self-discipline, success is impossible, period.” – Lou Holtz

This quote from legendary football coach Lou Holtz really drills home the importance of self-discipline if you want to be successful in any endeavor. Without self-discipline, it doesn’t matter how much talent or ability you have – success will always elude you.

“There is no ‘I’ in team.” – Billie Jean King

This short and sweet quote is perfect for reminding team players that they are, well, part of a team. It is a team sport after all, and everyone needs to be working together in order to win. The quote comes from Billie Jean King, who is an iconic figure in the world of women’s tennis.

“A goal is a dream with a deadline.” –Napoleon Hill

1. “A goal is a dream with a deadline.” –Napoleon Hill
2. “People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.” –George Bernard Shaw
3. “If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” –Steve Jobs
4. “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” –Zig Ziglar
5. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” –Steve Jobs
6. “If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up.”
7. “The difference between a successful person and others is not lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” –Vince Lombardi
8. “You can’t put a limit on how much you can improve and how much you can do. There are no limits on what you can be, do, or have in life.” –Tony Robbins
9. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” –Steve Jobs
10. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” –Wayne Gretzky

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky

This quote is often attributed to basketball legend Michael Jordan but it was actually first said by hockey great Wayne Gretzky Regardless of who said it, the sentiment is the same – in order to score, you have to take the shot. This is true in basketball and in life. If you don’t take the shot, you’ll never know if you could have made it.

“The only way to prove that you’re a good sport is to lose.” –Ernie Banks

Banks was a Hall of Fame baseball player for the Chicago Cubs and he knew a thing or two about being a good sport. In order to truly prove that you can handle losing gracefully, you have to lose sometimes. It’s easy to be a good sport when you’re always winning, but when things aren’t going your way it can be difficult to maintain your composure. If you can do it, though, it will show that you’re truly a good sport.

“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden

This quote from legendary basketball coach John Wooden is a reminder that we all have limitations. It’s important not to let our limitations prevent us from doing what we can do. There’s no use dwelling on what we can’t do – we should focus on what we can do and make the most of it.

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

This quote from Michael Jordan perfectly sums up why failure is essential to success. We all fail – it’s inevitable. But it’s how we deal with our failures that determines whether or not we will be successful in life. If we let our failures get the best of us, then we will never achieve our goals. But if we use our failures as motivation to keep pushing forward, then we will eventually find success.

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I’ve been successful.” – Michael Jordan

1. “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I’ve been successful.” – Michael Jordan

2. “Don’t tell me how hard you work. Tell me how much you get done.” – James Caan

3. “There is no substitute for hard work.” – Thomas Edison

4. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs

5. “If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn

6. “I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” – Stephen Covey

7. “Every morning we are born again. What we do today matters most.” – Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati

8. “You are never too old to set new goals or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

9. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius

10. “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank

“You can’t put a limit on how much you can improve and how much you can do.” – Michael Phelps

“You can’t put a limit on how much you can improve and how much you can do. There are no limits on what you can be, do, or have in life.” – Michael Phelps

This is one of the most popular motivational quotes for athletes, and it’s easy to see why. Phelps is one of the most successful Olympians of all time, with a total of 28 medals (23 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze). He’s a perfect example of what’s possible if you set your mind to it and refuse to give up.

If you’re looking for some extra motivation to help you reach your goals, check out these 10 quotes from famous basketball players

“The only way to prove that you’re a good sport is to lose.” – Ernie Banks

“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth

“I’ve failed over and over again throughout my life. That’s why I’ve been successful.” – Michael Jordan

“Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” – Jim Valvano

“When you’re tired, keep going.” – Shaun White

“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” – Derek Jeter
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan
“The only way to get better is to challenge yourself, and the only way to do that is by playing against better competition.” – Kobe Bryant
“You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs

“If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” – Steve Jobs

“People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” – Rob Siltanen

“What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.” – Oscar Wilde

“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan

“Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.” – Mary Kay Ash

“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden

One of the most successful coaches in the history of basketball, John Wooden’s famous quote is a reminder that we should all focus on our strengths, not our weaknesses. Wooden was referring to basketball, but this quote can be applied to any area of life. When you feel like you can’t do something, remember what you can do and focus on that.