Larry Bird Quotes

18 Sourced Quotes

I don't know if I practiced more than anybody, but I sure practiced enough. I still wonder if somebody - somewhere - was practicing more than me.

Larry Bird
A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.

Larry Bird
Well, I don't worry about ratings. I'm trying to win a ballgame right now. Whatever it takes to win a ballgame, we're going to do it. If it takes a four-hour game, that's what we have to do.

Larry Bird
There is nothing better than being out there when the game is on the line; only now, I get to see what my players will do. How will they react? Retirement is fine for some people, but I got bored. I'm used to more of a fast-paced life.

Larry Bird
When I was a player, I didn't expect my teammates to play the way I did. I did expect them to work hard hard every day and get better. And I never learned anything by losing.

Larry Bird
I've always been interested in jobs in the NBA. But I've been in this for 20 years and it might be time to do something else.

Larry Bird
I was always making decisions and they were easier decisions because I had control of the game, I had control of the ball. As a coach you sort of put the ball in other player's hands and let them make decisions for you. But I still get a kick out of winning basketball games and that's what I'm in this for.

Larry Bird
Practice habits were crucial to my development in basketball. I didn't play against the toughest competition in high school, but one reason I was able to do well in college was that I mastered the fundamentals. You've got to have them down before you can even think about playing.

Larry Bird
Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It's being able to take it as well as dish it out. That's the only way you're going to get respect from the players.

Larry Bird
Leadership is getting players to believe in you. If you tell a teammate you're ready to play as tough as you're able to, you'd better go out there and do it. Players will see right through a phony. And they can tell when you're not giving it all you've got.

Larry Bird
I've really enjoyed coaching. It's a great experience. Every player should have the chance to do it. The problem is, I'm not that good at it.

Larry Bird
Basketball has been my life and I worked at it so hard because I enjoyed it so much.

Larry Bird
I know the rigors of the NBA and what these guys can expect. I know my job is to prepare them, to get them in shape. We'll find a good offense and a good defense. And then let's do it.

Larry Bird
Coaches can talk and talk and talk about something, but if you get it on tape and show it to them, it is so much more effective.

Larry Bird
You can make all the excuses you want, but if you're not mentally tough and you're not prepared to play every night, you're not going to win.

Larry Bird
I wanted to compete at the highest level again - and that's the NBA.

Larry Bird
It's unbelievable. But I've never been to a pro football game. I've never been to a pro hockey game, either. I guess I'm not much of a sports fan.

Larry Bird
I'm a firm believer in that you play the way you practice.

Larry Bird