Michael Jordan Quotes

22 Sourced Quotes

I've missed over 9,000 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
It's easier for me to get ready for a game on the road because you're expected to lose when you play away from home. That's a challenge to right there and that perks my competitive juices.

Michael Jordan
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.

Michael Jordan
Authenticity is about being true to who you are, even when everyone around you wants you to be someone else

Michael Jordan
Excellence isn't a one-week or one-year ideal. It's a constant.

Michael Jordan
Fear is an illusion. You think something is standing in your way, but nothing is really there. What is there is an opportunity to do your best and gain some success.

Michael Jordan
You have to be uncompromised in your level of commitment to whatever you are doing, or it can disappear as fast as it appeared... Excellence isn't a one-week or one-year ideal. It's a constant. There will be days when you don't feel on top of your game, or meetings in which you aren't at your best, but your commitment remains constant. No compromises.

Michael Jordan
The Bulls came up with this whole theory you can play seven minutes a game when I'm practicing two hours a day... I didn't agree with that math. I wanted to play. I wanted to make the playoffs. [...] Jerry [Reinsdorf] said, "Let me ask if you had a headache and" - there was a 10 percent chance then I'd reinjure my ankle - "and you've got 10 tablets and one of them is coated with cyanide, would you take it?" I looked at him and said, "How bad is the headache?" Jerry looked at me and said, "I guess that's a good answer, you can go back and play."

Michael Jordan
I was in Chicago in 1994 and at this time I had no thoughts of coming back and playing the game of basketball, Bryon Russell came over to me and said, "Why'd you quit? You know I could guard you." When I did come back in 1995 and we played Utah in '96, I'm at the center circle and Bryon Russell is standing next to me. I said, "You remember what you said in 1994 about, 'I think I can guard you, I can shut you down, I would love to play against you?' Well, you're about to get your chance."

Michael Jordan
There was never any fear for me, no fear of failure. If I miss a shot, so what?

Michael Jordan
I can remember a game, we were down with about 5 to 10 points, I go off about 25 points, we come back and win the game, we're walking off the floor. Tex (Winter) looks at me and says "There's no "I" in team!" I looked at Tex and say, "There's not, but there's an 'I' in win!"

Michael Jordan
I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying (no hard work).

Michael Jordan
When I step onto the court, I'm ready to play. If you're going up against me, you'd better be ready. If you're not going to compete, I will dominate you.

Michael Jordan
Anything can happen if you are willing to put in the work and remain open to the possibility. Dreams are realized by effort, determination, passion and staying connected to that sense of who you are.

Michael Jordan
Enjoy every minute of life. Never second-guess life.

Michael Jordan
[Jerry Krause] said organizations win championships. I said, "I didn't see organizations playing with the flu in Utah."

Michael Jordan
I'm retired 99.9%. Of course, there always is that.1%.

Michael Jordan
Failure is acceptable. but not trying is a whole different ball park.

Michael Jordan
I've reached the pinnacle of my career. I just feel that I don't have anything else to prove. When I lose the sense of motivation and the sense of 'to prove something' as a basketball player, it's time for me to move away from the game of basketball.

Michael Jordan
The game is my wife. It demands loyalty and responsibility, and it gives me back fulfillment and peace.

Michael Jordan
If I have an agenda or a goal, no one is going to deter me from what I want to do.

Michael Jordan
I set another goal … a reasonable, manageable goal that I could realistically achieve if I worked hard enough. I approached everything step by step.

Michael Jordan