Our Larry Bird quotes showcase some of the basketball knowledge, competitiveness, and spunk of this Hall-of-Famer.
Known as the “Hick from French Lick,” Larry’s confidence in his game was unmatched. He gained a well-earned reputation for talking smack on the court — but nearly always backed it up with his shooting, passing, and overall game.
Best Larry Bird Quotes
The best players will play. That’s the way it will always be.
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.
First, master the fundamentals.
I like being by myself.
I hate to lose more than I like to win.
I’m a firm believer that you play the way you practice.
It doesn’t matter who scores the points. It’s who can get the ball to the scorer.
When I was young, I never wanted to leave the court until I got things exactly correct. My dream was to become a pro.
See How many NBA Championship rings Larry Bird won.
Good Larry Bird Quotes
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.
The best player I ever played with was Dennis Johnson.
Once you are labeled “the best” you want to stay up there, and you can’t do it by loafing around. If I don’t keep changing, I’m history.
When it gets down to it, basketball is basketball.
Read all about Larry Bird: Clutch Player (and Trash Talker)
On Basketball
Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.
I always know what’s happening on the court. I see a situation occur, and I respond.
I’ve got a theory that if you give 100% all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.
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.
Best Larry Bird Sayings
I wasn’t real quick, and I wasn’t really strong. Some guys will just take off, and it’s like, whoa. So I beat them with my mind and my fundamentals.
When I was young, I never wanted to leave the court until I got things exactly correct. My dream was to become a pro.
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.
My goal was just to try and be the best player on my high school team and look where I am now. And that was still my goal as a young kid, just to try and be a little better than my brother was.
I really don’t like talking about money. All I can say is that the Good Lord must have wanted me to have it.
Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.
Larry Bird Quotes On Leadership
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.
Basketball has been my life, and I worked at it so hard because I enjoyed it so much.
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.
My name’s been on this check for a week now. (After winning NBA 3 point contest)
By Mike O’Halloran
Mike is a basketball coach, author of three books on basketball, and editor of Sports Feel Good Stories.
Overtime
You’re on Larry Bird Quotes page.
You might like: