Quotes

The thing I may be ashamed of more than anything else is having talked to opposing players. Not calling them names, but saying something like 'Keep your hands off him' or 'Don't be a butcher.'

Goodness gracious sakes alive!

[In 1995 on this three main ideals]: One was to get his players in the best possible condition. Another was quickness. I wanted my centers to be quicker than my opposing center, the forwards quicker than their forwards, and so on. The third was teamwork. You better play together as a team or you sit. People ask me if I'd permit fancy things like dunks. Well, if they dunk, it was with no fancy flair. No behind-the-back dribbles or passes unless necessary. If it was for show, you were on the bench.

[on Bill Walton's hair]: Bill, that's not short enough. We're sure going to miss you on this team. Get on out of here.

[on Sam Gilbert in 1989]: I warned them, but I couldn't pick their friends. I honestly felt Sam meant well.

His creed: Be true to yourself. Make each day a masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day.

What's the main ingredient of stardom? The rest of the team.

Young people need models, not critics.

Learn as if you'll live forever; live as if you'll die tomorrow.

Failure is never fatal. But failure to change can and might be.

Talent is God-given; be fruitful with it. Fame is man-given; be thankful for it. Conceit is self-given; be mindful of it.

[on bravery] Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts.

[on control] I never preach religion to my players, but I won't tolerate profanity. This isn't for moral reasons. Profanity to me symbolizes loss of control; self-discipline is absolutely necessary to winning basketball.

[to a player, on steroid use] Joe, I realize what you're asking me to do here; I'm just not sure you realize it yourself. You're asking me to tell the commissioner that two different labs must have made exactly the same mistake. That's an insult. Now please get your things and don't come back, thank you very much.

[to a player, on gambling] Jim, you know what I think about any player of mine even smelling pizza during training season. So you should know how I feel about a total stranger, especially one twice my size, coming to my office with a beef about how much any player of mine owes him. I'm sure that guy wasn't your cousin. So why don't you tell your folks AND the school paper AND the dean what's happened, before they learn about it from me. With luck, you won't need to face a judge.