Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.
—Larry Bird
Topics: Effort
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. 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
Topics: Leadership, Leaders
I’ve got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.
—Larry Bird
Topics: Effort
When I was young, I never wanted to leave the court until I got things exactly correct. My dream was to become a pro.
—Larry Bird
Topics: Practice
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
Topics: Win, Winning, Goals, Winners, Talent, God
You never make any of the shots you never take. 87% of the ones you do take, you’ll miss too. I make 110% of my shots.
—Larry Bird
I really don’t like talking about money. All I can say is that the Good Lord must have wanted me to have it.
—Larry Bird
Topics: Money
I always know what’s happening on the court. I see a situation occur, and I respond.
—Larry Bird
Topics: Observation
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
Topics: Practice
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