Shoulda, coulda, and woulda won’t get it done. In attacking adversity, only a positive attitude, alertness, and regrouping to basics can launch a comeback.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Attitude, Losing, Losers, Loss
There’s no such thing as coulda, shoulda, or woulda. If you shoulda and coulda, you woulda done it.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Effort, Performance
There’s always the motivation of wanting to win. Everybody has that. But a champion needs, in his attitude, a motivation above and beyond winning.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Motivation, Winning, Motivational
Discipline is not a nasty word.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Discipline
Management must speak with one voice. When it doesn’t management itself becomes a peripheral opponent to the team’s mission.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Management
Coaches who let a championship team back off from becoming a dynasty are cowards.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Teams, Teamwork
The Ten Commandments were not a suggestion.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Religion
When a milestone is conquered, the subtle erosion called entitlement begins its consuming grind. The team regards its greatness as a trait and a right. Half hearted effort becomes habit and saps a champion.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Teamwork
There can only be one state of mind as you approach any profound test; total concentration, a spirit of togetherness, and strength.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Togetherness, Teamwork, Teams
I’ve learned to keep things simple. Look at your choices, pick the best one, then go to work with all your heart.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Simplicity, Choice, Choices
To have long term success as a coach or in any position of leadership, you have to be obsessed in some way.
—Pat Riley
Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Excellence
Look for your choices pick the best one then go with it.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Decisions
When a great team loses through complacency, it will constantly search for new and more intricate explanations to explain away defeat.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Teamwork
People who create 20% of the results will begin believing they deserve 80% of the rewards.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Results
Great teamwork is the only way we create the breakthroughs that define our careers.
—Pat Riley
There are only two options regarding commitment. You’re either in or out. There’s no such thing as a life in-between.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Danger, Commitment, Risk
When a gifted team dedicates itself to unselfish trust and combines instinct with boldness and effort, its ready to climb.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Effort, Teamwork, Trust
Don’t let other people tell you what you want.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Motivation, Control
You prove your worth with your actions, not with your mouth.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Action
Giving yourself permission to lose guarantees a loss.
—Pat Riley
Topics: One liners, Loss, Losers, Losing
Being a part of success is more important than being personally indispensable.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Teams, Teamwork
It’s easier to apologize than ask for permission.
—Pat Riley
Topics: One liners
Great effort springs naturally from a great attitude.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Attitude
A particular shot or way of moving the ball can be a player’s personal signature, but efficiency of performance is what wins the game for the team.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Teams, Teamwork
When you’re playing against a stacked deck, compete even harder. Show the world how much you’ll fight for the winners circle. If you do, someday the cellophane will crackle off a fresh pack, one that belongs to you, and the cards will be stacked in your favor.
—Pat Riley
You have no choices about how you lose, but you do have a choice about how you come back and prepare to win again.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Losers, Loss, Losing
Being ready isn’t enough; you have to be prepared for a promotion or any other significant change.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Change
You have to defeat a great players aura more than his game.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Competition
From nobody to upstart. From upstart to contender. From contender to winner. From winner to champion. From champion to Dynasty.
—Pat Riley
Topics: Winning, Winners
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