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.
As far as playing, I didn't care who guarded me - red, yellow, black. I just didn't want a white guy guarding me, because it's disrespect to my game.
But it is a black man's game, and it will be forever.
I always know what's happening on the court. I see a situation occur, and I respond.
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.
I mean, the greatest athletes in the world are African-American.
I really don't like talking about money. All I can say is that the Good Lord must have wanted me to have it.
I've been around a while. I kinda know these things.
I've got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.
I've got a theory that if you give 100% all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.
If there was a payment to the bank due, and we needed shoes, she'd get the shoes, and then deal with them guys at the bank. I don't mean she wouldn't pay the bank, but the children always came first.
It doesn't matter who scores the points, it's who can get the ball to the scorer.
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.
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.
Once you are labeled 'the best' you want to stay up there, and you can't do it by loafing around.
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.
Push yourself again and again. Don't give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.
The best player I ever played with was Dennis Johnson.
The best players will play. That's the way it will always be.
The one thing that always bothered me when I played in the NBA was I really got irritated when they put a white guy on me.
What's better? Dogs or broomsticks? I mean will the world really ever know?
When I was young, I never wanted to leave the court until I got things exactly correct. My dream was to become a pro.
When it gets down to it, basketball is basketball.
While day by day the overzealous student stores up facts for future use, he who has learned to trust nature finds need for ever fewer external directions. He will discard formula after formula, until he reaches the conclusion: Let nature take its course.
You know when I played, you had me and Kevin (McHale) and some others throughout the league. I think it's good for a fan base because as we all know the majority of the fans are white America. And if you just had a couple of white guys in there, you might get them a little excited.
He played 13 seasons for the Boston Celtics.
He was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996.
All-Defensive Second Team (1982, '83, '84)
Nine-time All-NBA First Team (1980-88)
NBA Finals MVP (1984, '86)
He was elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.
Height: 6-9
He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1978. (sixth overall)
He went to high school at Springs Valley High in French Lick, Ind.
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