Michael Jordan Quotes (46 quotes) | Quotes of famous people

Michael Jordan: 46 quotes79 likes

Famous Michael Jordan Quotes

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”

Michael Jordan

Variant: Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, and others make it happen.

“I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”

Michael Jordan

“To learn to succeed, you must first learn to fail.”

Michael Jordan

“If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome.”

Michael Jordan

“If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”

Michael Jordan

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.”

Michael Jordan

Source: Jordan, Michael. I Can't Accept Not Trying : Michael Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 1994. p. 129
Context: I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying [no hard work].
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. (p. 20, 24)

Michael Jordan Quotes about the game

“I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career.
I've lost almost 300 games.
26 times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed.
I've failed over and over and over again in my life.
And that is why I succeed.”

Michael Jordan

As quoted in Nike Culture : The Sign of the Swoosh (1998), by Robert Goldman and Stephen Papson, p. 49

“I've never lost a game I just ran out of time.”

Michael Jordan

Source: For the Love of the Game

“What is love? Love is playing every game as if it's your last!”

Michael Jordan

“The basketball court for me, during a game, is the most peaceful place I can imagine. On the basketball court, I worry about nothing. When I'm out there, no one can bother me…”

Michael Jordan

“The minute you get away from fundamentals – whether its proper technique, work ethic or mental preparation – the bottom can fall out of your game, your schoolwork, your job, whatever you’re doing.”

Michael Jordan

“I play to win, whether during practice or a real game.”

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan Motivational Quotes

“You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.”

Michael Jordan

Variant: You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.

“My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength.”

Michael Jordan

“There is no "I" in team but there is in win.”

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan Quotes

“Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation.”

Michael Jordan

“If you quit ONCE it becomes a habit. Never quit!!!”

Michael Jordan

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.”

Michael Jordan

Variant: I can appect failure, but I cannot accept not trying.

“Everybody has talent, but ability takes hard work.”

Michael Jordan

“To be successful you have to be selfish, or else you never achieve. And once you get to your highest level, then you have to be unselfish. Stay reachable. Stay in touch. Don't isolate.”

Michael Jordan

“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”

Michael Jordan

“My mother is my root, my foundation. She planted the seed that I base my life on, and that is the belief that the ability to achieve starts in your mind.”

Michael Jordan

“Limits, like fears, are often just an illusion”

Michael Jordan

Hall of Fame induction address, 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf3PYecdgjE&NR=1

“If you do the work you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life.”

Michael Jordan

“Once I made a decision, I never thought about it again.”

Michael Jordan

“I Own the guy guarding me”

Michael Jordan

“learning 's a gift, even when "pain", s your teacher!”

Michael Jordan

“Failure is acceptable. but not trying is a whole different ball park.”

Michael Jordan

Source: For the Love of the Game: My Story

“As athletes, we're used to reacting quickly. Here, it's 'come, stop, come, stop.' There's a lot of downtime. That's the toughest part of the day.”

Michael Jordan

“There will be a player greater than me.”

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan to the Max http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245280/ (Film, 2000)

“Don't let them drag you down by rumors just go with what you believe in.”

Michael Jordan

Source: I Can't Accept Not Trying: Michael Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence

“The key to success is failure”

Michael Jordan

“I realize im black, but id like to be viewed as a person, and that is everybodys wish.”

Michael Jordan

“Enjoy every minute of life. Never second-guess life.”

Michael Jordan

How to be like Mike (2005)

“I can remember a game, we were down with about 5 to 10 points, I go off about 25 points, we come back and win the game, we're walking off the floor. Tex (Winter) looks at me and says "There's no "I" in team!" I looked at Tex and say, "There's not, but there's an 'I' in win!"”

Michael Jordan

Hall of Fame induction address, 2009 http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/sep/12/nation/chi-12-michael-jordan-bulls-sep12

“If we all work together, we can foster greater understanding, positive change and create a more peaceful world for ourselves, our children, our families and our communities.”

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan: ‘I can no longer stay silent’ http://theundefeated.com/features/michael-jordan-i-can-no-longer-stay-silent/, The Undefeated (July 25, 2016)

“I was in Chicago in 1994 and at this time I had no thoughts of coming back and playing the game of basketball, Bryon Russell came over to me and said, "Why'd you quit? You know I could guard you." When I did come back in 1995 and we played Utah in '96, I'm at the center circle and Bryon Russell is standing next to me. I said, "You remember what you said in 1994 about, 'I think I can guard you, I can shut you down, I would love to play against you?'”

Michael Jordan

Well, you're about to get your chance." <br class="br"> Hall of Fame induction address, 2009 http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/jordanhof_speech_090912.html

“I'm retired 99.9%. Of course, there always is that.1%.”

Michael Jordan

Statement of 1999-02-18 Classic NBA Quotes: Michael Jordan, 2006-11-22, NBA Encyclopedia, NBA Media Ventures http://www.nba.com/history/Classic_NBA_Quotes_Jordan.html,

“As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers. I grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, as I know their pain all too well.”

Michael Jordan

“I'm back for the second time.”

Michael Jordan

Announcing his return to the Bulls (1995-03-18), Classic NBA Quotes: Michael Jordan, 2006-11-22, NBA Encyclopedia, NBA Media Ventures http://www.nba.com/history/Classic_NBA_Quotes_Jordan.html,

“I've reached the pinnacle of my career. I just feel that I don't have anything else to prove. When I lose the sense of motivation and the sense of 'to prove something' as a basketball player, it's time for me to move away from the game of basketball.”

Michael Jordan

Announcing his retirement from the Bulls (1993-10-06) Classic NBA Quotes: Michael Jordan, 2006-11-24, NBA Encyclopedia, NBA Media Ventures http://www.nba.com/history/Classic_NBA_Quotes_Jordan.html,

“[Jerry Krause] said organizations win championships. I said, "I didn't see organizations playing with the flu in Utah."”

Michael Jordan

Hall of Fame induction address, 2009 http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/jordanhof_speech_090912.html

“I set another goal … a reasonable, manageable goal that I could realistically achieve if I worked hard enough. I approached everything step by step.”

Michael Jordan

How to be like Mike (2005)

“(In 1985, Jordan broke his foot and the management, namely Jerry Krause, wanted to limit his return for fear of worsening the injury - the idea was to play seven minutes in each half) The [Bulls] came up with this whole theory you can play seven minutes a game when I'm practicing two hours a day… I didn’t agree with that math. I wanted to play. I wanted to make the playoffs. […] Jerry [Reinsdorf] said, "Let me ask if you had a headache and" - there was a 10 percent chance then I’d reinjure my ankle - "and you've got 10 tablets and one of them is coated with cyanide, would you take it?" I looked at him and said, "How bad is the headache?" Jerry looked at me and said, "I guess that's a good answer, you can go back and play."”

Michael Jordan

Hall of Fame induction address, 2009 http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/jordanhof_speech_090912.html

“I was raised by parents who taught me to love and respect people regardless of their race or background, so I am saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial tensions that seem to be getting worse as of late. I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent. We need to find solutions that ensure people of color receive fair and equal treatment AND that police officers – who put their lives on the line every day to protect us all – are respected and supported.”

Michael Jordan

“Can I still dunk… Are you stupid?”