Michael Jordan Quotes & Sayings

There is no such thing as a perfect basketball player, and I don't believe there is only one greatest player either. — Michael Jordan

A loss is not a failure until you make an excuse. — Michael Jordan

A leader can't make excuses. There has to be quality in everything you do. Off the court, on the court, in the classroom. — Michael Jordan

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

Failure I can accept, what I can not accept is not trying — Michael Jordan

Never think of the consequences of failing for you will always think of a negative result. Think only positive thoughts and your mind will gravitate towards those thoughts! — Michael Jordan

It's easier for me to get ready for a game on the road because you're expected to lose when you play away from home. That's a challenge to right there and that perks my competitive juices. — Michael Jordan

It's hard to say if the NBA is hurt by the influx of younger players, but it's definitely impacted the league. — Michael Jordan

Since I've been in chiropractic, I've improved by leaps and bounds both mentally and physically. — Michael Jordan

Gambling is legal and betting is legal, for what I bet. — Michael Jordan

You know what I think? Very few people play because they love the game. Most of them play because they make good money. They keep playing because of the money. I could care less about it. If I don't love the game, no check is going to keep me playing. — Michael Jordan

I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. — Michael Jordan

I knew where I wanted to go, what kind of player I wanted to become and I focused on getting there. — Michael Jordan

Don't let them drag you down by rumors just go with what you believe in. — Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan is sort of ... the hip-hop version of Dr. J — Michael Jordan

It takes a hell of a lot for a man to put up with me. I can be a handful. — Michael Jordan

I failed over and over and over and that is why I succeed. — Michael Jordan

I want people to understand, gambling is not a bad thing if you do it within the framework of what it's meant to be, which is fun and entertaining. — Michael Jordan

Purchasing the Bobcats is the culmination of my post-playing career goal of becoming the majority owner of an NBA franchise. — Michael Jordan

Focus like a laser, not a flashlight — Michael Jordan

I will not quit this game because of what the media has done to me. — Michael Jordan

The best evaluation I can make of a player is to look in his eyes and see how scared they are. — Michael Jordan

In reality, I never want to grow up. — Michael Jordan

I went to a bookstore to try to find a book. The bottom line is, it all comes by trial and error. It was scary and exciting at first you don't know what to expect. But once you look into your child's eyes, you forget about that. — Michael Jordan

I can accept failure but cannot accept trying — Michael Jordan

The game of basketball has been everything to me. My place of refuge, place I've always gone where I needed comfort and peace. It's been the site of intense pain and the most intense feelings of joy and satisfaction. It's a relationship that has evolved over time, given me the greatest respect and love for the game. — Michael Jordan

Maybe it's my own fault. Maybe I led you to believe it was easy when it wasn't. Maybe I made you think my highlights started at the free throw line, and not in the gym. Maybe I made you think that every shot I took was a game winner. That my game was built on flash, and not fire. Maybe it's my fault that you didn't see that failure gave me strength; that my pain was my motivation. Maybe I led you to believe that basketball was a God given gift, and not something I worked for every single day of my life. Maybe I destroyed the game. Or maybe you're just making excuses. — Michael Jordan

If you are confident you have done everything possible to prepare yourself, then there is nothing to fear. — Michael Jordan

If it turns out that my best wasn't good enough, at least I won't look back and say that I was afraid to try; failure makes me work even harder. — Michael Jordan

Another day, another opportunity to prove everyone who doubts you wrong. — Michael Jordan

Sometimes you need to get hit in the head to realize that you're in a fight. — 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

My best skill was that I was coachable. I was a sponge and aggressive to learn. — Michael Jordan

Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation. — Michael Jordan

I never thought a role model should be negative. — Michael Jordan

The good part about being famous is being able to help people. The hard part is every day you have to be in a good mood, because that is what people expect. You learn to get good at it. — Michael Jordan

I'm not afraid to take a step and if I fall, I fall. I pick myself up and move on. If we can all learn one thing in life, it's don't be afraid to take on something that you believe you're capable of achieving. — Michael Jordan

I basically expect anything. Isn't that wild? I used to surprise myself a lot: certain moves, how I'd get out of trouble. But at some point, you accept the talent that you have, you accept your creativity. — Michael Jordan

Being afraid on the court, means you're not confident of your skills — Michael Jordan

Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise — Michael Jordan

I'm not a Twitterer, I'm not a twerker, I'm not a Facebooker, I'm not nothing. I'm old school. — Michael Jordan

Earn your leadership every day. — Michael Jordan

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 are no shortcuts. I approached practices the same way I approached games. You can't turn it on and off like a faucet. I couldn't dog it during practice and then, when I needed that extra push late in the game, expect it to be there. Very few people get anywhere by taking shortcuts. — Michael Jordan

I dont take pictures with Niggas — Michael Jordan

But my drive to win is so great ... I just step over that line ... It's very embarrassing, ... one of the things you totally regret. So you look at yourself in the mirror and say, 'I was stupid.' — Michael Jordan

Don't be like me. Be better than me. That's the goal. — Michael Jordan

Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game. — Michael Jordan

Winners don't just learn the fundamentals, they master them. You have to monitor your fundamentals constantly because the only thing that changes will be your attention to them. — Michael Jordan

It's not about the shoes, it's what you do in them. — Michael Jordan

Work ethics eliminates fear. — Michael Jordan

Because I want every kid to be viewed as a person rather than as a member of a certain race does not mean that I'm not black enough ... Do they want me to be positive just for black kids and negative for everybody else? — Michael Jordan

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?' Well, you're about to get your chance. — Michael Jordan

If I have an agenda or a goal, no one is going to deter me from what I want to do. — Michael Jordan

When I step onto the court, I don't have to think about anything. If I have a problem off the court, I find that after I play, my mind is clearer and I can come up with a better solution. It's like therapy. It relaxes me and allows me to solve problems. — Michael Jordan

Fundamentals were the most crucial part of my game in the NBA. Everything I did, everything I achieved, can be traced back to the way I approached the fundamentals. — Michael Jordan

Can I still dunk ... Are you stupid? — Michael Jordan

I Own the guy guarding me — Michael Jordan

My father used to say that it's never too late to do anything you wanted to do. And he said, 'You never know what you can accomplish until you try.' — Michael Jordan

Basketball isn't my job. — Michael Jordan

My attitude going into training camp as a rookie was to impress. I wanted to impress my teammates, my coaches, the owners, everybody. I wanted them to say, ?This kid is special. This kid has the right mind, the right skills, the right motivation?. — Michael Jordan

I just feel that my competitive drive is far greater than anyone else that I've met, and I think that I thrive on that. — Michael Jordan

I've missed more than 9000 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

I know the signs of scaredness. — Michael Jordan

Being Michael Jordan means acting the same as I always have. — Michael Jordan

Suddenly all is quiet. The other nine players? They're all moving in slow motion! I'm at normal speed! I know where everyone's going even before they know themselves. The basket is huge, maybe six feet across! How can I miss? It's like throwing a rock into a pond. — Michael Jordan

You have to be uncompromised in your level of commitment to whatever you are doing, or it can disappear as fast as it appeared ... Excellence isn't a one-week or one-year ideal. It's a constant. There will be days when you don't feel on top of your game, or meetings in which you aren't at your best, but your commitment remains constant. No compromises. — Michael Jordan

When I was playing before I retired, I never really understood the appreciation and the respect that people gave me. People had treated me like a god or something, and that was very embarrassing. — Michael Jordan

People ask me if I could fly, I said, 'yeah ... ' for a little while. — Michael Jordan

Each time I step on the basketball court, I never know what will happen. I live for the moment. I play for the moment. — Michael Jordan

To learn to succeed, you must first learn to fail. — Michael Jordan

I didn't come here to be average. — Michael Jordan

I'm sorry to see it end. — Michael Jordan

Sometimes I wonder what it will be like to look back on all this. Whether it will seem real. — Michael Jordan

I won't have any competitive instincts in any sports, other than golf. I can't see being competitive in sports any more. — Michael Jordan

I make shoes for white suburban kids, not the poor black kids. That would be like opening a restaurant for people without stomachs. — Michael Jordan

You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them. — Michael Jordan

Excellence isn't a one-week or one-year ideal. It's a constant. — Michael Jordan

Sometimes a winner is just a dreamer who never gave up. — Michael Jordan

I realize that I'm black, but I like to be viewed as a person, and this is everybody's wish. — Michael Jordan

Confidence allows you to progress in something you're attempting to accomplish, whether it's playing basketball or baseball or whether it's trying to succeed in business. — Michael Jordan

I'd like to be settled into somewhat of a normal life. Somewhat. I know it's never going to be completely normal. — Michael Jordan

There was never any fear for me, no fear of failure. If I miss a shot, so what? — Michael Jordan

I was aware of my success, but I never stopped trying to get better, — Michael Jordan

I'm retired 99.9%. Of course, there always is that .1%. — Michael Jordan

There's only one Michael Jordan. — Michael Jordan

The best come from the worst — Michael Jordan

I want to be the bridge to the next generation. — Michael Jordan

Playing sick. That is so hard to do. It has to be a total mental challenge, as well as the physical challenge. — Michael Jordan

I am privileged to have played basketball. — Michael Jordan

It doesn't matter if you fall down, it's whether you get back up. — Michael Jordan

A coach is someone that sees beyond your limits and guides you to greatness! — Michael Jordan

Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. — 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

There have been times when I have failed. But there have never been times when I thought I would fail — Michael Jordan

Obstacles don't have to stop you. — Michael Jordan

The greatest people that ever lived were also the greatest failures. They just didn't let those failures affect them like they do most. — Michael Jordan

Anyone who would argue that this third-generatio n MDX is an SUV might as well belong to the Flat Earth Society. The 2014 Acura MDX is the perfect expression of the modern car - capable, spacious, and friendly to drive. — Michael Jordan

Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you. If you put forth the effort, good things will be bestowed upon you. That's truly about the game, and in some ways that's about life too. — Michael Jordan

When I was young, I had to learn the fundamentals of basketball. You can have all the physical ability in the world, but you still have to know the fundamentals. — Michael Jordan