27 Best Larry Bird Quotes on Life (WINNING)

12 Most Famous Larry Bird Quotes to Inspire You

I’ve got a theory that if you give 100% 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.

Push yourself again and again. Don't give an inch until the final buzzer sounds. — Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.

The more you win, the better you're gonna get. It grows on itself. — The more you win, the better you’re gonna get. It grows on itself.

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 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.

“Practice habits were crucial to my development in basketball. I didn’t play against the toughest competition in high school, but one reason I was able to do well in college was that I mastered the fundamentals. You’ve got to have them down before you can even think about playing.”
Larry Bird

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. — 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.

I wasn’t real quick, and I wasn’t real strong. Some guys will just take off and it’s like, whoa. So I beat them with my mind and my fundamentals.

It doesn’t matter who scores the points, it’s who can get the ball to the scorer.

There are many times when you are better off practicing than playing; but most people just don't understand that. — There are many times when you are better off practicing than playing; but most people just don’t understand that.

I knew I was as good as anybody. That’s not really bragging; it’s just that I’d put the time in. — I knew I was as good as anybody. That’s not really bragging; it’s just that I’d put the **time** in.

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.

15 Inspirational Larry Bird Quotes to Motivate and Empower You (LEADERSHIP)

“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.”
Larry Bird

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. — 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.

My opinion about basketball, the way I was taught, was when you step on the court, you play to win.

I don't think that once you get to one level, you can relax. You've got to keep pushing. — I don’t think that once you get to one level, you can relax. You’ve got to keep pushing.

When I was a player, I didn't expect my teammates to play the way I did. I did expect them to work hard every day and get better. And I never learned anything by losing. — When I was a player, I didn’t expect my teammates to play the way I did. I did expect them to **work hard** every day and get better. And I never learned anything by losing.

“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

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 I was young, I never wanted to leave the court until I got things exactly correct. My **dream** was to become a pro.

Don't let winning make you soft. Don't let losing make you quit. Don't let your teammates down in any situation. — Don’t let **winning** make you soft. Don’t let losing make you quit. Don’t let your teammates down in any situation.

It makes me sick when I see a guy just stare at a loose ball and watch it go out of bounds.

I’m a firm believer in that you play the way you practice.

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.

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.

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 really don’t like talking about **money**. All I can say is that the Good Lord must have wanted me to have it.

“I was always making decisions and they were easier decisions because I had control of the game, I had control of the ball. As a coach you sort of put the ball in other player’s hands and let them make decisions for you. But I still get a kick out of winning basketball games and that’s what I’m in this for.”
Larry Bird

Larry Bird Short Biography

Born on 7 December 1956 in West Baden Springs, Indiana, United States, Larry Joe Bird was a former American basketball player and coach.

As a teen Bird used basketball to distract himself from his family life troubles. In 1974, he eventually earned a scholarship to play college basketball for Indiana University – Bloomington but withdrew after a year.

In 1975 he enrolled in Indiana State University, where he forged a successful college basketball career. He was selected for the 1978 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics but decided that he would finish his last year of college and entered the 1979 draft instead.

Bird won the Rookie of the Year award for the 1979-1980 NBA season. He won the All-Star Game MVP Award during the 1982 All-Star Game.

Larry Bird was awarded NBA MVP for 3 consecutive years in 1984-1986.

In 1992, Bird was a member of the Olympic Dream Team (coached by Chuck Daly), winning gold for the United States in Barcelona, Spain. He retired in the same year.

Bird went on to coach the Indiana Pacers in 1997, leading them to success, and was awarded NBA Coach of the Year during the 1997-1998 season.

Further Reading:

Plain and Simple, Bird is One of The Best – ESPN
Larry Bird: Grit and Discipline Helped Him Lead Championship Teams – Investor’s Business Daily
Being A White Player in the NBA, Trash-Talking and Today’s Game – The Undefeated

Here are the best Larry Bird quotes so you can be gritty and determined to work hard at achieving the best in your endeavor.

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Also read:

12 Most Famous Larry Bird Quotes to Inspire You

15 Inspirational Larry Bird Quotes to Motivate and Empower You (LEADERSHIP)

Larry Bird Short Biography

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