Tom Heinsohn Quotes

Michael Jordan was a great individual and a great player. You can't say enough about what he brought to the game. He took the NBA to another level.

Wilt Chamberlain had a great deal to do with the success of the NBA. His dominance, power, demeanor and the rivalry with Bill Russell says it all. He will be sorely missed by myself and everyone in the basketball community. Wilt was a great performer and a great athlete.

Not only do I admire Jordan's accomplishments and his phenomenal basketball ability, but also the way he has conducted himself on and off the court. I don't think there will ever be another player to have the same impact on the game of basketball as Michael Jordan.

Well, (Michael) Jordan was definitely one of the kings of the game. There's no question that he was one of the more dominant figures. If you look at the top ten players of all time, he was certainly one of the most dominant guys.

I want to be one of the greatest athletes ever to live, not only in track and field, but in all of general sport.

You know how I be. Last week Kobe couldn't do without me.

I only had one player in my 33 years of sports that couldn't be traded. He wore No. 23 - and 45 when he played baseball.

As one of nine men, DiMaggio is the best player that ever lived.

Overall, I think Michael Jordan is the greatest athlete in any particular sport. He dominated the game for the Chicago Bulls and brought the NBA to its greatest peak of popularity.

Everybody talks about that one when they first meet me. 'Man, I still remember the play you shook Jordan.' Everybody gonna always remember it because it was Jordan.

I grew up watching Kobe Bryant.

I always say, to this day, that the Air Jordan guy was great and God bless him. But I'll always just remember Michael, the guy.

I grew up being a Kobe fan, of course.

My wife's name, Rebecca Lobo, is on sandwiches and street signs in New England. It adorns the arena rafters at the University of Connecticut, where she first became a basketball star. Her high school in Massachusetts is on Rebecca Lobo Way, a nice trump card to play at reunions.

I lived in Indiana, and Reggie Miller was everywhere.

I have a lot of respect for Shaq. He's one of the greatest NBA centers of all time.

The game of basketball has been amazing to me, to my family.

There is nothing that will be bigger than a Michael Jordan tribute.

I loved watching Cynthia Cooper growing up when she played for the Houston Comets.

I've had an affinity for Michael Jordan. He's probably the greatest athlete in my generation.

I've been watching Kobe ever since I can remember.

Pelé was a complete player. I didn't see him live obviously, because I wasn't born.

Messi is the great player of this generation, like there were great players in other generations.

I had a moment like that with Wilt (Chamberlain). He knocked me out of bounds, I came back and faked him, came across the middle and dunked on him.

Man, meeting Michael Jordan for me was like.. black Jesus walking towards me. It was overwhelming to me to finally meet the guy I've looked up to my whole life.