John Salley Quotes

My brother was a huge Charles Barkley fan - my brother went to Miami. He played power forward, and he always used to tell me stories about Barkley and college. And I watched Barkley growing up. I loved what he brought to the game. His toughness and just his attitude, being as strong he was.

Magic Johnson was my favorite player growing up.

Magic was always my favorite. I think Jordan was the best player ever, but Magic was my personal favorite.

I'm a huge fan of Michael Jordan, and I love the game of basketball.

My father, Jimmy Walker, was the first pick in the 1967 draft, but I never met him. He passed in 2007. I found out about him in middle school. I was old enough to understand who he was, where he went to college, and what his game was about. Older players like Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have come up to me to talk about him.

For a college basketball player or coach, to reach the Final Four is la-la land. You’ve achieved, you’ve got your stamp of approval. My first team to do that was in 1986. Then we did it in ’88, ’89 and ’90.

It's been an unbelievable thing for me to walk Bruin Walk and walk past Coach Wooden's statue, a guy that when I was in elementary school, it's Coach Wooden winning his final championship, his 10th in 12 years.

I'm a Michael Jordan fan just like everyone else. I just don't think he's the greatest player ever.

My most memorable moment came in 1985 as we beat the Boston Celtics.

I was a big Michael Jordan fan growing up. I don't feel my game resembles his though.

You don't have to be Wilt Chamberlain to get into the Basketball Hall of Fame. If you don't have a sweet turnaround jumper from 18 feet, the best route to the Hall is fatherhood. Daniel Biasone, aka the 'father of the 24-second clock,' made the cut.

I think the greatest player I've ever played against was Magic Johnson. Next, was Larry Bird. Then, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

In Taiwan, I'd be like Michael Jordan walking down the street.

Michael Jordan and Magic and myself all learned how to play the game in college programs that emphasized the team.

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.

The Final Four is what we play for. That's what we're trying to do. That's what's important.

The only thing that matters in college basketball is going to the Final Four.

I've always taken the approach that it's about the seed in the NCAA tournament.

Making it to the Final Four, you feel like you're watched on campus. You're in the classroom, professors are talking about it.

I watched a lot of Scottie Pippen, Magic Johnson, Kevin Durant, and a lot of Paul Pierce. I used to watch Tracy McGrady as well along with Kevin Garnett.

The Dream Team was crazy. Probably one of the better teams, of course. That was a great team to watch and one of the reasons why I want to play for Team U.S.A.

You don't make it to the Final Four two years in a row by mistake.

I grew up dreaming about being an Olympic basketball player: Doug Collins getting smashed into the stanchion, making two free throws. Phil Ford and Mike O'Koren in 1976.

Tim Duncan is one of the greatest power forwards in the history of our game. Being younger and just watching him play, winning championships, that was always cool to be able to play against him.

I had a few brief, brief interactions with Coach K. Mainly us beating them in the NCAA Tournament back in 2012.