Larry Bird Quotes

When I was growing up, I never thought I would play in the NBA.

I look at my jersey and see the NBA logo, I'm like, 'I didn't think I'd be here.'

I don't know if I could have made it as an NBA player. But I knew I could make it as a coach.

People tend to think of the quest as a sort of fanciful or fantastical form, but actually, I think it's pretty realistic. I think that story of gathering allies to your side - recruiting your band of companions - actually matches the shape of most great careers, most great lives.

So basketball has always taken me places that I could have never imagined.

I grew up watching LeBron and asking him to follow me back on Twitter, going to his camps. So just to be able to compete against a player like him and be a few shots away from beating him and his team to go to a championship is something I will always remember.

I was never on a mission to be an NFL quarterback. I wanted to be a good high school player, and I worked hard at that. That made me good enough to play in college and then I wanted to be a good college quarterback. During college I played well enough to make it into the NFL. I never took it for granted and really wanted to play hard at each level and I have always had a lot of fun doing what I wanted to do.

I want to be an NBA all-star and help my team win. That's what it's all about, is winning. I'm a competitor... People said a lot about me being selfish and stuff like that. Getting into the league, I can't wait to shut that down. I'm a guy who wants to play and to win and love my teammates.

I could never have imagined the films I've done and the people I've worked with when I was starting out; I certainly did not have a career path.

When it comes to the game of life, I figure I've played the whole course.

You have to remember, I never became successful or wealthy till I was 30.

I want to be remembered one day as a great player, good athlete and a good professional.

If you would have told me that I'd be in a European final back when I was at Maidstone then I wouldn't have believed you.

Every fighter thinks about their legacy, and I'm not any different.

I never thought I'd make it in the NBA, so everything else is gravy.

Ever since I was little, I wanted to win the NBA championship.

I've been lucky to have great coaching, great teammates, and a desire to keep getting better. That, slowly over time, helped me grow from an average high school player to the NBA.

I'm going from Somerset Park one week to Wembley the next. It's crazy but that's football. You don't get to where you want to be without going through all these different places.

I had a lot of wonderful accomplishments in the game of basketball. Of course, to win a gold medal for your country - it doesn't get any better than that.

I think when you're not in the NFL or when you're early in your career, you don't understand how hard guys work, especially the guys that play a long time and are successful.

I never imagined myself making these big movies and being married and having kids.

My goals all along were to win state and play in the McDonald's All-American game. I'm happy I was able to accomplish those things.

I have enjoyed every single step of the journey that I've been on.

I feel very blessed and lucky to have the opportunity to get out there and play. That's all you can ask for as a young guy trying to make it in this league.

A young basketball player has people to look up to an emulate. We are a pro league, and we're on television. It makes a difference. It's shows what's possible.