FAMOUS NBA QUOTES (Part 1)

Through the years, we were entertained no end by the exciting brand of play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). There were of countless memorable games that will live in us forever.

However, not only the games had made the NBA worth watching. There were a number of legendary and colorful players of yesteryears which we followed religiously on and off the court. We were awed not only by their on-court performances but off the court as well. We think deeply of whatever they say, whether basketball-related or not.

Beginning today, I am kicking off a series of collection on interesting and famous quotes of various NBA stars from yesterday and the present.

Herewith is the initial salvo:

• “A lot of late nights in the gym, a lot of early mornings, especially when your friends are going out, you’re going to the gym, those are the sacrifices that you have to make if you want to be an NBA player.” – JASON KIDD

• “A lot of times, you can get to a place that looks good on paper, but in actuality, it really is not as good as you think it is.” – KEVIN JOHNSON

• “A player dreams of being a superstar, but he doesn’t want people flocking all over him asking for an autograph.” – DENNIS RODMAN

• “A team will always appreciate a great individual if he’s willing to sacrifice for the group.” – KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR

• “A winner is some who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.” – LARRY BIRD

• “Actually, Magic and the Lakers beat Philadelphia for Magic’s first NBA Championship.” – OSCAR ROBERTSON

• “Alexander Hamilton realized that warfare was part and parcel of human nature, and it’s something we had to prepare for.”- KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR

• “All kids need a little help, a little hope and somebody who believes in them.”- MAGIC JOHNSON

• “All of those things had been talked about, suggested, rumored, as a manager and as a member of the Knicks organization, I couldn’t allow myself to think that way or believe that.” – ISIAH THOMAS

• “All these boundaries-Africa, Asia, Malaysia, America- are set by men. But you don’t have to look at boundaries when you are looking at a man- at the character of a man. The question is: What do you stand for? Are you a follower or are you a leader?- HAKEEM OLAJUWON

• “And finally, I am proud of he most part , I spent my entire career with one team.”- KEVIN JOHNSON

• “And I really believe that. Asthma is NOT a disability.”- DOMINIQUE WILKINS

• “And I think one of the reasons why I’ve been able to maintain it for so long is I’ve never rested on it because I really don’t think I’m that good.”- KEVIN JOHNSON

• “And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a figurehead that gets a job because he is a famous basketball player. I want to really learn the business.” – SHAQUILLE O’NEAL

• “And then lastly, it’s always been a personal goal of mine to be able to walk away and not play just for the money and be at the top of my game.”- KEVIN JOHNSON

• “Anytime you play as a finalist it’s going to be a challenge.”- STEVE NASH

• “As a parent, I have a job as a role model to my children, and by extension, to other young people.”- KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR

• “As athletes, we’re used to reacting quickly. Here, it ‘come, stop, come, stop. There’s a lot of downtime. That’s the toughest part of the day.”- MICHAEL JORDAN

• “As brilliant an individual as Michael Jordan was, he was not successful until he got with a good team unit.”- KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR

• “As far as carrying the torch for the years to come, I don’t know. I just want to be the best basketball player I can be.”- KOBE BRYANT

*****

Herewith are the completed transactions for the period November 20 to 29:

Sunday, November 29

New Jersey fired head coach Lawrence Frank.

Thursday, November 26

Oklahoma City signed guard Mike Wilks.

Wednesday, November 25

Oklahoma City waived forward Ryan Bowen.

Friday, November 20

Golden State signed center Chris Hunter.