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I wanted to compete at the highest level again - and that's the NBA.

Larry Bird

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Larry Bird
Age: 68
Born: 1956
Born: December 7
Basketball Coach
Basketball Player
Coach
Larry Legend
The Great White Hope
The Hick from French Lick
Larry Joe Bird
Mr. Wonderful
Kodak
Wanted
Nba
Compete
Highest
Level
Levels

More quotes by Larry Bird

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I knew I was as good as anybody. That's not really bragging it's just that I'd put the time in.
Larry Bird
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I really don't like talking about money. All I can say is that the Good Lord must have wanted me to have it.
Larry Bird
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I learned what my weaknesses were and I went out the next day to turn those weaknesses intro strengths.
Larry Bird
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I always know what's happening on the court. I see a situation occur, and I respond.
Larry Bird
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I'm a firm believer in that you play the way you practice.
Larry Bird
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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.
Larry Bird
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You can make all the excuses you want, but if you're not mentally tough and you're not prepared to play every night, you're not going to win.
Larry Bird
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Anytime you've got an opportunity to play for your country and win a gold medal, I think that takes it all. That's the greatest thing you could ever achieve in your sport. So, I have been very fortunate to play on great teams, but the gold medal was probably the best.
Larry Bird
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Michael Jordan is God disguised as a basketball player.
Larry Bird
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I don't think that once you get to one level, you can relax. You've got to keep pushing.
Larry Bird
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You're all playin' for second place.
Larry Bird
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Once you are labeled 'the best' you want to stay up there, and you can't do it by loafing around.
Larry Bird
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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
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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.
Larry Bird
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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. And they can tell when you're not giving it all you've got.
Larry Bird
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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
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The best player I ever played with was Dennis Johnson.
Larry Bird
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Guys like Larry Bird -- he played so hard, he wants everybody else to play hard. That's not unreasonable. Any coach would want that and demand that.
Larry Bird
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If there was a payment to the bank due, and we needed shoes, she'd get the shoes, and then deal with them guys at the bank. I don't mean she wouldn't pay the bank, but the children always came first.
Larry Bird
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The best basketball announcer is one who allows you to close your eyes.
Larry Bird