The invention of basketball was not an accident. It was developed to meet a need. Those boys simply would not play “Drop the Handkerchief.” – James Naismith
There are really only two plays: Romeo and Juliet, and put the darn ball in the basket. – Abe Lemons
Any American boy can be a basketball star if he grows up, up, up. – Bill Vaughn
The rule was “No autopsy, no foul.” – Stewart Granger, on the pickup games of his childhood
I look at the NBA as a football game without the helmet. – Tom Tolbert
If you meet the Buddha in the lane, feed him the ball. – Phil Jackson
What is so fascinating about sitting around watching a bunch of pituitary cases stuff a ball through a hoop? – Woody Allen, Annie Hall
We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors. – Weldon Drew
Basketball is the MTV of sports. – Sara Levinson
The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot. – Bill Russell
I hate it. It looks like a stickup at 7-Eleven. Five guys standing there with their hands in the air. – Norm Sloan, on zone defense
Basketball is like war in that offensive weapons are developed first, and it always takes a while for the defense to catch up. – Red Auerbach
The only difference between a good shot and a bad shot is if it goes in or not. – Charles Barkley
When I dunk, I put something on it. I want the ball to hit the floor before I do. – Darryl Dawkins
Giving “Magic” the basketball is like giving Hitler an army, Jesse James a gang, or Genghis Khan a horse. – Jim Murray, about Earvin Johnson
