“I want to make sure I am still here to make sure my two young [sons] become men.”

Just celebrate the life you had, not the life you could’ve had.

The looks, the stares, the giggles . . . I wanted to show everybody that I could do better and also that I could read.

Standing on that platform, I said a silent prayer. I thanked God for giving me the strength and the opportunity to come back, to play basketball again, and to be part of that whole magnificent Olympic experience. It’s a memory I will always cherish.

I am a businessman. This is what I do each and every day. I love it. I love coming to work. I never have a bad day.

A woman always remembers. Remember that.

For me, it always goes back to something I learned in basketball.

And we knew that all of the other leagues were at home and millions of people were watching. So it made it a special day to play on Christmas.

When I’m under the gun and I’ve got pressure on me, I don’t panic. I look for the right solution, and then I go for it.

Larry, you only told me one lie. You said there will be another Larry Bird. Larry, there will never, ever be another Larry Bird.

Magic is who I am on the basketball court. Earvin is who I am.

I strive on pressure.

I want to be here for a long time, so I am going to do everything I have to do to be here. And I want to walk my daughter down the aisle and give her away to somebody some day.

If you come to me and say, ‘Hey look I’m a racist,’ or ‘I discriminate against blacks,’ or ‘I don’t like you because you’re African American.

I guess when people ask what is the biggest transition to the NBA from college, it is definitely defense and the mental part.

If the community is happy, then they support your business and if your business is doing well, then you can give back even more to the community.

If you hate to lose, you do whatever you need to do to make sure you’re business is successful.