“There are many times when you are better off practicing than playing; but most people just don’t understand that”

Michael Jordan is God disguised as a basketball player.

I’ve always been interested in jobs in the NBA. But I’ve been in this for 20 years and it might be time to do something else.

In the closing seconds of every game, I want the ball in my hands for the last shot – not in anybody else’s, not in anybody else’s in the world.

I hate to lose more than I like to win.

My name’s been on this check for a week now.

As far as playing, I didn’t care who guarded me – red, yellow, black. I just didn’t want a white guy guarding me, because it’s disrespect to my game.

Players will see right through a phony. And they can tell when you’re not giving it all you’ve got.

I had control of the ball. As a coach you sort of put the ball in other player’s hands and let them make decisions for you. But I still get a kick out of winning basketball games and that’s what I’m in this for.

I learned what my weaknesses were and I went out the next day to turn those weaknesses intro strengths.

I knew I was as good as anybody. That’s not really bragging; it’s just that I’d put the time in.

You’re all playin’ for second place.

I can see why fans don’t like to watch pro basketball. I don’t, either. It’s not exciting.

It doesn’t matter who scores the points, it’s who can get the ball to the scorer.

My goal was just to try and be the best player on my high school team, and look where I am now. And that was still my goal as a young kid, just to try and be a little better than my brother was.

When I was a kid, like 14 or 15, I played with the waiters from the hotel, ’cause that was the best game. And these guys, they’d let me play. And they were black guys.

What’s better? Dogs or broomsticks? I mean will the world really ever know?