87+ Best Michael Jordan Quotes: Exclusive Selection

The greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan, began his professional basketball career when he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984. He became known for his power and agility on the court as well as for his leadership abilities. He played 15 seasons in the NBA, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Inspirational Michael Jordan quotes will motivate you for striving to better throughout life with perseverance and dedication.

If you’re searching for greatest basketball quotes that perfectly capture what you’d like to say or just want to feel inspired yourself, browse through an amazing collection of John Wooden motivational quotes, motivating Kevin Durant quotes, and top Lebron James quotes.

Motivational Michael Jordan Quotes

I’m not out there sweating for three hours every day just to find out what it feels like to sweat. Michael Jordan

I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. Michael jordan

Limits, like fear, is often an illusion. Michael Jordan

Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. Michael Jordan

You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. Michael Jordan

I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying. Michael Jordan

If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome. Michael Jordan

You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them. Michael Jordan

My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength. Michael Jordan

Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, and others make it happen. Michael Jordan

I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. Michael Jordan

My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength. Michael Jordan

If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan

To be successful you have to be selfish, or else you never achieve. And once you get to your highest level, then you have to be unselfish. Stay reachable. Stay in touch. Don’t isolate. Michael Jordan

I play to win, whether during practice or a real game. And I will not let anything get in the way of me and my competitive enthusiasm to win. Michael Jordan

I never looked at the consequences of missing a big shot when you think about the consequences you always think of a negative result. Michael Jordan

Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan

My father used to say that it’s never too late to do anything you wanted to do. And he said, You never know what you can accomplish until you try. Michael Jordan

I’ve never lost a game. I just ran out of time. Michael Jordan

The game has its ups and downs, but you can never lose focus of your individual goals and you can’t let yourself be beat because of lack of effort. Michael Jordan

Everybody has talent, but ability takes hard work. Michael Jordan

Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you. If you put forth the effort, good things will be bestowed upon you. That’s truly about the game, and in some ways that’s about life too. Michael Jordan

Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion. Michael Jordan

You have competition every day because you set such high standards for yourself that you have to go out every day and live up to that. Michael Jordan

Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation. Michael Jordan

Sometimes, things may not go your way, but the effort should be there every single night. Michael Jordan

To learn to succeed, you must first learn to fail. Michael Jordan

I want to wake up every day and do whatever comes in my mind, and not feel pressure or obligations to do anything else in my life. Michael Jordan

Don’t let them drag you down by rumors just go with what you believe in. Michael Jordan

The game of basketball has been everything to me. My place of refuge, place I’ve always gone where I needed comfort and peace. It’s been the site of intense pain and the most intense feelings of joy and satisfaction. It’s a relationship that has evolved over time, given me the greatest respect and love for the game. Michael Jordan

I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed. Michael Jordan

There is no i in team but there is in win. Michael Jordan

The minute you get away from fundamentals  whether its proper technique, work ethic or mental preparation  the bottom can fall out of your game, your schoolwork, your job, whatever you’re doing. Michael Jordan

There is no such thing as a perfect basketball player, and I don’t believe there is only one greatest player either.  Michael Jordan

Once I made a decision, I never thought about it again. Michael Jordan

I want to be the bridge to the next generation. Michael Jordan

The basketball court for me, during a game, is the most peaceful place I can imagine. On the basketball court, I worry about nothing. When I’m out there, no one can bother me. Michael Jordan

In any investment, you expect to have fun and make money. Michael Jordan

My mother is my root, my foundation. She planted the seed that I base my life on, and that is the belief that the ability to achieve starts in your mind. Michael Jordan

Sometimes you need to get hit in the head to realize that you’re in a fight. Michael Jordan

Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen. Michael Jordan

I built my talents on the shoulders of someone else’s talent. Michael Jordan

I realize I’m black, but id like to be viewed as a person, and that is everybody’s wish. Michael Jordan

I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.  Michael Jordan

Failure is acceptable but not trying is a whole different ball park. Michael Jordan

Live the moment for the moment. Michael Jordan

I play to win, whether during practice or a real game. Michael Jordan

I realize that I’m black, but I like to be viewed as a person, and this is everybody’s wish. Michael Jordan

You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. Michael Jordan

When I will lose the sense of motivation and the sense to prove something as a basketball player, it’s time for me to move away from the game. Michael Jordan

I can appect failure, but I cannot accept not trying. Michael Jordan

Enjoy every minute of life. Never second guess life. Michael Jordan

As athletes, we’re used to reacting quickly. Here, it’s come, stop, come, stop. There’s a lot of downtime. That’s the toughest part of the day. Michael Jordan

Everybody has talent, but ability takes hard work. Michael Jordan

Every time I feel tired while I am exercising and training, I close my eyes to see that picture, to see that list with my name. This usually motivates me to work again. Michael Jordan

If you do the work, you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life. Michael Jordan

I have failed many times, and that’s why I am a success. Michael Jordan

All I knew is that I never wanted to be average. Michael Jordan

I can accept failure, but I can’t accept not trying. Michael Jordan

I believe greatness is an evolutionary process that changes and evolves era to era. Michael Jordan

I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed. Michael Jordan

If you quit once it becomes a habit. Never quit. Michael Jordan

If I had been playing for money I would have complained a long time ago that I was underpaid. Michael Jordan

Practice like you’ve never won. Play like you’ve never lost. Michael Jordan

Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordon

When I was young, I had to learn the fundamentals of basketball. You can have all the physical ability in the world, but you still have to know the fundamentals. Michael Jordan

I failed over and over and over and that is why I succeed. Michael Jordan

I wasn’t really a work conscious type of person. I was a player. I loved to play sports. Michael Jordan

Never say never, because limits, like fear, are often just an illusion. Michael Jordan

They don’t need a ticket to watch you sitting on the bench. They can go to your house for that. Michael Jordan

I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying. Michael Jordan

If it turns out that my best wasn’t good enough, at least I won’t look back and say I was afraid to try. Michael Jordan

Why would I think about missing a shot that I haven’t taken yet? Michael Jordan

I know fear is an obstacle for some people, but it is an illusion to me. Failure always made me try harder the next time. Michael Jordan

Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, others make it happen. Michael Jordan

My challenge when I came back was to face the young talent, dissect their games, and show them maybe that they needed to learn more about the game than just the money aspect. Michael Jordan

But how many people lighted the path for me? That’s the evolution of basketball. There’s no way I could have played the way I played if I didn’t watch David Thompson and guys prior to me. There’s no way Kobe could have played the way he’s played without watching me play. So, you know, that’s the evolution of basketball. You cannot change that. Michael Jordan

I’ve never lost a game, I just ran out of time. Michael Jordan

Whenever they speak Michael Jordan, they should speak Scottie Pippen. Michael Jordan

Being Michael Jordan means acting the same as I always have. Michael Jordan

Whoever is the team leader of the team, I’m going to be going after him. And I’m not going to do it with my voice. Because I had no voice. I had no status. I had to do it with the way that I played. Michael Jordan

I hope the millions of people I’ve touched have the optimism and desire to share their goals and hard work and perseverance with a positive attitude. Michael Jordan

I don’t do things half heartedly. Because I know if I do, then I can expect half hearted results. Michael Jordan

Another day, another opportunity to prove everyone who doubts you wrong. Michael Jordan

My mentality was to go out and win, at any cost. If you don’t want to live that regimented mentality, then you don’t need to be alongside of me. Coz I’m gonna ridicule you until you get on the same level with me, and if you don’t get on the same level, then it’s gonna be hell for you. Michael Jordan