The first time I shot the hook, I was in fourth grade, and I was about five feet eight inches read more

The first time I shot the hook, I was in fourth grade, and I was about five feet eight inches tall. I put the ball up and felt totally at ease with the shot. I was completely confident it would go in and I've been shooting it ever since.

You have to be able to center yourself, to let all of your emotions go... Don't ever forget that you read more

You have to be able to center yourself, to let all of your emotions go... Don't ever forget that you play with your soul as well as your body.

Show me a good and gracious loser, and I'll show you a failure.

Show me a good and gracious loser, and I'll show you a failure.

Never understimate the heart of a champion.

Never understimate the heart of a champion.

Sometimes a player's greatest challenge is coming to grips with his role on the team.

Sometimes a player's greatest challenge is coming to grips with his role on the team.

You don't play against opponents, you play against the game of basketball.

You don't play against opponents, you play against the game of basketball.

The only difference between a good shot and a bad shot is if it goes in or not.

The only difference between a good shot and a bad shot is if it goes in or not.

Once you are labeled 'the best' you want to stay up there, and you can't do it by loafing around. read more

Once you are labeled 'the best' you want to stay up there, and you can't do it by loafing around. If I don't keep changing. I'm history.

If I weren't earning $3 million a year to dunk a basketball, most people on the street would run in read more

If I weren't earning $3 million a year to dunk a basketball, most people on the street would run in the other direction if they saw me coming.