Michael Jordan, or MJ for short, was born in Brooklyn, New York and made a big name for himself as a basketball player. He was first drafted by the Chicago Bulls after leaving college and immediately contributed to the team for the playoffs. The NBA Rookie of the Year Award and the Most Valuable Player awards are just some of the numerous awards which he received in the span of his career. He is acclaimed to be one of the best basketball players ever.
Apart from being the NBA basketball star that he is famous for, he is also an Olympic athlete, a business man, and an actor. As a child, his father commented that he had a competition problem. He always wanted to win and eventually outdid himself.
When his father died in 1993, he left the NBA. During this hiatus, he turned his athletic drive to baseball to the disappointment and shock of his fans. He returned to the Chicago Bulls two years later. It was during this time that he ventured into something different – acting. In 1996, Space Jam was released with Michael Jordan being paired with animated cartoon characters.
Currently, he owns a part of the Charlotte Bobcats and has formally joined the executive group managing the team. Other than basketball, he is involved in some business ventures including a number of restaurants. He is also not a stranger to charitable events.
Famous Michael Jordan Quotes
With basketball being a popular sport, many people have seen MJ on the spotlight. Because of the heart that he puts in every game, he has a magnetic charisma that attracts fans. Many people listen to him and hold on to every word that he says.
“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.”
“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something.
But I can’t accept not trying.”
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.”
“Once I made a decision, I never thought about it again.”
“I realize I’m black, but I’d like to be viewed as a person, and that is everybody’s wish.”
“There is no “I” in team but there is in win.”
“People ask me if I could fly, I said, ‘yeah… for a little while’.”
Michael Jordan Inspirational Quotes
With all that Michael Jordan had to go through, his vision of what he wants to get out of life is very solid in his mind. His thirst for winning is very contagious. He has inspired people to become more than who they are now, whether they are basketball fans or not.
“If you do the work you get rewarded.
There are no shortcuts in life.”
“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.”
“You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.”
“Success isn’t something you chase.
It is something you have to put forth the effort for constantly;
Then maybe it’ll come when you least expect it.”
“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.”
“Don’t let them drag you down by rumors just go with what you believe in.”
“Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.”
“I failed so therefore I succeed.”
“If it turns out that my best wasn’t good enough,
at least I won’t look back and say that I was afraid to try.”
“You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise.”
Michael Jordan Basketball Quotes
Reading the following quotes will show you what sets MJ apart from other athletes. For him, it’s more than the game, more than the shoots, more than the ball. Basketball just happens to be the stage where he spent a well lived life.
“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.”
“I’ve never lost a game I just ran out of time.”
“When I step onto the court,
I don’t have to think about anything.
If I have a problem off the court,
I find that after I play, my mind is clearer
and I can come up with a better solution.
It’s like therapy.
It relaxes me and allows me to solve problems.”
“I own the guy guarding me.”
“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.”
“What is love? Love is playing every game as if it’s your last!”
“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….”
“I play to win, whether during practice or a real game.”
“I never looked at the consequences of missing a big shot…
when you think about the consequences you always think of negative result.”
“The game is wife. It demands loyalty and responsibility,
and it gives me back fulfillment and peace.”
“Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game.”
“It’s heavy duty to try to do everything and please everybody…
My job was to go out there and play the game of basketball as best I can …
People may not agree with that…
I can’t live with what everyone’s impression of what I should or what I shouldn’t do.”
“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 Motivational Quotes
His amazing attitude towards life and winning has resulted in many quotes that can be used for any sport or endeavor that needs an added drive. When someone is down or discouraged about work or a certain project, his quotes will definitely fire them up.
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, and others make it happen.”
“Make it happen.”
“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.”
“If you quit ONCE it becomes a habit. Never quit!!!”
“Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation.”
“Everybody has talent, but ability takes hard work.”
“The key to success is failure.”
“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.”
“I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.
I don’t do things half-heartedly.
Because I know if I do, then I can expect half-hearted results.”
