Earlier in life, I put family in front of faith. I've fixed that. But I always tried to keep work fourth on the list. I was proud when [my wife] Nellie told an interviewer, 'I never could tell whether John had a good practice or a bad practice, because he never brought it home'

It takes time to create excellence. If it could be done quickly, more people would do it.

Well, if you're true to yourself you're going to be true to everyone else.

I talked to the players and tried to make them aware of what was good and bad, but I didn't try to run their lives.

A good banker isn't careless with pennies; a good leader isn't sloppy about details.

No individual should take the blame for a loss, because no individual should get the credit for a victory.

Once you become a good person, then you have a chance of becoming a good basketball player.