I have two college degrees, four honorary doctorate degrees, and am in three Halls of fame, and the only thing I know how to do is teach tall people how to put a ball in the hole.
Red AuerbachTo be a successful coach you should be and look prepared. You must be a man of integrity. Never break your word. Don't have two sets of standards. Remember you don't handle players-you handle pets. You deal with players. Stand up for your players. Show them you care-on and off the court. Very important-it's not 'how' or 'what' you say but what they absorb.
Red AuerbachTake pride in what you do. The kind of pride I'm talking about is not the arrogant puffed-up kind; it's just the whole idea of caring - fiercely caring
Red AuerbachYou don't win games as a coach during games. You win games as a coach before games. Players win during games, not coaches
Red AuerbachWilt Chamberlain had a great deal to do with the success of the NBA. His dominance, power, demeanor and the rivalry with Bill Russell says it all. He will be sorely missed by myself and everyone in the basketball community. Wilt was a great performer and a great athlete.
Red AuerbachThey said you have to use your five best players but I found you win with the five who fit together the best.
Red AuerbachEveryone is born with a certain potential. You may never achieve your full potential, but how close you come depends on how much you want to pay the price.
Red AuerbachThe most important thing in coaching is communication. It's not what you say as much as what they absorb.
Red AuerbachI can't stand a ballplayer who plays in fear. Anybody who has a good shot has got to take it and keep taking it. So he misses...so what?
Red AuerbachWinners train, losers complain. Give me twelve players that want to win and they will find a way to win.
Red AuerbachAnd I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start a team today, the greatest player and the one guy I would take would be Larry Bird.
Red AuerbachYou've got to avoid overcoaching. You've got to avoid talking too much. You've got to avoid showing players that you're the boss every time. You don't have to do that. They know you're in charge.
Red AuerbachWhen players are used to winning, they put out a little more. Basketball 3rd winningest coach (regular season and playoffs) in NBA history; won 1,037 times in 20 years.
Red AuerbachIf you want to be a Champion, you've got to feel like one, you've got to act like one, you've got to look like one.
Red AuerbachTo a father, when a child dies, the future dies; to a child when a parent dies, the past dies.
Red AuerbachMany, many times, the kids with the less talent become the better athletes because they're more dedicated to achieving their full potential.
Red AuerbachStrategy is something anyone can learn. But not all coaches take the time to understand a man's personality.
Red AuerbachI never took a position we were going to be a good ball club. I took the position we were going to be a winning ball club.
Red AuerbachI don't believe in statistics. There are too many factors that can't be measured. You can't measure a ballplayer's heart.
Red Auerbach