When you get a draft pick right, you should be given full credit.
— Jeff Van Gundy
I think fans oftentimes get an inferior product on back-to-back games, and I think that has to be the number one thing that gets addressed for the fans and for the players - the elimination or the drastic reduction of back-to-back games.
I think there are much bigger differences between players in this league than between coaches. There is a big gap between LeBron James and the small forward for whoever. Far bigger than between two coaches.
It's staggering how many players, even with the sums of money they make, don't do a great job of saving it.
All you try to do in any system you incorporate is put players in their areas of strength and try to hide and minimize their weaknesses.
When you have the best player, you can do a lot of things. The best player can usually back it up, too.
I've had two owners - Jim Dolan and Les Alexander in Houston. Both were terrific. They wanted to win badly and gave you the resources to win.
Often, organizations don't know how good they have it with a player or coach.
It's hard to change a roster around. You've got to hit your draft picks right, you've gotta hit free agency right, and a team's got to fit together.
Chicken parm is hard to beat.
There's always been conflict, inherent conflict between players and coaches.
Mark Fox is always criticized recruiting: he can't keep the Georgia kids home. What that means - he's not cheating and paying. That's what it means.
I want to control everything that goes into winning or losing.
When I'd watch myself coaching, I'd say, 'Man, I look bad,' but I never felt I didn't have a sense of humor with the team. Maybe I was too over-the-top serious.
D'Antoni can be successful playing slow or fast because he is a bright guy who has very creative ideas.
You have to be careful as a news organization that you don't fall into voluntary censorship, that you worry about offending your 'league partner.' I never worried about that. I worry about fans listening.
It's hard enough to coach in this league when you're doing what you believe in. But when you have to try to coach something you may not be sold on, it becomes even more of a challenge. It's really hard.
I think Jeff Hornacek is a very, very good basketball coach and an outstanding person.
I broadcast games. I think there is a huge difference between print journalism and broadcasting. I don't have to say, 'sources close to LeBron James,' five times a game. I can just put my name to it. I say what I believe. It doesn't mean it's right. It's what I believe.
It is a player's league until you lose.
Christmas Day is a big day for NBA basketball.
I think anybody confusing a system with a reason for success is making a huge mistake. Systems don't win games. Players do.
Sometimes you try to change, and you go backwards.
I never lost the desire to coach.
When Jordan was averaging over 30 and shooting over 50 percent, he was doing it with less shooting on the floor for himself. He had less spacing to work with. He was going against defenses that were allowed a lot more liberties as far as physical contact, how hard they fouled, and all those things.
You would never find a coach in any sport more giving of his time than Coach Parcells to other New York coaches.
As far as LeBron James, to me, he's on his way to carving out the very best career that's ever happened in the NBA.
Most elite big men are high maintenance.
I read somewhere that failure is an event, not a person, but I never feel that way. It's who I am.
At first, you can play into the naivete that people think you have because you don't dress well. They almost give you the benefit of the doubt. But when success comes, that's no longer a good angle, so now you're 'a political animal.'
The best player's responsibility is to unite and inspire your teammates to play up to their full maximum ability, and that never occurs if you try to separate yourself as part of the problem.
Everyone's system in the NBA makes sense. It all comes down to the quality of player and the quality of execution.
Players and coaches alike, you sign up for 82 games. You get paid for 82.
There are certain aspects that I miss of coaching. But you can't just pick out the good parts. You've got to be all-in and understand there's some negatives, too.
Phil Jackson was a brilliant basketball coach, not just because of the offense that he employed, but it was so many other things that went into it.
I think coaches should get the same amount of credit in victory that they get in defeat.
I frankly think the NBA All-Star game has run its course, the whole dunk contest... The game - if those guys actually played hard in that game, it'd be the best watch ever.
Detroit Pistons basketball slogan: When the going gets tough, we fire the coach.
The triangle itself is just an offense based on freedom of the ball to go to different places, everybody feeling involved. It's a good thing.
For professional athletes, I always think about it in these terms: the most difficult diva of women's soccer would be the easiest NBA player ever.
The NBA is a crazy place.
I think greatness is always good for the NBA. Great players, great teams - it's always good for the NBA.
I love listening to Coach Belichick's press conferences: even though they may not be what the media wants, they're great coaching, teaching tools.
I always said 'strength in stars.'
Dwight Howard is a Hall of Fame player.
Losing has an unbelievably negative impact on me.
Kobe Bryant is a terrific offensive rebounder.
If you are going to call out your teammates, you have to call out yourself, too. You can't just separate yourself from the rest, because if you are going to get 90 percent of the credit when you win, you have to be willing to take 90 percent of the blame when you lose.
Systems are overrated; players are underrated.
To me, it doesn't matter who's out there: NBA basketball is great - if teams are putting out their best players and they're competing to win.
