Oscar Robertson quotes

Oscar Robertson is an American former professional basketball player, widely regarded as one of the greatest in NBA history. Known as "The Big O," he was the first player to average a triple-double over a full season. He played a significant role in changing the game and advocating for players' rights. Here are 32 of his quotes:

If you're a basketball player, you've got to shoot. (Oscar Robertson)
Some players are more physical than others, some play with more finesse. Some are just really great all-around players. So you have to change your game. View quote
Oscar Robertson
You need a teaching coach who understands the game of basketball, not just some guy coming on the court talking about Xs and Os. View quote
Oscar Robertson
I'd like to think that the nature of the two teams - Boston being a championship team over the years and the Lakers, same thing - was a lot bigger than Larry Bird or Magic Johnson. View quote
Oscar Robertson
You don't cut anywhere, don't pick down anywhere, don't double screen, no weak side picking. All these things that should happen in a game of basketball don't happen anymore. View quote
Oscar Robertson
I think that teaching coaches are the norm now. View quote
Oscar Robertson
But I like to think an athlete is an athlete. View quote
Oscar Robertson
Now, I guess, people want stars. People are trying to invent stars. View quote
Oscar Robertson
Basketball is basketball. View quote
Oscar Robertson
The Olympics were great, because you had to make the team, and then go to the games. Now, I don't know, these guys today don't want to do anything like that. View quote
Oscar Robertson
I think that everyone should be able to dribble. Everyone should be able to pass. Otherwise, why are you out there? (Oscar Robertson)
You look at today, it's a different situation. You have a game that has been transformed into a game where almost every shot is either an outside shot - a three-point shot - or a dunk. View quote
Oscar Robertson
I don't blame David Stern because a player gets on the court and he doesn't put out competitively. No one can make you play if you don't want to play. View quote
Oscar Robertson
But I think the image that's thrown out on television is a bad image. Because you see players who want to imitate hip-hop stars. And the NBA is taking advantage of the situation. View quote
Oscar Robertson
I don't think that players learn how to play any other aspect of the game in high school or college. View quote
Oscar Robertson
I think that basketball players should get the job done no matter how it looks on the screen. View quote
Oscar Robertson
I was taught to play that way when I was in high school and even before I got to high school. View quote
Oscar Robertson
It's like all guys want to do is make a dunk, grab their shirt and yell out and scream - they could be down 30 points but that's what they do. Okay, so you made a dunk. Get back down the floor on defense! View quote
Oscar Robertson
The thing about it is almost everyone could pass that way, but we were kept from doing it by our coaches. View quote
Oscar Robertson
They should have a rule: in order to be a sportswriter, you have to have played that sport, at some level; high school, college, junior college, somewhere. Or, you should have had to have been around the game for a long time. View quote
Oscar Robertson
This is where young players today want to land. They want to be NBA players because of the money. (Oscar Robertson)
We're all Americans trying to compete. Magic was competing for his team and Larry for his team. View quote
Oscar Robertson
Who do I think was the greatest? This might shock you: Elgin Baylor. He did so many great things. Nobody could guard him, playing in the forward spot. I'd love to see some of today's greats playing against Elgin. They couldn't guard him. Nobody could. View quote
Oscar Robertson
You've got to learn the footwork, the positioning, how to box out, how to pass, how to shoot your free throws. All these things are necessary, not to be the No. 1 player in the world, but maybe you can play against him. View quote
Oscar Robertson
When you play against different people from all walks of life you can't do the same thing against every player defensively or offensively. You have to change up the way you go at a player. View quote
Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson - Image
Occupation: American Athlete
Born: November 24, 1938
Quotes count: 32