American basketball coach (1917-2006)
Basketball is like war in that offensive weapons are developed first, and it always takes a while for the defense to catch up.
RED AUERBACH
attributed, It's How You Play the Game
Did I ever tell you about Chamberlain? Chamberlain was the most unbelievable physical specimen ever. There wasn't anything he couldn't do on the basketball court. One year he scored fifty points a game. Another year he led the league in assists. He was so strong it was frightening. But there was one thing he couldn't do. He couldn't beat us.
RED AUERBACH
Let Me Tell You a Story: A Lifetime in the Game
I can't stand these guys who go into a game and can't wait to shake hands when the game is over, you know, nice game, all that.... For me, back in those days, when we lost, we got out of there. We're not congratulating them, we're figuring out, if we play them again, what are we gonna do to beat the hell out of them.
RED AUERBACH
Basketball Man
If you're keeping score, win.
RED AUERBACH
Esquire, Dec. 2000
Everything can happen in the playoffs.
RED AUERBACH
ESPN, Jun. 2005
It's not what you tell your players that counts. It's what they hear.
RED AUERBACH
Leadership Wired, Mar. 12, 2004
I never had a set of rules. Every situation is different.
RED AUERBACH
Esquire, Dec. 2000
Most coaches don't want to do something unless they think of it. Morgan has never had that kind of ego. He sees something good, someone gives him an idea, if it makes sense to him, he uses it. He never needs credit, never needs to prove he's the smartest guy in the room.
RED AUERBACH
Let Me Tell You a Story: A Lifetime in the Game
You got to be lucky. Like, for example, one time in the seventh game of a playoff, somebody took a shot -- I think it was Nelson or Ramsey or Sam -- and it hit the backboard, hit the rim, rolled around, went in, and made me a hell of a coach. You know what I mean?
RED AUERBACH
Esquire, Dec. 2000
What affects the game today is money. And the agents tell their players "It's all right to be a great defensive player and so forth and so on, but you better put some points up there so I can sell you to some teams." And you say "Well, he averages twelve points a game, only plays fifteen minutes, he's one hell of a player." But if I go to him and say, "I got a guy out here, he's a good defensive player, and he averages two points a game," you can't sell him. See. It's money.
RED AUERBACH
Basketball Man
I 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
Harvard Business Review, Mar. 1987
You can't win without the ball.
RED AUERBACH
ESPN, Jun. 2005
If they think we got an edge, we got an edge.
RED AUERBACH
Esquire, Dec. 2000
The only correct actions are those that demand no explanation and no apology.
RED AUERBACH
attributed, Quote Unquote
Chamberlain -- he was bigger than Shaq, just as strong as Shaq, ran just as good as Shaq, rebounded better.... Everybody thinks the new players are bigger, stronger, faster and smarter. But they are not.
RED AUERBACH
interview, ESPN, 2006
All records are made to be broken.
RED AUERBACH
ESPN, Jun. 2005
I have two college degrees, but the only way I could make a living was by showing kids how to put a ball in a hole.
RED AUERBACH
attributed, Crazyball: Sports Scandals, Superstitions, and Sick Plays
I've turned down a lot of trades where I might have gotten a better player, but I wasn't totally sure of the chemistry of that new player coming in. Even though he might possess golden ability, his personality and the way he gets along with teammates might be things you just don't want to cope with.
RED AUERBACH
Harvard Business Review, Mar. 1987
Any coach needs talent. You start with talent. Without talent, we're all in the soup.
RED AUERBACH
ESPN, Jun. 2005
I think it's very difficult for one man to beat you. Chamberlain once popped off, he says, "Give me five guys named Joe and I'll beat anybody around here." And they got him five guys on a playground and beat the hell out of him. It's not a one man game.
RED AUERBACH
Basketball Man