Competition is great for everyone. Sports can teach you so much at an early age, including camaraderie and sportsmanship. Competition aspect is something I've always been big on - I always wanted to compete in something. It was swimming for many years, then I moved on to basketball. I had to find a way to channel my competitive energy, so I'm lucky that basketball worked out for me.

Tim Duncan

Categorized in : Sports Basketball Swimming

Basketball's so much like life: if something's going great, you wait a minute, it will change. If something's going bad, you wait a minute, it will change. So I try to play things on such an even keel, knowing that things are going to change. You take the good with the bad; you don't get too excited, you don't get too down and sometimes that's the hardest thing in the world to do when you're in the midst of it, but that's the best way to handle it.

basketball knowing play

The time when there is no one there to feel sorry for you or to cheer for you is when a player is made.

basketball sorry sports

I don't try to change myself to impress anybody. I'm just who I a... by Tim Duncan

I don't try to change myself to impress anybody. I'm just who I am.

who-i-am basketball trying

I am who I am because of the people who I grew up with and where... by Tim Duncan

I am who I am because of the people who I grew up with and where I'm from.

who-i-am basketball people

I enjoy jokes, smiling, and making people smile. I may be a little different, but that's OK, who wants to be normal anyway?

inspirational-basketball smile people

I'm not going anywhere. You can print that wherever you want to.... by Tim Duncan

I'm not going anywhere. You can print that wherever you want to. I'm here and I'm a Spur for life.

print spurs want

I'm still learning. Hopefully I can keep getting better, and not... by Tim Duncan

I'm still learning. Hopefully I can keep getting better, and not stop where I am now.

hopefully get-better basketball

You've got to stay ready, especially around here. That's what we preach, you'll get your opportunity whether it comes at the beginning or in the middle or in the end whenever it may be. When your time comes, you need to be ready to go because you're going to earn your minutes

nba basketball opportunity

I'm surrounded by nothing but great people. I've been blessed with that, so really, I've got no choice but to be an all-around good person.

basketball blessed people

Get your education. The number of guys who are blessed to be in the league is so small compared to the number of high school players [who want to play in the league]. But one thing you can do is get your college education. If you are blessed enough to get a scholarship to play college basketball, make sure you get your college degree, too, then move on from there.

basketball blessed moving

They say I have no emotions, but I'm excited even if you can't se... by Tim Duncan

They say I have no emotions, but I'm excited even if you can't see it.

excited emotion basketball

I don't usually set personal goals. by Tim Duncan

I don't usually set personal goals.

personal-goal basketball goal

We are unselfish and we trust each other by Tim Duncan

We are unselfish and we trust each other

unselfish nba basketball

I just hope to make a difference. by Tim Duncan

I just hope to make a difference.

making-a-difference differences

When I'm away from basketball, I'm the biggest kid. I do a good job of keeping myself sane. But on the other hand, I'm more of a solitary guy, glad to be left alone.

basketball jobs kids

I'm attacking the basket more. Because I'm more comfortable on the line, that's an area I want to get to.

lines basketball want

I've never gotten too high or too low. It only messes you up. by Tim Duncan

I've never gotten too high or too low. It only messes you up.

mess basketball lows

Standing on the court and holding up that trophy - it's so great you want to keep doing it over and over again.

trophies basketball want

The first time I played against Seattle was the only time I felt destroyed. Vin Baker just manhandled me. The whole thing, their double teams, their movement, everything.

bakers movement team

It always feels good to win, it's always tough to lose. by Tim Duncan

It always feels good to win, it's always tough to lose.

tough feel-good winning