The Boston Celtics are not a basketball team, they are a way of life. — Red Auerbach

And 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 Auerbach

You can’t win without the ball. — Red Auerbach

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

The most important thing in coaching is communication. It’s not what you say as much as what they absorb. — Red Auerbach

Winners train, losers complain. Give me twelve players that want to win and they will find a way to win. — Red Auerbach

I can’t stand a ballplayer who plays in fear. — Red Auerbach

An acre of performance is worth a whole world of promise. — Red Auerbach

Strategy is something anyone can learn. But not all coaches take the time to understand a man’s personality. — Red Auerbach

He has the players too happy. — Red Auerbach

Stand up for your players. Show them you care on and off the court. — Red Auerbach

Look after your people. — Red Auerbach

You don’t win games as a coach during games. You win games as a coach before games. Players win during games, not coaches — Red Auerbach

If they think we’ve got an edge, we’ve got an edge. — Red Auerbach

I 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 Auerbach

Some say you have to use your five best players, but I found out you win with the five that fit together best as a team. — Red Auerbach

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

When 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 Auerbach

To a father, when a child dies, the future dies; to a child when a parent dies, the past dies. — Red Auerbach

Any coach needs talent. You start with talent. Without talent, we’re all in the soup. — Red Auerbach

It’s not what you tell your players that counts. It’s what they hear. — Red Auerbach

The best way to forget ones self is to look at the world with attention and love. — Red Auerbach

If I’m going to coach the players, I want some say on who they’re going to be. — Red Auerbach

The only correct actions are those that demand no explanation and no apology. — Red Auerbach

All records are made to be broken. — Red Auerbach

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 Auerbach

Many, many times, the kids with the less talent become the better athletes because they’re more dedicated to achieving their full potential. — Red Auerbach

He who believes in nobody knows that he himself is not to be trusted. — Red Auerbach

Just do what you do best. — Red Auerbach

The coach should be the absolute boss, but he still should maintain an open mind. — Red Auerbach

If you’re keeping score, win! — Red Auerbach

Take 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 Auerbach

Natural abilities are like natural plants; they need pruning by study. — Red Auerbach

If 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 Auerbach

Everyone 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 Auerbach