Lenny Wilkens Quotations

We should never discourage young people from dreaming dreams.

If you fail the first time that's just a chance to start over again.

The American dream, to me, means having the opportunity to achieve, because I don't think you should be guaranteed anything other than opportunity.

If you can't go through it, find a way around it. Don't spend all your time banging your head against it.

I worry about the things I can affect, and the things I have no control over I move by.

If you want it, you've got to give it.

I never really had a chance to know the players individually... I thought when they were on the floor, they worked hard. But I never really got to know them.

Only time will tell, ... I'm sure when you're paying a guy that kind of money, you're going to give him a chance to see what he can do. But time will tell.

He was very disappointed, naturally. Everybody wants to be a part of this, but there are only so many spots.

I think that you have to communicate with people, and I think that respect is a two-way street.

The American dream, to me, means having the opportunity to achieve . . . because I don't think you should be guaranteed anything other than opportunity.

I've been out of town since the time when I won. It's always more fun to be recognized by your own community. People know you better, and they're more judgmental.

So my philosophy becomes that I worry about the things I can affect, and the things I have no control over I move by.

I let them know that I believe that they can succeed, and I'm going to be there to help them.

I never really had Allan Houston, ... So I don't know what our team could have been.

I never really had a chance to know the players individually, ... I thought when they were on the floor, they worked hard. But I never really got to know them.

I think my track record proves that if I have time, I can do it, ... And I wanted to do it, especially here. But the opportunity wasn't there. I'm not one that cries over spilled milk. Once it's over, it's over, and I prefer to move on.

The finances of those type of things really don't factor into our decisions.

I told Zollie Volchok we needed an ultrasound machine and he asked me why we needed music in the locker room.

Show people how to have success and then you can push their expectations up.

I always felt that I was as good as the next person, and I didn't care what they had.

Intimidation doesn't last very long.

Meadowlark Lemon's book Trust Your Next Shot is written by a remarkable person. I have had the pleasure of knowing Meadowlark for quite some time. He has given back to his community quite generously in addition to serving as an outstanding role model for young people. Meadowlark's career has allowed him to touch people's lives everywhere and I am so proud to be his friend. God has certainly touched his life.

The most important quality I look for in a player is accountability. You've got to be accountable for who you are. It's too easy to blame things on someone else.

I learned early that if I wanted to achieve anything in life, I'd have to do it myself. I learned that I had to be accountable.