Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court

The Importance of Basketball

Basketball is just a game, but if I was doing my job as a coach that game of basketball would help our players by preparing them to do well in life, to reach their full potential as individuals.

When they did that, I felt very proud as a coach. That’s more rewarding to me than all the championships and titles and awards.

I’m asked, “Coach, aren’t you particularly proud of all the players that went on to the pros after they left UCLA, fellows like Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sidney Wicks, Gail Goodrich, David Meyers, Lucius Allen, Mike Warren, Keith Erickson, Walt Hazzard, Henry Bibby, Marques Johnson, and the others?”

Yes, but I’m equally proud of the fellows who became doctors, lawyers, dentists, ministers, ...