In this post, we’ll share some inspiring quotes regarding big games with our readers. These quotes will inspire you and provide a boost of energy for your next big game. The quotes are not only uplifting, but also incredibly insightful into the mindset one should have before a major game and the approach one should have on important events.
After enduring numerous challenges throughout the tournament, it all culminates in that final set of games and knockout stages. All the effort you’ve invested throughout the tournament leads to this very moment. Professional athletes encounter these experiences and moments frequently throughout their careers, learning better strategies and mindsets to handle the final games, which is also reflected in their words in the quotes below.
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Top 10 Inspiring Quotes about Big Games from Players and Coaches
Playing in big games and marquee events is something that every athlete dreams of and works towards. The 10 quotes listed below shed light on this very aspect. Most of these players, through their words, highlight that participating in finals is indeed a thrilling experience, but one needs to maintain balance and treat these games as they have treated other games. As Owen Farrell said in his quote below, one needs to do things as they are supposed to be done and focus on keeping things simple.
- “Great players show up to big games.” – Brad Marchand, Ice hockey player.
- “Big games are usually about doing the simple things well – not trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat.” – Owen Farrell, rugby union player.
- “If you’re going to win games, you’re going to have to come up with the big hits. That’s the bottom line.” – Derek Jeter, baseball player.
- “I get fired up in big games. Other guys might get scared, but with me, my intensity overrules my jitteriness.” – Lorenzen Wright, basketball player.
- “I’ve always thrived under the pressure of the big games. I enjoy that, and there’s nothing I get afraid about.” – Dele Alli, Soccer player.
- “I don’t try to get players emotionally up for a game; it creates too many peaks and valleys… I strive for even keel; they will get up for the big games.” – Denny Crum, basketball coach.
- “If you want trophies, they don’t get given to you, you have to earn them, you have to play well in big games.” – Jamie Carragher, soccer player.
- “I want big games to prove to myself that I’m a winner and not a loser.” – Danilo Gallinari, basketball player.
- “You can’t win the big game until you win it.” – Carson Palmer, football player.
- “Dan Marino never won the big game. Does that mean his career is a failure? No, not at all.” – Donovan McNabb, Football quarterback.
The importance of consistency in preparation before big games.
LeBron James is one of the finest players the game of basketball has ever witnessed. In the quote below, he talks about the importance of preparation, as well as the importance of staying consistent with it when preparing for big games. Every professional athlete follows a certain routine, but when it comes to big occasions, many athletes tend to deviate from their processes and routines. As James mentioned in his quote below, more often than not, as an athlete approaches big games, one has to focus on controlling the controllable and focus on the process they have trusted and followed so far.
- “Before a big game, I’m pretty consistent with my routine. I try to do the same thing every single day on a game day because that’s just how I lock in.” – LeBron James, basketball player.
- “You need to face your fears head on. Don’t avoid them or say that you’re not scared. Acknowledge it and be honest about it. It’s normal to get nervous about a big game or to get nervous about an important event in your life.” – Matt Cullen, Ice hockey center.
- “Our mind is way more powerful than really anything else. If you can utilize that the right way, it’s inevitably going to help your game on the course.” – Rory McIlroy, golfer.
- “Champions don’t become champions when they win an event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it.” – Michael Jordan, basketball player.
- “I talk a big game because I carry a big stick.” – Richard Sherman, American football player.
Big occasions demands big plays.
Baseball manager Ned Yost offered valuable advice to athletes competing in significant games. Yost mentioned that athletes who maintain their composure and remain focused execute their strategies better than their opponents. Staying composed under pressure is a great characteristic of a big-game player. Additionally, soccer player Graeme Souness emphasized the importance of strategy in his quote below. Souness touched upon topics such as strategic assessment and awareness in his quote.
- “I shot millions and millions of shots, just wanted the ball and felt good every time I released the ball, especially in those last seconds of big games.” – Toni Kukoc, basketball player.
- “In big games they don’t panic, they continue to focus and continue to fight hard.” – Ned Yost, Baseball manager.
- “Kids who dream of reaching the top must grow up looking forward to the big games which define them at every level they play.” – Robbie Savage, soccer player.
- “I love to play big games, it makes you a bigger player.” – Rafael van der Vaart, soccer player.
- “The big games against big opponents, those are the best games to play in.” – Oscar, soccer player.
- “When you go into the really big games you look at your team and think ‘where are we weak, where are we vulnerable.” – Graeme Souness, soccer player.
Finals are the moments when you confront your doubts and conquer them.
In the NBA, Dwyane Wade is considered one of the best shooting guards. He has encountered numerous ups and downs in his career, as evidenced by his quote below. As Wade stated, we must maintain faith in ourselves, as often people do not exhibit the same faith in us. The quote by former female tennis player Helen Wills beautifully describes the winning moment she experienced during one of her tennis tournaments. Overall, the quotes below deal with the notion that one should work relentlessly towards their goals and preparations and not spend energy on doubters.
- “As the last ball travelled over the net, and as I realized that the final match was mine, I cannot describe. I felt that here was a prize for all the games I had ever played.” – Helen Wills, tennis player.
- “I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge and I’ve never been one to shy away from talking a big game.” – Aljamain Sterling, MMA.
- “Whenever there is a big game and people don’t think I can do it, I always play my hardest, and now it has become a part of me.” – Dwyane Wade, basketball player.
- “After you have a big game, you can’t just say, ‘That’s it, I’ve arrived,’ by any means. I’m always pushing it to be better. You always want to be better than you are, no matter what.” – Blake Griffin, Basketball player.
- “If you don’t start out aiming for the big game, you almost never can get there.” – Reid Hoffman
- “I used everything as a positive to make me a better person and a better player. I have no regrets. Everytime I had to play a big game, I played a big game. I used some of the skepticism as a positive and motivation.” – Chris Osgood, hockey goaltender.
A positive mindset is key when playing the final games.
Tom Brady’s positive outlook on sports and life, in general, is evident in this quote. It is important to approach every aspect of sports with a positive mindset. Basketball coach Doug Bruno, through his quote, provides a valuable piece of advice that not only applies to sports but can also be applied to other aspects of life. In pressure situations, it is important to focus on the little things and take care of them. Winning these small battles on the field yields great results. Football coach Mike Ditka is well known for his achievement as a coach, and his words of advice, as seen in his quote below, deal with the aspect of self-belief. Self-belief, as Ditka said, is important when preparing for big events.
- “Finding the right balance is very important in preparing for a big game or for business. If you are mentally in the right zone, you will play well whether in sports or in business.” – Virat Kohli, cricket player.
- “Sometimes in life the biggest challenges end up being the best things that happen in your life.” – Tom Brady, football player.
- “Before you can win, you have to believe you are worthy.” – Mike Ditka, American football coach.
- “Big games are usually where elite college quarterbacks ‘‘meet their match’’.” – Kirk Cousins, football quarterback
- “You win big games by executing the little things. All big games are won by the team that executes the most small details. So, it’s the smallest of the details that are executed the most that actually win the big games.” – Doug Bruno, basketball coach [source]
Success in big games depends not only on skills but also on effort and resilience.
Coach John Murphy exemplifies the importance of team unity, particularly during significant events. Baseball coach Tom Walter advises athletes to focus on two A’s: Adrenaline and Adversity. Whether the game seems to be slipping away or inching closer to a win, it is crucial to remain calm and composed during these moments. Most often in big sporting events, the team or player who showcases the most resilience and puts in more effort than the opponent eventually succeeds. According to soccer player Borrajo, reaching the pinnacle of one’s sporting career can be facilitated by leveraging big games and tournaments as a ladder. He emphasized the importance of viewing these games as opportunities to advance to the next stage in one’s career.
- “Most games in sports are won by the more talented team, but it occured [sic] to me a long time ago in my coaching that most big games are won by the team that wants to win the most.” – Don James, American football player
- “Big games are won when we play as a team with the never give up attitude.” – John Murphy, basketball coach
- “At the end of the day big games are won on the back of effort and will to win.” – Mitchell Pearce, Rugby player
- “In big games you have to be mentally strong, your mind can’t waver. It could be the difference between wins or losses.” – Aquib Nabi, cricket player
- “The two things in big games you have to control are adversity and adrenaline.” – Tom Walter, American baseball coach
- “In big games, you have to perform big. So you come out and you perform big when it calls time for it.” – Andrew Robertson, football player
- “We’re playing against the champions and champions always turn up in the big games, but we also have a team of champions.” – Zinedine Zidane, French soccer manager
- “In the biggest games, the best players step up and make plays.” – Deuce McAllister, football running back
- “These big games separate the men from the boys. This is what you strive for in professional sports – big games in big opportunities. When your back is against the wall, it shows which team has the true colors to pull through.” – Jonathan Borrajo, American soccer player
The Grand Finals are all about anticipation and intensity.
As mentioned by Erik ten Hag below, regardless of the situation, as a player, you must focus on your own abilities and skills. Avoid getting carried away by game situations if they are not in our favor. Athletes like Joe Burrow always envision playing a part in important scenarios; this is something one can trace from his quote below. As Burrow stated, as an athlete, one should always strive to be part of big games and work accordingly. When preparing for and actually participating in big games, emotions also play an important role, as quoted by football manager Erik ten Hag.
- “Big games separate the pretenders from the contenders, we hope to be the latter.” – Javier Bevacqua, basketball coach
- “The timing of emotions is important in big games – we must focus on the best game you can as a team and individual.” – Erik ten Hag, Dutch football manager
- “I play to get to these moments and to make plays and take advantage of my opportunities. I work really hard for these moments.” – Joe Burrow, NFL player
- “The big games are the ones that trigger you. They’re the games everyone speaks about.” – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, former soccer player
- “The big games are the ones you want to play, and if you want to compete for titles, you have to beat the best.” – Kevin De Bruyne, soccer player
In big games, the spotlight is always on you.
Ryan Cruz aptly noted in his quote that when it comes to significant moments in your sporting journey, you should never forget that the spotlight is on you, and it’s your time to shine brightly. Maturity plays an important role in an athlete’s life, as mentioned by Erik ten Hag. Our conduct needs to be such that when faced with adverse situations, we tackle them with utmost confidence and maturity. You can learn more about yourself from the experiences of playing in important games in your life. As Banahan stated, you can also discover more about your strengths and weaknesses.
- “The big games are the best. You have to want to be the guy. You have to want to be in the spotlight.” – Ryan Cruz, Baseball pitcher
- “The big games are the ones you want to play in, the best players play in them and everyone is vying to play well.” – Simon Zebo, Irish rugby union player
- “If you want to win big games, you have to be mature.” – Erik ten Hag, Dutch football manager
- “Those big games are where you need to come out and you can’t hide. You need to show resilience and have the right attitude.” – Bali Mumba, English soccer player
- “These big games are where you find out about yourself, where you find out if you can cut it.” – Matt Banahan, Former rugby union player
- “I was taught the best players shine in the biggest games. I just try to do my best, it’s just so happens big games is where I perform best.” – Jerome Baker, American football linebacker
We hope these inspiring quotes by these inspirational sports figures have cheered you up and also helped you learn more about the athletic mindset required for the preparation of important games and competitions. Through these quotes, professional athletes have also shared valuable advice regarding the preparation of big games, which you can certainly incorporate into your daily routine. Please feel free to share this with your friends and family on your preferred social media platform. Use the buttons below to share it right away.
Also See:
Quotes About Game Preparation from American Football Players
Sports Quotes About Positive Attitude and Thinking
Positive Quotes on the Connection Between Life and Sports
Tags: Motivational
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Featured image credit: Lisa Gansky, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
