Bill Walton

You should never rank, rate, or compare championships, concerts, or children

What I've learned over the course of these now 64 years, never rank, rate, or compare. Championships, concerts, children, coaches, or congratulations. Just enjoy them all.

I used to be all about the outcome, but now I'm completely about the process

I used to be all about outcome, and I've changed. Now I'm about the process. I am completely into sustainability. I want to go on forever... Ultimately, [John Wooden] taught us two things. He taught us how to learn, and he taught us how to compete. And if you can learn, if you can compete, you can do anything.

It's all one song

Somebody in the crowd said, 'wow, hey, they already played that song.' And somebody else said, 'hey, man, it's all one song.' That's the kind of stuff that happens in my life every day.

Magic Johnson was the absolutely right hire to lead the Lakers' front office

Absolutely. We love Magic... Everything Magic does is fit. Magic is one of those rare beacons of hope. He's just like—Magic is perfect. The best thing David Stern ever did was with Magic Johnson.

My job in life is to be a human forklift and a human solar panel

My job in life is to be a human forklift and a human solar panel. I'm a road grader. A forklift picks things and people up and puts them in a better place.

Solar energy is the biggest no-brainer in the history of the world

Think of it as a solar. Solar energy is the biggest no-brainer in the history of the world. Are you kidding? It is so sunny out there. More solar energy hits the Earth every day... Every day. Don't whine. Don't complain. I'm choosing solar power.

Never rank, rate, or compare. Just enjoy them all.

What I've learned over the course of these now 64 years, never rank, rate, or compare championships, concerts, children, coaches, or congratulations. Just enjoy them all.

I used to be all about outcome but now I am all about the process

I used to be all about outcome. And I've changed. Now I'm about the process. I am completely into sustainability. I want to go on forever.

Coach Wooden taught us two things: how to learn and how to compete

He taught us how to learn, and he taught us how to compete. And if you can learn, if you can compete, you can do anything.

Performance-enhancing drug use in sports is the moral equivalent of Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme

I am opposed to performance-enhancing drug use because in competition where you have a level playing field because that world is the same as what Bernie Madoff did. Because Bernie Madoff, he lied. He cheated, he stole, and he bullied his way to the top.

Larry Bird is the greatest player I ever played with

Greatest player I ever played with... He made us all play better... Larry never got tired of just torching other people, and he's incredibly driven. He's a brilliant guy. He loves to portray himself as the hick from French Lick. Don't ever buy into that. This guy is so sharp, and so smart, and so pure.

Larry Bird, John Wooden, and Jerry Garcia are all effectively the same person

Understand that Larry Bird and John Wooden and Jerry Garcia are all the same person. And this sense of humanity, the sense of selflessness, the sense of leadership, the sense of assuming responsibility to be the guy and to be able to deliver every single night.

There is a massive difference between 'playing hurt' and 'playing in pain,' and all great athletes play through pain

There's a difference between playing hurt and playing in pain. Everybody's in pain all the time when you're playing. You push yourself. The athletes, you become great because that's what you want to do.

It is impossible to find happiness or move forward in life without a loving partnership

It's hard to move forward in life unless you're happy in love, that partnership. I'm a team guy. I've always been about the team.

Bill Russell is the greatest basketball player ever and a personal hero

Bill Russell, my basketball hero, favorite player ever on and off the court. Champions, mental acuity, emotional commitment.

David Stern is the most important man in the history of basketball

David Stern, the most important man in the history of all basketball. He's PFT's size. Little tiny guy over here in a world built for preschool children, right? But here's David Stern, who never shot a basket, but he brought the business acumen... to use the NBA to make the world a better place.