“In the old days Michael Jordan and Larry Bird worked for everything they got. They worked hard on their game.”

Meaning

This reads as a tribute to an older standard of excellence, one built on effort rather than reputation. Oakley points to the idea that greatness was earned through daily work, and can be taken to mean that the best players separated themselves by discipline as much as talent. It lands in any conversation about training, where admiration for stars turns into respect for the grind behind them.

When It Was Said

Who It Was Said To

Historical Context

Source

Original Language & Translation

Originally said in English.

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