Andrew Pace
Kobe Bryant's Dear Basketball is a love poem and letter to the sport, published in the Players' Tribune in 2015, announcing his retirement from basketball after 20 years. It was later adapted into an award-winning short animated film in 2017, written and narrated by Bryant himself. The poem and film explore themes of purpose, acceptance, love, obsession, and learning to let go, reflecting on Bryant's dedication and passion for the sport that gave him so much.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Format | Poem, Film |
| Author | Kobe Bryant |
| Date of Publication | 29 November 2015 |
| Publication | The Players' Tribune |
| Genre | Epistolary, Love Poem |
| Themes | Love, Obsession, Fate, Destiny, Acceptance, Learning to Let Go |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, Best Traditional Animation, Special Jury Award at the World Animation Celebration International Film Festival |
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What You'll Learn
Kobe Bryant's love letter to basketball
Kobe Bryant's "Dear Basketball" is a love letter to the sport itself. Published in 2015, it is a poem that announces his retirement from basketball. In the poem, Bryant reminisces about his childhood, rolling his father's tube socks and shooting imaginary game-winning shots in the Great Western Forum. He describes how his love for basketball inspired him to give everything from his "mind, body, spirit and soul".
Bryant's unrelenting commitment to basketball caused tension on his teams, as did his behaviour off the court. Despite this, his love for the game never wavered, and he went on to become one of the greatest players in the history of professional basketball. During his two-decade tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, he became a five-time NBA Champion, two-time Finals MVP, achieved Olympic gold, and made multiple All-Star appearances.
"Dear Basketball" is also a letter of acceptance and learning to let go. Due to his Achilles heel injury in 2013, Bryant knew he had only one more NBA season left in him. With a heavy heart, he comes to terms with this and accepts that it is time to say goodbye to the sport he loves. He ends the poem by reflecting on his childhood dreams and acknowledging that no matter what he does next, he will always be that kid with the rolled-up socks and a ball in his hands.
The poem was later adapted into a short animated film in 2017, written and narrated by Bryant himself, which won several awards, including an Oscar in 2018 for Best Animated Short Film. Through "Dear Basketball", Kobe Bryant not only expressed his deep love for the sport but also taught valuable lessons about purpose, acceptance, and letting go.
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Themes of purpose, acceptance and letting go
Kobe Bryant's "Dear Basketball" is a love poem and letter to the sport, published in the Players' Tribune in 2015. It was also adapted into a short animated film in 2017, written and narrated by Bryant himself. The film won several awards, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
"Dear Basketball" explores the themes of purpose, acceptance, and letting go. Bryant's unwavering dedication to the sport and his pursuit of excellence are evident in the poem. He describes how he gave his all to the game, sacrificing his mind, body, spirit, and soul. This reflects the theme of purpose, as Bryant found his life's purpose in dedicating himself to basketball.
The poem also delves into the theme of acceptance. As Bryant's 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers came to an end due to an injury, he had to accept that it was time to let go. He expresses this acceptance in lines such as, "My heart can take the pounding / My mind can handle the grind / But my body knows it's time to say goodbye." Despite the difficulty of walking away from his passion, Bryant comes to terms with the end of his basketball career and embraces the next phase of his life.
Letting go is a crucial aspect of the poem's message. Bryant acknowledges that he must let go of his obsession with the sport, recognizing that his body can no longer keep up with the demands of the game. He writes, "I can't love you obsessively for much longer... I'm ready to let you go." This idea of letting go is not just about the physical act of retiring from basketball but also about the emotional release of something deeply loved. It is a reminder that even when we are deeply passionate about something, there may come a time when we need to move on and let go, which can be a liberating realization.
Through "Dear Basketball," Bryant conveys a powerful message about pursuing one's purpose with dedication and accepting when it is time to let go. He encourages readers and viewers to embrace the finite nature of life and to cherish every moment, experience, and opportunity that comes their way. This message resonates beyond the world of sports, inspiring people from all walks of life to reflect on their own journeys and the importance of living with purpose and acceptance.
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The animated film adaptation
Kobe Bryant's "Dear Basketball" is a love poem he wrote for The Players' Tribune on November 29, 2015, announcing his retirement from basketball. The poem was later adapted into a short animated film of the same name, directed and animated by Glen Keane, with music by John Williams. The film was distributed online through go90 and narrated by Bryant himself.
The film starts with Bryant making a dunk as the game clock is running out, winning the game for the Los Angeles Lakers. He then says, "Dear Basketball," and reminisces about his childhood, rolling his father's tube socks and shooting imaginary game-winning shots in the Great Western Forum. He describes how his love for basketball inspired him to give everything from his "mind, body, spirit, and soul".
As a six-year-old boy, Bryant fell in love with the game and never saw the end of the tunnel. He always chose to play the game as well as he could and ran up and down every court, chasing every loose ball. He practised intensely and reviewed films of great players to maintain his high level of play. Bryant's unrelenting commitment to basketball caused tension on his team, as did his behaviour off the court. Despite his flaws and imperfections, he became one of the greatest players in the history of professional basketball.
In the film, Bryant explains that due to his Achilles heel injury from 2013, he only has one more NBA season left in him. With a heavy heart, he comes to terms with this and accepts that it is time to say goodbye to the game he loves. He ends the film by claiming that no matter what he does next, he will always be that kid with the rolled-up socks, a garbage can in the corner, and five seconds on the clock.
"Dear Basketball" won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018. It was also included in The Animation Showcase world touring screening in 2018 and won the Best Traditional Animation and Special Jury Award at the 2017 World Animation Celebration International Film Festival held at Sony Pictures Animation.
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Awards and accolades
Kobe Bryant's "Dear Basketball" is a love poem and letter he wrote to basketball on the eve of his retirement from the NBA. It was published in the Players' Tribune on November 29, 2015. A few months later, he hung up his jersey for good.
"Dear Basketball" was later adapted into a short film of the same name, directed and animated by Glen Keane, with music by John Williams, and narrated by Bryant himself. The film was distributed online through go90.
"Dear Basketball" the film won several awards, including:
- Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018, marking the first Oscar win for any professional athlete and the first for veteran Disney animator Glen Keane.
- Best Traditional Animation and Special Jury Award at the 2017 World Animation Celebration International Film Festival held at Sony Pictures Animation.
- The film was also included in The Animation Showcase world tour screening in 2018.
"Dear Basketball" the poem also won praise for its themes of purpose, acceptance, and learning to let go. It was also one of Bryant's final works before his untimely death in a helicopter crash in 2020.
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The poem's structure and content
Kobe Bryant's "Dear Basketball" is a love poem written as a letter to basketball. It was published in 2015 in the Players' Tribune to announce Bryant's retirement from basketball. The poem is structured as a narrative, with Bryant addressing basketball directly and describing his love for the sport, which began when he was a child.
The poem is written in the first person, with Bryant speaking from the perspective of his six-year-old self and reflecting on his two-decade-long career in the NBA. He describes his unwavering dedication to the sport, practicing intensely and reviewing films of great players to maintain his high level of play. This commitment is reflected in the poem's content, with Bryant writing, "I played through the sweat and hurt, not because the challenge called me, but because YOU called me."
The poem's structure emphasises the speaker's passion and obsession with the sport. It also highlights the themes of purpose, acceptance, and learning to let go. Bryant acknowledges that his body "knows it's time to say goodbye" and that he is ready to move on to the next phase of his life. This idea of letting go is a central message of the poem, conveying that sometimes we must let go of something we love deeply.
The poem's language is simple yet powerful, with a mix of short and long sentences that create a rhythmic flow. Bryant's use of imagery brings the poem to life, such as when he describes rolling his father's tube socks and shooting imaginary game-winning shots as a child. The poem also includes references to specific moments in Bryant's career, such as his iconic buzzer-beater shots and winning games for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Overall, the structure and content of "Dear Basketball" effectively capture Bryant's love for the sport, his dedication, and the bittersweet feeling of having to let go of something he cherished. The poem serves as a tribute to basketball and the impact it had on Bryant's life, inspiring him to give his all and pursue his dreams.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Dear Basketball is a poem/letter written by Kobe Bryant and published in the Players' Tribune on November 29, 2015.
Yes, Kobe Bryant made a short film based on his poem. The film was released in 2017 and won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
The poem/film Dear Basketball conveys the message that sometimes we have to let go of the things we deeply love.
Kobe Bryant wrote Dear Basketball to express his love for the game and to announce his retirement from basketball.
