Ayrton Oneill
Kobe Bryant's Dear Basketball is a poem, letter, and Oscar-winning short film. The poem is divided into nine stanzas of uneven length, ranging from one to seven lines. It is written in free verse and employs various literary devices, including alliteration, enjambment, sibilance, and personification. The poem serves as a love letter to the sport of basketball, recounting Bryant's introduction to the game as a child and expressing his deep emotional connection to it. The film, directed and animated by Glen Keane, brings the poem to life through animation and music, experimenting with new techniques to showcase Bryant's journey in the world of basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Format | Poem/Letter |
| Genre | Poetry [prose letter] |
| Stanzas | 9 |
| Lines per Stanza | 1-7 |
| Rhyme Scheme | None |
| Metrical Pattern | None |
| Verse | Free |
| Literary Devices | AlliterationEnjambmentSibilancePersonificationMetaphor |
| Medium | Film/Print |
| Film Duration | 5 minutes |
| Film Type | AnimatedShort |
| Film Music | John Williams |
| Film Director | Glen Keane |
| Film Distributor | go90 |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Animated Short FilmBest Traditional Animation at the World Animation Celebration International Film FestivalSpecial Jury Award at the World Animation Celebration International Film Festival |
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What You'll Learn
'Dear Basketball' is a poem
"Dear Basketball" is a poem written by Kobe Bryant, a star player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was published in The Players' Tribune in 2015 as a retirement letter, announcing his departure from professional basketball. The poem is a heartfelt expression of Bryant's love for the sport and his journey from childhood to becoming a professional basketball player.
The poem is structured as nine stanzas of varying lengths, ranging from a single line to seven lines each. It does not follow a strict rhyme scheme or metrical pattern but is written in free verse, with each stanza focused on Bryant's passion for the game. The use of literary devices such as alliteration, enjambment, sibilance, and personification adds depth and emotion to the poem.
In the first stanzas, Bryant describes his introduction to basketball as a child, rolling his "dad's tube socks" and shooting "imaginary / Game-winning shots." He expresses his immediate and deep love for the sport, which he pursued with dedication and determination. Bryant's passion led him to give his all to the game, offering his mind, body, spirit, and soul.
As the poem progresses, Bryant reflects on his successful career and the impact basketball has had on his life. He acknowledges that his body can no longer handle the physical demands of the sport due to an Achilles heel injury in 2013, signaling the end of his time in the NBA. Despite his acceptance of retirement, Bryant's love for the game remains unwavering, and he expresses his gratitude for the dreams it made come true.
"Dear Basketball" is not just a poem but also inspired an animated short film of the same name, directed by Glen Keane and narrated by Bryant himself. The film won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards. The poem's emotional depth and Bryant's sincere expression of his love for the sport have left a lasting impact on readers and viewers alike.
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'Dear Basketball' is a letter
"Dear Basketball" by Kobe Bryant is a letter in the form of a poem. It is a nine-stanza poem with uneven sets of lines ranging from one to seven lines in length. The poem does not follow a rhyme scheme or metrical pattern and is written in free verse.
The poem was written as an announcement of Bryant's retirement from basketball. It describes his emotional connection to the game, from his introduction to it as a child to his hard work and dedication to the sport. The poem conveys Bryant's love for basketball, with each stanza focused on his passion for the game.
In the first stanza, Bryant describes how he fell in love with basketball as a six-year-old boy, rolling his "dad's tube socks" and shooting "imaginary game-winning shots". He knew that he would love the sport and wanted to give it his all. This is reflected in the lines:
> "You asked for my hustle,
> I gave you my heart
> Because it came with so much more."
As the poem progresses, Bryant emphasizes his dedication to the game and how it made him feel alive. He describes his pursuit of basketball as running out of a tunnel into the light, indicating his unwavering commitment to the sport.
In the later stanzas, Bryant transitions into the conclusion of the poem, where he announces that he can no longer love the sport "obsessively" and that his body knows it's time to say goodbye. Despite his heavy heart, he accepts that it's time to let go and wants to make the most of the remaining time he has with the sport.
The poem ends with Bryant referencing his childhood image, acknowledging that no matter what he does next, he'll always be that kid with the "rolled-up socks, garbage can in the corner, :05 seconds on the clock, ball in my hands."
"Dear Basketball" was also adapted into an animated short film, directed and animated by Glen Keane, with music by John Williams. The film won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
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'Dear Basketball' is an animated short film
"Dear Basketball" is an animated short film written and narrated by NBA legend Kobe Bryant. The film, directed and animated by Glen Keane, is based on a letter Bryant wrote for The Players' Tribune in 2015 to announce his retirement from basketball. The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards, marking the first Oscar win for a professional athlete and veteran Disney animator Glen Keane.
The five-minute film is a moving portrayal of Bryant's love for the game, starting with him making a game-winning dunk for the Los Angeles Lakers and then reminiscing about his childhood and his introduction to basketball. He describes his unwavering dedication to the sport, playing with his "mind, body, spirit, and soul." However, due to his Achilles injury in 2013, he acknowledges that his body can no longer take the grind, and it's time to say goodbye.
The film employs innovative animation techniques, such as animating sweat, to bring Bryant's words to life. Keane experimented with layering graphite and using his iPhone camera to create negative images, capturing the emotion and intensity of the game.
"Dear Basketball" is more than just a film; it is a love letter to the sport that defined Bryant's life. It showcases his passion, determination, and the emotional connection he forged with basketball. The film serves as a testament to the power of animation to convey deep and personal narratives, solidifying its place in the world of cinema.
The short film has received critical acclaim and has been included in prestigious showcases like The Animation Showcase world tour in 2018. It also won the Best Traditional Animation and Special Jury Award at the 2017 World Animation Celebration International Film Festival, further cementing its impact on the animation industry.
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'Dear Basketball' is a retirement announcement
"Dear Basketball" is a retirement announcement by Kobe Bryant, a star player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). It is in the form of a poem or letter, comprising nine stanzas of uneven line lengths, ranging from one to seven lines. The poem is written in free verse, with no unifying rhyme scheme or metrical pattern.
In "Dear Basketball," Bryant describes his love for the game, which began in his childhood when he would roll his father's tube socks and shoot imaginary game-winning shots. He explains that he always gave the game his all—his mind, body, spirit, and soul. Despite his enduring passion, Bryant acknowledges that his body can no longer keep up with the demands of professional basketball due to an Achilles heel injury in 2013. He accepts that it is time to retire, stating, "My heart can take the pounding / My mind can handle the grind / But my body knows it's time to say goodbye."
The poem serves as a heartfelt farewell to the sport that gave him so much. Bryant expresses his gratitude for the memories and the dream of playing for the Lakers that basketball fulfilled for him as a child. He ends the poem by reflecting on his childhood love for the game and acknowledging that no matter what he does next, he will always be that kid with a ball in his hands and a dream in his heart.
"Dear Basketball" was released in 2015 as a letter in "The Players' Tribune." It was later adapted into an animated short film in 2017, directed by Glen Keane and narrated by Bryant, with music by John Williams. The film won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards, making Bryant the first professional athlete to win an Oscar.
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'Dear Basketball' is a love letter to the game
"Dear Basketball" by Kobe Bryant is a love letter to the game, written in the form of a poem. The poem, which is separated into nine stanzas of uneven line lengths, was published in 2015 as an announcement of Bryant's retirement from basketball.
In the poem, Bryant addresses basketball directly, expressing his deep love for the sport and describing the dedication and passion that it inspired in him from a young age. He recounts how, as a six-year-old boy, he fell in love with the game while shooting imaginary game-winning shots with his dad's tube socks. This early passion led him to pursue basketball with all his mind, body, spirit and soul.
Bryant's love for the game is evident in every line of "Dear Basketball". He uses literary devices such as alliteration, enjambment, sibilance, and personification to convey the depth of his emotional connection to basketball. The poem also includes metaphors, such as describing his pursuit of the game as always running out of a tunnel into the light.
The poem transitions into its conclusion with Bryant informing basketball that he can no longer love the sport "obsessively". He acknowledges that his body knows it's time to say goodbye, despite his heart and mind still being willing. In the final stanzas, Bryant reflects on the impact the sport has had on his life and expresses his gratitude for the dreams it made come true. He ends the poem with a countdown, "5...4...3...2...1", and signs off with "Love you always, Kobe".
"Dear Basketball" was adapted into an animated short film, directed by Glen Keane and narrated by Bryant, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2017. The film brought the poem to life, visually depicting Bryant's journey in the world of basketball and his love for the game.
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Frequently asked questions
'Dear Basketball' is a poem written by Kobe Bryant.
Yes, there is an animated short film of the same name, written and narrated by Kobe Bryant.
The film is based on the poem and letter Kobe Bryant wrote to announce his retirement from basketball.
Yes, the film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards. The poem and film are used as teaching resources for students.
