Kobe Bryant, the late basketball legend, wrote and narrated a short film titled Dear Basketball in 2017. The film was based on a letter Kobe wrote in 2015 at the brink of his retirement. It was not only a carefully crafted love letter to the game which came to define his life, but also a final goodbye to a glorious career spanning 20 years.
The film begins with a six year old Kobe, wonderfully oblivious to what adventures awaited him. It was his father who inculcated a profound fondness for basketball in Kobe. And that is how, from a very young age, Kobe Bryant found his very worthy calling.
Dear Basketball explores what made Kobe Bryant such a joy to watch as he swaggered past every obstacle in his path. The narration, presented through a strong sense of nostalgia, is divided between his childhood and adult recollections. We listen to Kobe telling us of his great struggles and sacrifices. His work ethic, famously competitive mentality and resilience not only made him a formidable player, but also the most alienated superstar of NBA.
Although Dear Basketball is about Kobe Bryant, this short film is also a celebration of basketball. In a broader sense, it is a celebration of people everywhere who fight every day for what they love, and eventually triumph over their fears. This short film later went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2017.
The NBA legend Kobe Bryant, at the age of 41, died on Sunday in a helicopter crash along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. We remember him for not only who he was, but also for who he aspired to be. On and off the courts, Kobe Bryant always managed to soar with unmatched ease.
