When you first think of basketball, you wouldn’t think it would mix with romance. Well, that was until the year 2000, when Gina Prince-Bythewood directed the cult classic Love and Basketball.
Childhood friends Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) fall in love while trying to pursue professional basketball careers. Quincy follows in his father’s footsteps, while Monica has dreams of being the first woman in the NBA. In the beginning, no one believes in her, but she puts in the work and gains respect through talent. Eventually she lands a division one scholarship at the same school Quincy chose: the University of Southern California. The two grew up together and were friends in high school before deciding to start dating in college.
Both of them have a basketball-first mentality, which makes it difficult to balance their relationship, especially as they both move up the ranks and join the starting line-ups. Their relationship takes a turn when Quincy deals with family problems and feels neglected by Monica, eventually choosing to end their relationship.
Monica then goes overseas after graduating to try and get Quincy off her mind and pursue her professional career. Quincy’s game begins to get affected by his personal troubles and takes a turn for the worse when an ACL injury eliminates his first season as a rookie in the NBA. After five years apart, Monica still cannot get Quincy off her mind. She decides to go home after a championship season in the IWBA, determined to find Quincy and tell him how she feels. To her dismay, she discovers that he is now engaged and the wedding is in two weeks. She almost gives up, until her mom convinces her Quincy can do better. Monica approaches Quincy, who is angry at her for making him choose so close to his wedding.
As a last resort, Monica challenges Quincy to a 1v1 for his heart, reminding him that he once said “If you ever win, it’s because I let you.” She’s hopeful he will let her win again, proving he also still has feelings for her. He agrees and the two hit the court and decide to play first to five points. In a challenging game, Quincy ends up winning 5-4. Before Monica leaves, he stops her. “Double or nothing.” She runs over to him and the two embrace. A time jump then shows Monica playing in the WNBA with Quincy and their daughter in the audience cheering the two on.
Love and Basketball is a light-hearted romance that sheds light on the dedication all professionals have for the game. Similarly to the other movies released around this time such as Coach Carter and Like Mike, Love and Basketball highlights that attitude is everything; it makes or breaks a player. Although released more than 20 years ago, the film shows some of the struggles female basketball players still face today. Monica is obviously very passionate about the sport and often gets rather emotional on the court. She is constantly given fouls for her attitude and told to “calm down and act like a lady.” To this day, this is one of the biggest differences between the men’s game and the women’s game. The girls are not allowed to be as aggressive as the men without being called for it. Obviously, some of these calls are necessary to keep peace, but often the refs simply do not let the women play as hard and as passionately as the men. For example, in women’s hockey they do not allow the players to body check while it is a major strategy on the men’s side.
Another struggle highlighted in the movie is how much easier it is for women to play internationally than in the United States. With higher wages and more viewership, the international league attracts more women seeking to play professionally. This is great for the players who grew up in Europe, but the women coming from the United States and Canada leave their entire lives behind in order to pursue the game they love.
Regardless of the underlying messages of struggle, this movie is a moving narrative of love and passion which shares the beautiful story of two talented individuals. Even in trying times, Monica and Quincy’s love perseveres even when an entire ocean separates the two. Love and Basketball shows how powerful young love can be. It is the perfect movie for athletes in a relationship together, but still can and will be enjoyed by everyone who takes the time to watch this masterpiece. It’s the perfect movie for this loving season that can be shared with friends or partners alike.
Recent Comments