Dear Basketball

Dear basketball

From the moment

I started rolling my dad's tube socks

And shooting imaginary

Game-winning shots

In the Great Western Forum

I knew one thing was real:

I fell in love with you

A love so deep I gave you my all

From my mind and body

To my spirit and soul

As a six-year-old boy

Deeply in love with you

I never saw the end of the tunnel

I only saw myself

Running out of one

And so I ran

I ran up and down every court

After every loose ball for you

You asked for my hustle

I gave you my heart
Because it came with so much more.

I played through the sweat and hurt

Not because challenge called me

But because you called me

I did everything for you

Becasue that's what you do

When someone makes you fell as alive as you've made me feel.

You gave a six-year-old boy his laker dream and I will always love you for it.

But I can not love you obsessively for much longer.

This season is all I have left to give.

My heart can take the pounding

My mind can handle the grind

But my body knows it is time to say goodbye.

And that's ok

I am ready to let you go

I want you to know now

So we both can savor every moment we have left together

The good and the bad

We have given each other

All that we have

And we both know, no matter what I can do next

I will always be that kid

With the rolled up socks

Garbage can in the corner

Ball in my hand 

Love you always.

Kobe