Love & Basketball (2000)

Love & Basketball follows Monica and Quincy from the moment they meet as 11-year-old neighbors in 1981 Los Angeles through the highs and lows of adolescence and early adulthood. Both obsessed with the game, they push one another on the court while navigating the awkward, combustible chemistry of a growing romance. As they become college teammates at USC, ambition, pride, and family expectations—especially the tension between Quincy and his father—drive a wedge between them and force each to choose between love and career. Watching the film, you’ll get both intimate relationship drama and authentic, kinetic basketball sequences: the thrill of competitive play, the grind of practice, and the physical and emotional toll of pursuing pro dreams. The movie balances warm nostalgia and sharp conflict, exploring gender, identity, and what it means to compete for yourself and for someone else. Expect tender, honest performances, a strong soundtrack, and moments that are funny, painful, and triumphant. The story builds to a charged reunion and one-on-one showdown that serves as a final test of love, pride, and who they’ve become.

Actors: Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Glenndon Chatman

Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Runtime: 124 min

Genres: Drama, Romance, Sport

6.1 /10 73 /100 7.2 /10 6.9 /10