Love & Basketball (2000)

Monica and Quincy love and play basketball together through many life challenges from childhood to adulthood.

Director:

Gina Prince-Bythewood

Writer:

Gina Prince-Bythewood

Stars:

Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Glenndon Chatman

12 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Glenndon Chatman	...	Young Quincy
Jess Willard	...	Jamal
Chris Warren	...	Kelvin (as Chris Warren Jr.)
Kyla Pratt	...	Young Monica
Alfre Woodard	...	Camille Wright
Naykia Harris	...	Young Lena
Harry Lennix	...	Nathan Wright
Debbi Morgan	...	Nona McCall
Dennis Haysbert	...	Zeke McCall
Sanaa Lathan	...	Monica Wright
Omar Epps	...	Quincy McCall
Colleen Matsuhara	...	UCLA Coach
Al Foster	...	Coach Hiserman
Nathaniel Bellamy Jr.	...	Highschool Referee #1 (as Nathaniel Bellamy)
Regina Hall	...	Lena Wright

Storyline

In 1981 in L.A., Monica moves in next door to Quincy. They're 11, and both want to play in the NBA, just like Quincy's dad. Their love-hate relationship lasts into high school, with Monica's edge and Quincy's top-dog attitude separating them, except when Quincy's parents argue and he climbs through Monica's window to sleep on the floor. As high school ends, they come together as a couple, but within a year, with both of them playing ball at USC, Quincy's relationship with his father takes an ugly turn, and it leads to a break up with Monica. Some years later, their pro careers at a crossroads, they meet again. It's time for a final game of one-on-one with high stakes.

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Plot Keywords:

high school | basketball movie | 1980s | bare chested male | sport in title | 

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Taglines:

All's fair in love and basketball.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexuality and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

21 April 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Love and Basketball

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,139,180, 23 April 2000, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$27,441,122, 13 August 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

14 years after the release of this movie, Gabrielle Union (Shawnee) would marry NBA All-Star player, Dwyane Wade.

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Goofs

When Monica is playing for Barcelona in the Euro Championship, she encounters her former college teammate (Sidra), who is playing for the opponent (Parma). One would assume that there would be a lot of game-planning and film watching prior to a big game such as this. Despite this, both are surprised to see the other in the hallway leading up to the court.

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Quotes

Coach Davis: [In her office after a game] We've got our final games against Oregon and Oregon State, and I'm shaking things up a bit, so... I'm starting you at point again.
Monica: But, uh... I thought Sidra's ankle was OK for next game.
Coach Davis: [impatiently] You want the job, or not?
Monica: Yeah.
[Keeps staring at Coach Davis]
Coach Davis: What?
Monica: It just... it just seems like you're always riding me.
Coach Davis: [pauses, then speaks] You think I'd go hoarse for a player with no potential? When I ignore you... then you worry.

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Crazy Credits

The end of the creidts show Quincy's and Monica's daughter dunking a basketball .

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Connections

Referenced in Orange Is the New Black: Comic Sans (2014)

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Soundtracks

It Takes Two
Written by Rob Base (as Robert Ginyard)
Performed by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock
Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc.

User Reviews

This was a great movie!

Love and Basketball is about a young girl and boy that early in age fall in love with each other and the game of basketball. Throughout the movie they struggle to balance their affection and love for each other with others and basketball.

Love and Basketball shows how strong true love really is. This movie does a near perfect job on taking you through the lives and hardships faced by the two basketball players. From when the movie starts to the end of credits you will be drawn to their romantic lives. Love and basketball will make you wish you had a passionate a relationship just like the main characters. If you love the game of basketball or just enjoy playing this will probably be the best movie out there for you.