11 Must-Read Basketball Poems

Like all sports poems, basketball poems explore the world of basketball, its players, popularity, spectators, fans, and history. These poems celebrate the sport’s highs and lows while always inspiring readers and even kids to learn more and see the sport as a unifying, positive force in people’s lives.

The poems vary in intention, but most paint the sport and its participants positively by describing the beauty behind the tension, slam dunks, slides, teamwork, and rebounds present in each game.

It is common to find basketball poems referencing specific athletes, events, records, games, and coaches. As with all genres of sports literature, it is helpful to have a prior understanding of the sport and its major players. But it is not necessary to enjoy poems inspired by basketball. Some notable poets who wrote poetry relating to the sport include Michael S. Harper and David Ferry.

Poems about Basketball Visual Representation

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In Memory of the Utah Stars

by William Matthews

‘In Memory of the Utah Stars’ captures the manner in which memories can provide us with both pleasure and pain.

This poem is principally concerned with the memory of a defunct basketball team, with specific players mentioned by name. It is also a celebration of the power of basketball more broadly.

Each of them must have terrified

his parents by being so big, obsessive

and exact so young, already gone

and leaving, like a big tipper,

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Makin’ Jump Shots

by Michael S. Harper

In ‘Makin’ Jump Shots’ by Michael S. Harper, the player gracefully defies gravity, his artistry on the court a dance of triumph, creating moments of beauty.

This piece celebrates basketball by portraying a player who skillfully maneuvers their way through different challenging scenarios. The imagery used throughout the works depicts the elegance and joy the player gains by indulging in his passion and shows the artistry behind the game.

He waltzes into the lane

’cross the free-throw line,

fakes a drive, pivots,

floats from the asphalt turf

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Dear Basketball

by Kobe Bryant

‘Dear Basketball’ by Kobe Bryant depicts the poet’s love for the sport. He expresses his appreciation for basketball and how it made him into the person he became.

This poem depicts Byrant's love for basketball. He expresses his appreciation for the game and how it made him into the person he became. Bryant published the poem in The Player’s Tribune and used it to announce his retirement in November 2015. The poem takes the reader through Bryant’s emotional connection to the game. He describes what it was like to discover basketball as a child and work hard to rise to the top.

From the moment

I started rolling my dad’s tube socks

And shooting imaginary

Game-winning shots

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Basketball Rule #1

by Kwame Alexander

‘Basketball Rule #1’ by Alexander uses basketball as a metaphor for life, emphasizing the importance of family and heart in the game.

Basketball is a primary topic in this contemporary poem. The poet uses basketball-related imagery throughout the lines. In this way, the poet can convey more important themes of living a good life, having strong moral values, and caring about family. The poem is not widely known or read but it is a good example for anyone hoping to be inspired by sports imagery.

In this game of life

your family is the court

and the ball is your heart.

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Old Men Playing Basketball

by B.H. Fairchild

In ‘Old Men Playing Basketball,’ B.H. Fairchild explores aging, resilience, and nostalgia as elderly players find youthful moments on the court.

This poem directly addresses the topic of basketball by vividly describing a group of elderly men on the basketball court. It explores how the game, once an emblem of youthful athleticism, remains an essential part of their lives as they age. The poem celebrates the enduring love and connection these men have with basketball, even as their physical abilities decline, illustrating the sport's profound impact on their identities.

The heavy bodies lunge, the broken language

of fake and drive, glamorous jump shot

slowed to a stutter. Their gestures, in love

again with the pure geometry of curves,

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One on One in Basketball

by Ray Fleming

In ‘One on One in Basketball,’ Ray Fleming captures the mystical moment when individual identities dissolve in the game’s shared aspiration.

This piece addresses basketball as a transformative experience, transcending the physical game itself. It delves into the profound moments and shared aspirations that occur on the court, where individual identities dissolve. The act of making a jump shot symbolizes success and unity in the context of the game, emphasizing the unique power and mysticism of basketball in forging connections and creating memorable moments.

I seemed to watch myself go up

effortlessly for the basket,

and saw the ball drop through the net.

I had done it, though I could not explain it.

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Urban Renewal XVIII

by Major Jackson

In ‘Urban Renewal XVIII,’ Major Jackson reflects on the lasting impact of adolescent experiences, longing for acceptance.

In this interesting piece, the speaker recalls his life as a student and how he wanted to impress, but was scared of, the “arm-locked strutting” girls in “Central High.” He then turned to basketball as a way to impress them. The poem portrays the complexities of adolescence and shows how the longing for recognition could impact one's life choices.

How untouchable the girls arm-locked strutting

up the main hall of Central High unopposed

for decades looked. I flattened myself against

the wall, unnerved by their cloudsea of élan,

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Ex-Basketball Player

by John Updike

‘Ex-Basketball Player’ by John Updike explores the faded glory of Flick Webb, a former basketball star, as he navigates a life of unfulfilled potential and routine.

This piece addresses basketball by portraying the past glory and present circumstances of a former player, Flick Webb. The poem highlights Flick's skill and achievements on the court, emphasizing the exhilaration of the game and his talent for scoring. However, it also delves into the fleeting nature of athletic success and the challenges athletes face when transitioning to a different phase of life.

Pearl Avenue runs past the high-school lot,

Bends with the trolley tracks, and stops, cut off

Before it has a chance to go two blocks,

At Colonel McComsky Plaza. Berth’s Garage

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Courtesy

by David Ferry

In ‘Courtesy,’ Ferry illuminates simple moments of human connection, where courtesy and cooperation create profound harmony.

This poem addresses basketball as a backdrop for human interaction. While the poem doesn't delve into the technical aspects of the sport, it uses basketball as a setting to illustrate the themes of courtesy and cooperation. The characters' actions on the court, such as dribbling and passing, symbolize the harmonious exchange and guidance that can occur in everyday life, even within the context of a simple game.

It is an afternoon toward the end of August:

Autumnal weather, cool following on,

And riding in, after the heat of summer,

Into the empty afternoon shade and light,

#10

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Loony Bin Basketball

by Mary Karr

Mary Karr’s ‘Loony Bin Basketball’ explores mental illness, resilience, and transformation through a game that transcends boundaries.

This piece utilizes basketball as a metaphor for transformation and resilience. It describes Bill's journey from a catatonic state to a skilled player on the basketball court, showcasing the sport's transformative power. While the physical game serves as a backdrop, the poem primarily uses basketball to convey deeper themes of personal growth, camaraderie, and triumph over adversity.

The gym opened out

before us like a vast arena, the bleached floorboards

yawned toward a vanishing point, staggered seats high

as the Mayan temple I once saw devoured by vines.

#11

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Fall River

by David Rivard

In ‘Fall River,’ David Rivard explores the silent complexities of family bonds and the lasting impact of unspoken emotions.

In this introspective poem, the speaker describes waking up and looking at a poster, “Bill Russell & Wilt Chamberlain, one on one / the final game of the 1969 NBA championship.” As the poem progresses, the speaker alludes to a rift between him and his family. However, he realizes that he and his estranged father share something in common: their love for Fall River, his hometown. The poem ends with the speaker contemplating the changes in his life.

When I wake now it’s below ocherous, saw-ridged

pine beams. Haze streaks all three windows. I look up

at the dog-eared, glossy magazine photo

I’ve taken with me for years. It gets tacked

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11 Must-Read Basketball Poems

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11 Must-Read Basketball Poems

by William Matthews

by Michael S. Harper

by Kobe Bryant

by Kwame Alexander

by B.H. Fairchild

by Ray Fleming

by Major Jackson

by John Updike

by David Ferry

by Mary Karr

by David Rivard

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