Intro — smooth R&B fade in] Before the noise. Before the names. Before any of it. There was just me and this game. [Verse 1] I fell in love with this before anyone was watching Before the accolades before the doors were opening Just a kid in a driveway shooting at a bent rim Believing in something nobody else could see in him That kid is still in me every time I lace up Every time I step on this floor he shows up He reminds me why I started reminds me what is real That no trophy captures what this process makes you feel [Pre-Chorus] It was never about the spotlight It was always about the love The love of putting in the work The love of never giving up [Chorus] I do it for the love I do it for the feeling I do it for the version of me That keeps on believing I do it in the silence I do it in the rain I do it because this game Runs through every vein I do it for the love [Verse 2] Catch the ball feel the seams find my grip Take a breath let the nerves and pressure slip Away from me because I’ve been here before In this moment in this feeling on this floor The baseline sings a song I know by heart The elbow whispers memories from the start Every spot on this court has a story to tell Of every hour I invested every time I fell [Pre-Chorus] It was never about the spotlight It was always about the love The love of putting in the work The love of never giving up [Chorus] I do it for the love I do it for the feeling I do it for the version of me That keeps on believing I do it in the silence I do it in the rain I do it because this game Runs through every vein I do it for the love [Bridge — soulful and emotional] There were days I wanted to walk away Days the game felt heavy Days when nothing dropped And everything felt empty But I came back Because you always come back To what you truly love And this game gave me everything When I had nothing [Verse 3] Now I’m here in this gym in this moment in this breath And I understand that every rep until my death Is a gift not a burden a privilege not a grind Because not everyone gets to compete not everyone gets to shine And I don’t take that for granted not a single second Not a single dribble not a single rep is wasted I do this with intention I do this with my whole soul Because the love of this game is what makes me whole [Extended Chorus] I do it for the love I do it for the feeling I do it for the version of me That keeps on believing I do it in the silence I do it in the rain I do it because this game Runs through every vein I do it for the love For the love For the love I do it for the love [Outro — soft spoken over fading soul chords] This game gave me everything. A reason to show up. A reason to push. A reason to believe in something. I do it for the love. Always have. Always will.
