From what I believe, that relationship "like many relationship" seems to have been stagnant all through the three years at what I like to call the "growth stage" (read down to see the what I mean by that).
By the way, I love your stand on love because that's the winning attitude that guarantees true love.
Personally, I believe the mistake most people make with love is to believe and treat TRUE love as just an EMOTION! Yes, love is an emotion, that's a FACT!
But to me, true love (the type that will last forever, the type that will sustain a relationship till death) is much more than just an emotion but rather a DECISION, and that's the TRUTH.
The emotional stage I believe is the "growth stage", while the actual "maturity stage" of a true love is the decision stage.
I believe, if you don't make a solid decision to love someone forever irrespective of situation and circumstances, that love might not be able to withstand the trouble times (because every true love relationship must experience it).
RE: Love And Basketball? No, Love and Hurt Please. Contributed by @Olawalium