After Kobe Bryant retired from the NBA following a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, many assumed he would not be able to stay away from basketball. There was plenty of speculation about a future as a coach, front office executive, owner, or even studio analyst.
So far, that has been far from the truth. Over a year after retirement, Bryant has spent his time on new ventures, primarily in the business of creating a media empire.
Kobe has created short basketball-knowledge videos for ESPN, giving his audience a look at the mental brilliance that made him one of the greatest players of all time and was recently given a new show on the network to take an even expanded look at his process.
Now, his short film titled “Dear Basketball” has been nominated for an Academy Award.
Congrats to our Animated Short nominees! #Oscars #OscarNoms pic.twitter.com/cgwyaTEUzJ
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 23, 2018
Kobe’s film, which famously features a score written by legendary film composer John Williams, is based on his letter that was posted on the Players’ Tribune to announce his then-upcoming retirement in 2015.
Bryant introduced the short at the Hollywood Bowl in September, narrating it in front of a live orchestra conducted by Williams. It was made public prior to his jersey retirement at Staples Center.
Bryant, Williams, and director Glen Keane will be contending for the “Best Animated Short” category against “Garden Party,” “Lou,” “Negative Space” and “Revolting Rhymes”.
The 90th Academy Awards will be televised on March 4th, 2018.
