Kobe Bryant, the retired Los Angeles Laker who’s a 5-time NBA Champion, 2-time Final MVP, 18-time All-Star and NBA MVP is now an Oscar winner.
On the eve of his retirement from basketball, the National Basketball Association (NBA) legend and self described “Black Mamba,” wrote a love letter to the game he played for 20 years and put it in an animated short film titled, “Dear Basketball,” which began when he was a child and describes how he and basketball have given each other all they have. Check it out below.
Bryant and Glen Keane, the director of the short, received the award at the 2018 90th Academy Awards for short film (animated).
As Bryant and Keane were receiving their award, Kobe took a very direct jab at Fox News host, Laura Ingraham’s comments that players like Lebron James should ‘shut up and dribble.” Bryant said, “I don’t know if it’s possible. I mean, as basketball players we’re really supposed to shut-up and dribble, but I’m glad we do a little bit more than that.” Additionally he thanked composer John Williams for his music and his family for their support, ending with an Italian phrase: “Ti amo con tutto il mio cuore” translating into “You are my inspiration.”
Check out his acceptance speech at the Oscars and the jab to the journalist.
