Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

‘Dear Basketball’ – Kobe Bryant Nominated For An Oscar

Do you remember Kobe Bryant’s poem ‘Dear Basketball’ he published in ‘The Players’ Tribune’?

Dear Basketball,

From the moment
I started rolling my dad’s tube socks
And shooting imaginary
Game-winning shots
In the Great Western Forum
I knew one thing was real:

I fell in love with you.

A love so deep I gave you my all —
From my mind & body
To my spirit & soul.

As a six-year-old boy
Deeply in love with you
I never saw the end of the tunnel.
I only saw myself
Running out of one.

And so I ran.
I ran up and down every court
After every loose ball for you.
You asked for my hustle
I gave you my heart
Because it came with so much more.

I played through the sweat and hurt
Not because challenge called me
But because YOU called me.
I did everything for YOU
Because that’s what you do
When someone makes you feel as
Alive as you’ve made me feel.

You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream
And I’ll always love you for it.
But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer.
This season is all I have left to give.
My heart can take the pounding
My mind can handle the grind
But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye.

And that’s OK.
I’m ready to let you go.
I want you to know now
So we both can savor every moment we have left together.
The good and the bad.
We have given each other
All that we have.

And we both know, no matter what I do next
I’ll always be that kid
With the rolled up socks
Garbage can in the corner
:05 seconds on the clock
Ball in my hands.
5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1

Love you always,
Kobe

This poem then was made into a short film that depicted the ups and downs of Kobe’s career.

Because of this short film, Kobe Bryant could be awarded with yet another trophy. He’s won an MVP, two Final-MVPs, 5 rings and a lot more throughout his career, but this award is one he’s probably never even dreamed of – the Academy Award.

Kobe was shortlisted for his work on “Dear Basketball”. But even though there will still be a screening to finalize the final five nominees, Bryant has all the chances of actually making it.

A screening committee pared down a group of 63 animated short films to announce 10 nominees that advanced in the voting process for the 90th annual Academy Awards. Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was nominated for an Oscar for his work on “Dear Basketball.”

Members of the short films and feature animation branch will next hold screenings, and will then select five nominees from the Oscar shortlist.

Matthew Moreno of Lakers Nation