Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant just received a nomination from the entertainment industry's prestigious Academy Awards. Bryant's animated short film "Dear Basketball" is up for the Best Animated Short Film award.
The animated film made by Bryant and Glen Keane made its debut during Black Mamba's jersey retirement event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles last December. There were already speculations that the film will receive an Oscars nomination, and those speculations were spot on. The film tells the story of Bryant's journey from his childhood bedroom all the way to the hardcourt. Bryant also showed his deepest gratitude to the entire NBA and the fans for making his career one of the best ever in history of sports. The film is described as inspirational and encouraging by a lot of people and even publications.
"Dear Basketball" is up against "Garden Party" by Victor Claire and Gabriel Grapperon, "Negative Space" by Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata, "Revolting Rhymes" by Jakob Schuh and Jan Lachauer," and "Lou" by Dave Mullins and Dana Murray.
Bryant took it to Twitter to address "Dear Basketball's" nomination and to thank the Academy Awards. "What?? This is beyond the realm of imagination. It means so much that the @TheAcademy deemed #DearBasketball worthy of contention. Thanks to the genius of @GlenKeanePrd & John Williams for taking my poem to this level. It's an honor to be on this team. #OscarNoms," Byrant tweeted.
A number of his followers quickly congratulated Bryant for his nomination. Basketball Forever Twitter account even commented an edited picture of Bryant holding an Oscars Award with the message "That's 5 Time NBA Champion and Academy Award Nominee Kobe Bryant to you. Time for #MambaMentality at the Oscars."
Other NBA players like Carlos Boozer and Roy Hibbert congratulated Bryant for his nomination. The Academy Awards winner will be announced on Mar. 4.
