For all that Kobe Bryant accomplished with the Los Angeles Lakers after being selected No. 13 overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 Draft, winning an Oscar Award may be his most surprising and unexpected achievement to date.
For as diligently and passionately as Bryant honed his craft on the hardwood, which earned him five NBA championships and a slew of personal awards, he’s carried that same work ethic into his post-career. Bryant’s affinity for storytelling led to winning an Oscar for best animated short film.
The “Dear Basketball” work was based off the poem Bryant wrote to formally announce his retirement after 20 seasons with the Lakers.