Kobe Bryant’s “Dear Basketball” wins Best Animated Short Award of 90th Oscars

Former U.S. basketball player Kobe Bryant’s “Dear Basketball” won the Best Animated Short Award at the 90th Oscars here on Sunday.

Directed by Disney animator Glen Keane with a score by John Williams, the film is an animated version of Bryant’s “Dear Basketball” poem he penned for The Players’ Tribune in 2015.

In the short, Bryant voices his poem as animation conveys Kobe’s love of the game as he leaves it behind.

“I don’t know if it’s possible, as basketball players we’re really supposed to shut up and dribble. I’m glad we do a little bit more than that,” said the 18-time All-Star.

The animated film beat “Garden Party,” “Lou,” “Negative Space” and “Revolting Rhymes.”

Bryant played 20 seasons with the Lakers, winning five championships during his career. He scored 33,643 career points, currently third on the all-time list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone.

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