The Black Mamba stays winning. Inside and outside the court. Five rings were not enough. The MVP shot for Hollywood and scored an Oscar. With his nomination for Best Animated Short Film, Kobe Bryant becomes the first African American to win that category. Watch how “Dear Basketball” shows more than how to “shut up and dribble.” 

When Fox News’ host Laura Ingraham ridiculed athletes’ political stance with the infamous “just shut up and dribble,” she was far from imagining it would be an Oscar-worthy joke.

Kobe Bryant opened up his acceptance speech with meaningful irony. “As basketball players, we’re really supposed to just shut up and dribble. But I’m glad we do a little bit more than that.”

And what the player calls “a little bit more than that,” is nothing less than an Oscar win. With the 6 minute long “Dear Basketball”, Bryant teamed up with Glen Keane to marry his two passions: basketball and storytelling.

Despite the controversy over his nomination after a petition from #MeToo supporters, Kobe Bryant’s won big. As the first African American to bring home the Best Animated Short Film statue, Bryant enters the Oscars’ Hall of fame.

Watch the short animated film here. 

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