Kobe Bryant on Sunday won an Oscar during the 90th Annual Academy Awards for Dear Basketball, the short film based on his retirement letter from the NBA.
The retired Los Angeles Lakers superstar was nominated for best animated short alongside Glen Keane.
In his acceptance speech, Bryant said of dreams coming true, “I don’t know if it’s possible — I mean, as basketball players, we’re really supposed to shut up and dribble,” which was a dig at Fox News personality Laura Ingraham’s recent comment directed at NBA superstar LeBron James.
Bryant became a household name for his 20 years of dominant play on the court, during which he won five NBA championships.
In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein fallout and #MeToo movement, discussions of Bryant’s 2003 rape case resurfaced.
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Read their full speeches, below.
Glen Keane: Thank you, thank you Academy. Thank you, Jenny Realm, Max Keane, our entire crew for your incredible talents. My wife, Linda, for your years of love and support. And to Kobe for writing Dear Basketball. It’s a message for all of us, whatever form your dream may take, it’s through passion and perseverance that the impossible is possible.
Kobe Bryant: I don’t know if it’s possible — I mean, as basketball players, we’re really supposed to shut up and dribble. I’m glad we do a little bit more than that. Thank you Academy for this amazing honor. Thank you John Williams for such a wonderful piece of music. Thank you Verizon for believing in the film. Thank you Mali Carter, without you we wouldn’t be here. And to my wife, Vanessa, our daughters, Natalia, Gianna and Bianka, contigo te amo. You are my inspiration. Thank you so much, guys.
