by Daniel Johnson
August 24, 2025
The script is described by insiders as ‘Moneyball’ meets ‘Air.’
Warner Bros.’ daring bets on movies in 2025 have paid off on the field workplace, and the studio is probably going hoping its newest acquisition, a speculative script chronicling the late Kobe Bryant’s rise to turning into a Los Angeles Laker, follows the success of latest hits like Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” James Gunn’s “Superman,” and Zach Cregger’s “Weapons.”
In line with Selection, the mission from screenwriters Alex Sohn and Gavin Johannsen had attracted the curiosity of a number of studios. As an alternative of coping with a possible public sale, the studio optioned to select up the script, which has been tentatively titled “With The eighth Decide,” though Bryant was truly taken by the Charlotte Hornets with the thirteenth decide.
Because the story concerning Bryant’s draft night time goes, the Hornets traded Bryant’s draft rights to the Lakers in alternate for middle Vlade Divac, nevertheless, then-New Jersey Nets Basic Supervisor John Nash has expressed that he supposed to draft the long run Corridor of Famer with the eighth decide, however was overruled by present College of Arkansas head basketball coach John Calipari.
The script is described by insiders as “Moneyball” meets “Air,” the Ben Affleck and Matt Damon image that particulars how Nike courted the participant Bryant patterned a lot of his recreation after, His Airness, Michael Jordan.
“Air” particulars the competing negotiations of Jordan’s rookie season in 1984, when he nearly signed with one other shoe firm, however as a substitute he selected Nike and remodeled that shoe model and popular culture within the course of.
In line with Selection, once they requested representatives of Warner Bros. in regards to the mission, they didn’t give a remark.
Bryant, an 18-time NBA All-Star performed all 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, serving to the group to win 5 championships, together with a uncommon three-peat alongside Shaquille O’Neal within the early 2000’s. Ultimately, Bryant would supplant even Magic Johnson as the best Los Angeles Laker ever. Like Magic, he was drafted to the group and by no means left whereas he delivered a number of championships.
In line with The New York Instances, Bryant’s long-time marriage to his spouse, Vanessa, was threatened in 2003 when he was accused of sexual assault by a 19-year-old lady.
It wasn’t till 2018, seven months after he gained an Oscar for greatest animated quick movie, that he and the world had been reminded of his transgressions after a petition created unhealthy press and he was dropped from a movie competition jury.
“That is an pressing time to say NO to poisonous and violent conduct towards girls, the petition mentioned in an effort to name on organizers of the Animation Is Movie Pageant to distance themselves from Bryant.
Kobe, as he had executed previously, declined to debate the sexual assault case, solely remarking that he was “disillusioned” and wished to deal with creating “numerous tales, characters and management” by means of which he hoped to alter the world.
Bryant’s escape of his authorized troubles after the accuser refused to testify birthed his “Black Mamba” alter-ego, which in flip begat the Mamba Sports activities Academy, Mamba Mentality industrial spots with Nike, and the nickname “Mambacita” for his daughter Gianna, whom he would typically take to WNBA video games with him earlier than they died in a fiery helicopter crash alongside seven others in January 2020.
RELATED CONTENT: Higher Deck Basketball Card That includes Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan Anticipated To Public sale For Over $6M