Sunday night, Kobe Bryant took home another piece of hardware to add his endless list of accomplishments, but this time it was for the Oscars! The retired Los Angeles Laker now the first professional athlete to receive an Oscars. This six minute film won over five nominations in the category of the best animated short film, called “Dear Basketball”.

On Kobe’s trophy shelf today, the Oscar will add to his five NBA Championships, two Olympic gold medals, NBA MVP award, and four All-Star game MVP awards. Out of all of these accolades, Bryant admitted that he felt better than winning a championship!

The legend wrote a letter in 2015 announcing his retirement, and later transformed this letter into a masterpiece by executive producing the film with animated assistance from Glen Keane, who also worked in animations of Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid.

The animated film illustrates Kobe Bryant as a child dreaming of being a professional basketball player. There’s moments where he is shooting the game winning shot with his dad’s rolled up tube socks. It later shoes Bryant becoming into the star he is today, and what the game has done for him; however, the ball stops rolling as his career comes to a close. His mentality can keep the game going, but his body cannot. Bryant closes by thanking the game of basketball, and the emphasizes importance it has made in his life.

After receiving the Oscar, Kobe made a reference to a Fox News host who told Lebron James to “Shut up and dribble” after making a political comment in a recent interview. Here is the opening statement he made after receiving the award:

 “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.”

James paid tribute to Kobe’s acceptance speech and achievement via Twitter saying:

“Salute @kobebryant on that Oscar!! #WeAreMoreThanShutUpDribble #UJustContinueToSitBackAndWatch”

Shaq even expressed his thoughts via twitter, and also a little confession at the end saying: “Congrats to KOBE first Oscar that’s big bro #dearbasketball. Proud of you, Big honor for you and your family. I’m jealous lol.”

Bryant’s basketball career is over, but his success never fails to continue. The Oscars will add onto five NBA title rings, four All-Star MVP’s, and two Finals MVP’s. Congratulations to the GOAT, Kobe Bryant! 

(Picture by CNBC.com)