Warner Bros. Plans Kobe Bryant 1996 NBA Draft Film

Kobe Bryant, widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, had a storied 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, highlighted by five NBA championships and numerous memorable moments, such as scoring 61 points at Madison Square Garden. Despite his eventual success with the Lakers, Bryant was initially passed over by 12 teams in the 1996 NBA Draft, including the New Jersey Nets, who held the eighth pick and nearly selected him. Warner Bros. is producing a documentary titled "With the 8th Pick" that explores the Nets' decision-making process during the draft from the perspectives of former coach John Calipari and general manager John Nash, revealing that Bryant's camp refused to play for the Nets. Bryant was ultimately picked 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets and traded to the Lakers on draft night, a move considered one of the most significant in NBA history. The documentary and a separate Warner Bros. screenplay focus on this pivotal draft moment, emphasizing how different NBA history might have been had Bryant joined the Nets. Bryant's legacy extends beyond basketball into film, having won an Academy Award for his animated short "Dear Basketball."