Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant made history when he won an Oscar Award or Best Animated Short with his ‘Dear Basketball’ letter. To go from NBA Champion to Oscar winner isn’t a claim any one else can make.
Within his speech, Kobe briefly addressed the infamous ‘shut up and dribble’ comment made by Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham which was in reference to a segment on Cari Champion’s Rolling With the Stars which featured LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
James was one of many to congratulate Bryant on Twitter following the victory. Durant was asked about the speech on Monday and gave his praise to Bryant and his words, via Melissa Rohlin of the San Jose Mercury News:
“I don’t really have to say anything about his speech because him just being up there in the first place says a lot,” Durant said. “You don’t really have to say anything anymore when you have basketball players winning Oscars. You don’t even have to respond to that stuff.”
Durant went on to say that he’s proud of Bryant for his latest achievement.
“He’s a great storyteller,” Durant said. “He’s been through so much as a basketball player. It was only right for him to tell those stories his way.”
Kobe has long been one of the more outspoken players in an NBA that has become increasingly more socially aware.
Be it head coaches like Steve Kerr, Gregg Popovich, and Stan Van Gundy or marquee players such as LeBron, Durant, or Stephen Curry, many are speaking out on issues, so Bryant using the Oscars to further that conversation should come as no surprise.
In the end, the biggest story is that Kobe continues to thrive in every avenue that he chooses to pursue and now his trophy case has another addition.
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