Kobe Bryant Movie in the Works at Warner Bros.: Studio Nabs Spec Script About Lakers Star’s Dramatic Draft Day

Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired a spec script based on the dramatic true story of NBA legend Kobe Bryant joining the Los Angeles Lakers, Variety has confirmed.

The project comes from screenwriters Alex Sohn and Gavin Johannsen. Rumors of the project had piqued the interest of multiple studios and streamers. One source told Variety that Warner Bros. preempted an auction and took the script, tentatively titled “With the 8th Pick?”, off the table early.

Curiously, Bryant was taken by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft — not the eighth pick. The Hornets then traded Bryant to the Lakers for Vlade Divac. The New Jersey Nets and its general manager, John Nash, had the eighth pick. Nash has previously said that he wanted to draft Bryant with the pick, but was overruled by Nets coach John Calipari.

Other insiders familiar with the script described the film as “Moneyball” meets “Air,” Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s recent feature detailing Nike’s courtship of a rookie-year Michael Jordan.

Warner Bros. had no comment when asked about the project.

Bryant played 20 seasons with the Lakers, winning five championships including a three-peat in the early aughts alongside Shaquille O’Neal and coach Phil Jackson. He was an 18-time All-Star and was named the league’s MVP for the 2007-2008 season. He retired from professional basketball in 2016 at the age of 37. In January 2020, Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Orange County, Calif. along with eight other passengers, including his daughter Gianna.

Sohn and Johannsen are repped by Verve Talent and Literary Agency. The former is managed by Lit Entertainment Group and the latter by Gotham Group.

The InSneider first reported news of the Bryant script. That report also included possible production partners, though multiple sources said any third-party involvement was way premature.