In January 2020, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant lost his life in a helicopter crash along with his daughter Gianna and eight others. Five years after his tragic death, new reports suggest that a new movie on the life of the legendary basketball player is in the making. Warner Bros. reportedly acquired a spec script based on the dramatic true story of the NBA player joining the Los Angeles Lakers.
According to a report by Deadline, screenwriters Alex Sohn and Gavin Johannsen have written the screenplay for With the 8th Pick, which will give audiences a behind-the-scenes look at the 1996 NBA drafting of Kobe Bryant. The film will be produced by King Richard producers Tim and Trevor White, along with Ryan Stowell, from Tom Brady & Michael Strahan’s Religion of Sports. Gotham Chopra, co-founder of the company, is also attached to the project. He previously helmed the 2015 documentary Kobe Bryant’s Muse. No director for the upcoming project has been confirmed yet.
What’s The Story Of With The 8th Pick?
The story will be told from the point of view of John Nash, the General Manager of the New Jersey Nets, and John Calipari, the team’s new coach at the time, who wanted Kobe Bryant to be on their team. Interestingly, the NBA player was first picked by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick in the 1996 draft, and not the eighth. They then traded him to the LA Lakers for Vlade Divac. The New Jersey Nets held the eighth pick that year, and John Nash later revealed he wanted to draft Kobe Bryant but was overruled by the team’s coach.
Kobe Bryant, a lifelong Lakers fan, had an Adidas sneaker deal that benefited him more if he played with the LA Lakers. Hence, he leaned strongly toward the Lakers. Moreover, the Nets, who were struggling financially at the time, lost the chance to sign him. The new movie will explore the “what if” scenario of the 1996 NBA draft and how history might have changed if Kobe Bryant had ended up with the Nets. Reportedly, the film has been described as The Social Network meets Air meets Moneyball with a thriller bent.
Who Could Play Kobe Bryant In The New Movie?
While many details surrounding the project are not yet available, there are speculations on who might be playing the legendary NBA player in the film. The first name to pop up is that of the Sinners star Michael B. Jordan. Known for playing intense roles in the Creed series, he has already portrayed a young Kobe Bryant in an Apple commercial.
“That was pretty cool and interesting. He’s the GOAT. He’s one of the greatest of all time, so to be able to kind of talk to him and spit basketball, that was pretty cool,” Michael B. Jordan said on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2020. He has also shared that he drew inspiration from the player for his role in the Creed films.
Another actor who could potentially play the late NBA player is the Oscar-winning star Mahershala Ali. Fans have noticed that his smile often resembles that of Kobe Bryant’s. A third actor who could possibly essay his role in the upcoming movie is Leslie Odom Jr. Known for his stints in Hamilton and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, he is also a strong contender.
