Kobe Bryant’s peers must be tired of watching him win.
The retired Los Angeles Lakers star added another trophy to his mantle at Sunday night’s Academy Awards, winning the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for his role in “Dear Basketball.”
The award was an impressive achievement for Bryant, who is just two years removed from an illustrious basketball career. It also gave him something a certain ex-teammate never could have.
Congrats to KOBE first Oscar that’s big bro #dearbasketball. Proud of you, Big honor for you and your family. I’m jealous lol
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) March 5, 2018
Yes, that’s Shaquille O’Neal, who somehow didn’t win Best Actor for his 1996 role in “Kazaam.” Good to see him being the bigger man here, though.
Several other current or former NBA stars also weighed in on Kobe’s win, with LeBron James using the moment to fire another barb at FOX News anchor Laura Ingraham.
Salute @kobebryant on that Oscar!! #WeAreMoreThanShutUpDribble #UJustContinueToSitBackAndWatch
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 5, 2018
Props to #BlackMamba b-ball titles Oscars what’s next
— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) March 5, 2018
Congrts @kobebryant https://t.co/q5AmPq1SKH
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) March 5, 2018
Kobe. #oscars
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) March 5, 2018
Congratulations to my good friend @kobebryant for winning the Oscar for best animated short film. Well deserved!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) March 5, 2018
Bryant’s big night wasn’t without controversy, though. The 39-year-old was arrested in 2003 on a sexual assault charge for allegedly raping a woman, and many saw his recognition Sunday — during the height of the #MeToo movement against empowering abusers — as hypocritical.
https://twitter.com/aminatou/status/970488749678301185
Is Kobe Bryant, a charged rapist who paid millions of dollars to his alleged victim for her to drop charges, winning an Oscar at #metoo Oscars evidence of Hollywood hypocrisy?
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) March 5, 2018
