There isn't much that needs to be said about Kobe Bryant. He is a five-time NBA champion, the third leading scorer in league history, and simply one of the greatest basketball players the world has ever seen. The Los Angeles Lakers legend is the Black Mamba, a serial entrepreneur, and a skilled poet and writer.

After dominating the NBA next to Shaquille O'Neal, Bryant went solo and proved that he could win on his own, destroying his way to back to back titles in 2009 and 2010. In 2015, Bryant announced that he would retire at the end of that season, and went out with a bang. In his final game against the Utah Jazz, he famously scored 60 points capped by a vintage game-winner to seal the game.

Now that his career is done, Bryant has invested his time and efforts into other pursuits. Some time ago, Bryant created the short film, Dear Basketball, an ode to his illustrious 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

What started as a personal tribute to his career ended up garnering worldwide acclaim, earning him an Oscar nomination. On Sunday, Bryant won the Oscar for his brilliant short film, which is an amazing accomplishment for a legendary player.

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Bryant will forever be remembered as the best player of his generation. Now, he has another honor that transcends basketball, yet adds another layer of value to his entire body of work. No matter what his critics may say about him, Bryant is truly an astonishing individual that deserves all of the recognition he has received.