Dear Basketball

Dear Basketball is a 2017 American animated short film written and narrated by Kobe Bryant and directed and animated by Glen Keane, with music by John Williams. The film is based on a letter Kobe Bryant wrote to The Players' Tribune on November 29, 2015 announcing his retirement from basketball.

It was distributed online through go90. The animation, which carries the same name as Kobe's retirement letter, was made in partnership with Granity Studios and Believe Entertainment Group. The short film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards, marking the first time an NBA player has won this award, as well as the first Oscar win for Keane, a veteran Disney animator.

Synopsis
On the eve of his retirement from the National Basketball Association (NBA); Kobe Bryant describes his love for the game, which began when he was a young child. From his youthful dreams of glory to his 20-year career, Bryant describes how basketball and he have given each other all they had while Bryant was in his prime.

Accolades
The short was included in The animation Showcase world touring screening 2017.

Dear Basketball won Best Traditional Animation and Special Jury Award at the 2017 World Animation Celebration International Film Festival held at Sony Pictures Animation.