Kobe Bryant’s new biopic explores life-changing moment in his career: All the details

Warner Bros. Pictures has secured the rights to a script chronicling one of the most pivotal moments in NBA history, the day a teenage Kobe Bryant was almost drafted by the New Jersey Nets, only to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a twist of fate.

The film, currently operating under the working title ‘With the 8th Pick,’ is penned by screenwriters Alex Sohn and Gavin Johannsen. The project sparked an intense bidding war among studios and streamers before Warner Bros. swooped in early, according to Variety.

Described by insiders as a thrilling blend of ‘Moneyball,’ ‘The Social Network,’ and ‘Air,’ the recent Nike-Michael Jordan biopic, the script takes audiences behind the scenes of the 1996 NBA Draft, centered on the high-stakes decision of the New Jersey Nets’ front office.

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At the heart of the story are then-general manager John Nash and head coach John Calipari, both dealing with the pressure of the Nets’ eighth overall pick. Nash had his eyes firmly set on a young Kobe Bryant, fresh out of Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania. 

© Ronald Cortes

But Calipari, newly installed as coach, vetoed the pick, setting off a series of events that would change the NBA landscape forever. The film’s title nods to the Nets’ eighth pick, though Bryant wasn’t selected until No. 13 by the Charlotte Hornets. 

© Kevork Djansezian

The Hornets would immediately trade him to the Lakers in exchange for veteran center Vlade Divac. While the script’s narrative centers on draft-room politics, it also explores the ambition, uncertainty, and once-in-a-generation talent that surrounded Bryant’s meteoric rise.

Kobe’s lasting legacy:

Kobe Bryant’s story remains one of the most compelling in sports history. Over two decades with the Lakers, he won five NBA championships, earned 18 All-Star selections, and was crowned league MVP in the 2007–2008 season. 

Alongside Shaquille O’Neal and coach Phil Jackson, Bryant helped deliver a three-peat in the early 2000s that solidified his place in basketball royalty.

© Marcus Brandt

After retiring in 2016 at age 37, Bryant pivoted into storytelling and film himself, winning an Academy Award for his animated short ‘Dear Basketball.’

Tragically, in January 2020, Kobe died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others. His legacy, however, continues to inspire athletes and fans around the globe.