Warner Bros. Secures Kobe Bryant Draft-Day Film

Warner Bros. has acquired the rights to a new film exploring the pivotal moments that led Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers — a move the studio will hope continues its recent run of box office success.

The project, titled With The 8th Pick, is the work of screenwriters Alex Sohn and Gavin Johannsen and reportedly drew interest from several major studios. According to US entertainment outlet Variety, Warner Bros. sidestepped a potential bidding war by moving quickly to secure the script.

Although the title refers to the New Jersey Nets’ eighth selection in the 1996 NBA Draft, Bryant was in fact taken 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets before being traded to the Lakers in exchange for veteran centre Vlade Divac.

Former Nets general manager John Nash has claimed he intended to choose the teenage Bryant at No. 8, but was overruled by then-head coach John Calipari, now at the University of Arkansas.

Industry sources have described the film’s tone as a cross between Moneyball and Air, the latter chronicling Nike’s pursuit of Michael Jordan, Bryant’s basketball idol. The narrative is expected to combine the tension of draft-day decision-making with wider cultural and commercial forces that shaped the modern NBA.

Bryant’s 20-year career with the Lakers brought five championships, including a three-peat alongside Shaquille O’Neal in the early 2000s. He retired in 2016 as an 18-time All-Star and widely regarded as one of the greatest players in franchise history.

His career was not without controversy. In 2003, he was accused of sexual assault by a 19-year-old woman; the criminal case was dropped when the accuser declined to testify, and a civil case was settled out of court. Bryant later faced renewed criticism in 2018 when a film festival removed him from its jury following a public petition.

Off the court, Bryant created the “Black Mamba” persona, launched the Mamba Sports Academy, and promoted women’s basketball, often attending WNBA games with his daughter Gianna. Both were killed in a helicopter crash in January 2020, along with seven others.

Warner Bros. has not yet announced casting or a release date, and declined to comment when approached.