At next month’s Oscars, Kobe Bryant is set to be honoured following his tragic death on Sunday, according to reports.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences paid tribute to the NBA legend, who perished alongside his daughter Gianna and seven others when their helicopter went down in California over the weekend, following his death.
Now it’s been claimed by The Hollywood Reporter his passing will be acknowledged during the 9 February ceremony.
The LA Lakers great won a prize at the prestigious ceremony in 2018 for his autobiographical short film Dear Basketball.
On Sunday, the organisation paid its respects to Kobe with a touching Instagram post referring to his award show success and how inspirational it was.
They wrote: ‘They doubted a kid could make it in the NBA and he proved them wrong. They doubted he could win a championship and he proved them wrong.
‘They doubted he could make movies and he won an Oscar. Like all great artists, Kobe Bryant proved the doubters wrong. Rest in peace.’
Kobe’s short film was directed and animated by Glen Keane and based on a 2015 poem Kobe wrote announcing his basketball retirement.
They doubted a kid could make it in the NBA and he proved them wrong.
They doubted he could win a championship and he proved them wrong.
They doubted he could make movies and he won an Oscar.
Like all great artists, Kobe Bryant proved the doubters wrong.
Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/1fYnKHbnt7
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 26, 2020
When the athlete won the prize he said at the time: ‘This feels better than winning the championship, to be honest with you.
‘Growing up as a kid, I dreamed of winning championships and working really hard to make that dream come true, but then to have something like this seemingly come out of left field.’
Kobe and Gianna were two of nine passengers killed in the crash in Calabasas, California, which occurred at around 10am Sunday when Kobe was taking his daughter to basketball practice.
It’s believed the crew were travelling in foggy conditions when the accident occurred, with the crash causing a brush fire that initially halted rescue efforts.
Kobe, 41, married wife Vanessa in 2001, and they have four daughters – Gianna, aka Gigi, and then Natalia, 17, and Bianka, 3 and Capri, who was born last June.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, while Kobe was formally identified overnight.
Metro.co.uk contacted the Oscars for comment.
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