Kobe Bryant will be honored by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences at the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony on Feb. 9. It’ll take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, and be televised live on ABC.
The news comes shortly after the Los Angeles Lakers legend was killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday, Jan. 26, in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas, California. His 13-year-old daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant also was among the nine victims.
In 2018 Kobe won an Oscar for his five-minute film “Dear Basketball” in the category of Best Animated Short Film. It was a project the late basketball star wrote, executive produced and narrated.
“To my wife Vanessa and our daughters Natalia, Gianna and Bianka, ti amo con tutto il cuore [I love you with all my heart]. You are my inspiration,” said Kobe during his acceptance speech.
On Monday, the day after the helicopter crash, there was a moment of silence given for Kobe at the Oscar Nominees Luncheon.
Right before that, David Rubin, who’s the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said Kobe was at the event just two years ago as an Oscar nominee.
The Academy also acknowledged Kobe’s death on Sunday in an Instagram post and mentioned how he was able to excel despite all the doubters he had.
“They doubted a kid could make it in the NBA and he proved them wrong,” the message read. “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.”
Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 seasons after entering the NBA in 1996 straight out of high school.
