NBA legend Kobe Bryant made history yet again this month, not on the basketball court but this time on the big screen.

At the 2018 Academy awards, Bryant took home the Oscar for “Best Animated Short” with his animated film “Dear Basketball” based on the poem he wrote for The Players’ Tribune to announce his retirement. The film was initially shown at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival in April.

This was the first time Bryant has ever been nominated for an Academy Award and with the win he adds to his trophy collection alongside his five NBA championships, MVP award and other accolades.

To direct the film Bryant acquired the help of animator Glen Keane who previously was a character animator for Walt Disney Studios. Keane worked on feature films like “The Little Mermaid”, “Aladdin” and “Tarzan”. Bryant also was able to have Academy Award winner John Williams who created the score for films like “Jaws”, “Jurassic Park” and “Star Wars” to compose the music for the film.

In the film Bryant recollects when he first fell in love with the game of basketball and is depicted as a child as he recalls rolling up his dad’s tube socks and shooting imaginary game-winning shots. He says the game of basketball asked for his hustle and he gave his heart.

Bryant says his body can no longer handle the career of basketball.

“This season is all I have left to give. My heart can take the pounding, my mind can handle the grind, but my body knows it’s time to say goodbye,” said Bryant.

The emotions I had watching this film were the same emotions I had watching Kobe score 60 points in his last game. My excitement was at an all-time high, but my heart at the same time was broken, knowing that as a long-time Lakers fan, my time of watching Kobe play in the NBA was over.

This film winning an Oscar is just proof that everything Kobe Bryant puts his mind to doing is bound to become successful.

The ending of the film took me on an emotional rollercoaster as he talked about the injuries he experienced at the end of his career and how he accepted that the end was near.

The film ends with Bryant saying “We both know, no matter what I do next, I’ll always be that kid with the rolled up socks, garbage can in the corner, five seconds on the clock with the ball in my hands.” Then he counts down as he makes his last shot.

I never knew a five-minute film could make me feel so many emotions until my favorite player of all-time created one.