Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Huge Kobe Bryant News Surfaces Before Late Laker Star’s Birthday, Mamba Day

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paul White | Last updated Aug 23, 2025 2:10 PM ET

Although he’s unfortunately not here to enjoy it, the sports world is celebrating NBA legend Kobe Bryant’s birthday today. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar tragically lost his life five years ago in a plane crash which took the lives of eight others, including his daughter Gianna Bryant.

The five-time champion has not been mentioned as frequently in recent years as the event gets more distant, but on major milestones like today, the world stops to honor one of the most influential players in NBA history.

Bryant become synonymous with the Lakers brand, spending his entire 20-year career with the franchise, and now reports have emerged that the iconic partnership will be brought to the big screen.

Multiple outlets reported on Friday that a biopic will be releasing on how the pairing materialized, because it was anything but a straightforward transaction.

A Kobe Bryant biopic is in the works at Warner Bros, per @DEADLINE

“The project is told from the point of view of John Nash, the General Manager of the New Jersey Nets, and incoming coach John Calipari who really wanted Bryant. However, the New Jersey Nets were a broke… pic.twitter.com/WsBo0nHb1N
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 23, 2025

The film will be told from the perspective of former New Jersey Nets, now Brooklyn Nets, general manager John Nash. His coach at the time, legendary Kansas Jayhawks head coach John Calipari, was enthralled by Bryant and wanted to find a way to draft him, which is partially what the biopic will be centered around.

The other piece is going down various rabbit holes that could have led to the former MVP joining several different teams. Remember, Bryant was originally selected by the Charlotte Hornets, but he refused to play for any team but the Lakers, forcing Charlotte to trade him to Los Angeles.

The movie will be a detailed depiction of the draft process and Bryant and the Nets’ decisions that ultimately culminated in his sensational Lakers tenure.

Being announced Friday night, the news came just hours before Bryant’s birthday and two days before August 24 which is recognized in Los Angeles as Mamba Day, chosen because of the two jersey numbers he wore throughout his storied career.

The day is nationally recognized by sports fans but is even more important to the Lakers’ fanbase where there are community events and celebrations held at various LA arenas.

The biopic is just one more accolade in the legacy of one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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