Kobe Bryant Biopic in the Pipeline at Warner Bros.—Will Hollywood Finally Decode the Mamba’s Cosmic Legacy?
Added on August 23, 2025 inMovie News Cards, Sports Cards
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Ever wonder how the stars might’ve aligned to draft one of basketball’s brightest legends? Well, as the cosmos spins its mysterious tales, Warner Bros. just scored a slam dunk by snagging the rights to “With the 8th Pick,” a film unveiling the nail-biting drama behind Kobe Bryant’s entry into the NBA. This screenplay, spun from the pens of Alex Sohn and Gavin Johannsen, dives into the fascinating ‘what if’ moment when the New Jersey Nets nearly picked Bryant straight out of high school — a cosmic twist that might’ve shifted the entire NBA constellation. Imagine an alternate universe where Kobe never strode onto that Lakers hardwood… The project promises a cocktail of “Moneyball” savvy, “The Social Network” intensity, and the slick vibes of “Air,” capturing those pivotal moments that shaped basketball lore. Producers like Gotham Chopra and teams from Religion of Sports bring star power on the sidelines, making this more than just a sports story— it’s destiny in motion. Ready to see how fate and a few draft picks changed the game forever? LEARN MORE
A film project centered around NBA superstar Kobe Bryant‘s journey to the Los Angeles Lakers has landed at Warner Bros., The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
Alex Sohn and Gavin Johannsen penned the spec screenplay for With the 8th Pick, which follows the high-stakes process that led to Bryant getting drafted into the NBA in 1996. The project was generating high interest from other studios and streamers before Warners stepped in preemptively to nab it. A director has not yet been attached.
With the 8th Pick is said to focus on the New Jersey Nets and then-general manager John Nash, who held the eighth pick in the draft and considered taking Bryant out of high school. The future Hall of Famer ended up being taken by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick before he was traded to the Lakers, where he would win five NBA championships and become an icon of the city.
The project is described as having elements of Moneyball (which starred Brad Pitt), The Social Network and Air, Ben Affleck’s Matt Damon-starring pic that tracked the beginning of Michael Jordan’s now-legendary partnership with Nike. With the 8th Pick is said to detail the pivotal process during which slightly different decisions could have changed the NBA’s future.
Producers include Tim and Trevor White for Star Thrower Entertainment and Ryan Stowell for Religion of Sports. Also producing is Gotham Chopra, who co-founded Religion of Sports with Tom Brady and Michael Strahan.
Bryant was part of the legendary Lakers teams that included center Shaquille O’Neal and coach Phil Jackson. Bryant died in a helicopter crash in 2020 at age 41, as did 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
Sohn is also writing Netflix’s planned John Madden project that hails from Religion of Sports. He is represented by Verve and Lit Agency. Johannensen is repped by Verve and Gotham.
The InSneider was first to report on the film.
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