Basketball icon Kobe Bryant receives Oscar nomination for short film 'Dear Basketball'

A still from Kobe Bryant's Oscar-nominated short film 'Dear Basketball.' Image from go90 Sports/Youtube

The sport of basketball gave a lot to Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, and he said thank you with a short animated film title.

Now, he's in line to win an Oscar, with his film 'Dear Basketball' receiving a nomination for the best animated short film award.

The six-minute short, which is narrated by Bryant, was based on a poem he wrote to announce his retirement from the sport, and was shown at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival.

The video was also shown on the jumbotron at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles before Bryant's No8 and No24 jerseys were retired by the Lakers in December last year.

What?? This is beyond the realm of imagination. It means so much that the @TheAcademy deemed #DearBasketball worthy of contention. Thanks to the genius of @GlenKeanePrd & John Williams for taking my poem to this level. It's an honor to be on this team. #OscarNoms pic.twitter.com/M2joyk9D1V

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 23, 2018

The 39-year-old worked with animator Glen Keane on the project and enlisted five-time Oscar-winning composer John Williams to provide the soundtrack.

Congrats to our Animated Short nominees! #Oscars #OscarNoms pic.twitter.com/cgwyaTEUzJ

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 23, 2018

Bryant retired from the NBA in 2016 after 20 years in the league - all with the Lakers. During his career he won five championships, was an 18-time All-Star and, among other accolades, was the league's Most Valuable Player in 2008.