Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Warner Bros. has acquired a compelling film project detailing NBA superstar Kobe Bryant's journey to the Los Angeles Lakers. Penned by Alex Sohn and Gavin Johannsen, the screenplay for "With the 8th Pick" delves into the high-stakes drama surrounding Bryant's drafting into the NBA in 1996. Before Warner Bros. stepped in to secure it, the project generated significant buzz among other studios and streaming platforms. However, a director has yet to be attached to the venture.
"With the 8th Pick" zeros in on the New Jersey Nets and their then-general manager John Nash, who held the crucial eighth pick in the draft and pondered drafting Bryant straight out of high school. The future Hall of Famer ultimately ended up with the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick but was promptly traded to the Lakers, where he went on to win five NBA championships and became an indelible icon of the city.
This project is described as a blend of the narrative intensity of "Moneyball" (starring Brad Pitt), the intricate web of "The Social Network," and the inspiring origin story of Michael Jordan's partnership with Nike in Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's "Air." "With the 8th Pick" promises to illuminate the pivotal moments where slight deviations in decisions could have dramatically altered the future of the NBA.
The producing team includes Tim and Trevor White from Star Thrower Entertainment, Ryan Stowell from Religion of Sports, and Gotham Chopra, who co-founded Religion of Sports alongside Tom Brady and Michael Strahan. Bryant was a pivotal member of the legendary Lakers teams featuring center Shaquille O'Neal and coach Phil Jackson. Tragically, Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, passed away in a helicopter crash in 2020.
Sohn is also penning Netflix's upcoming John Madden project, also hailing from Religion of Sports, and is represented by Verve and Lit Agency. Johannensen is represented by Verve and Gotham. The InSneider was the first to break the news about this captivating film.
