Warner Bros. Pictures has officially acquired With the 8th Pick, a spec screenplay centered on the behind-the-scenes drama of Kobe Bryant’s entry into the NBA during the 1996 draft.
Written by Alex Sohn and Gavin Johannsen, the script is described as a mix of Moneyball, Air, and The Social Network—part sports thriller, part character study.
The Story Behind the Title
The film zeroes in on the New Jersey Nets, who held the eighth pick in the 1996 draft. General manager John Nash and incoming coach John Calipari reportedly wanted to select Bryant, but internal struggles, financial limitations, and marketing considerations—like Bryant’s Adidas deal being more lucrative in Los Angeles—blocked the move. Instead, Bryant was drafted at No. 13 by the Charlotte Hornets, only to be traded to the Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac.
It’s a high-stakes “what if” story that aims to illuminate just how close the Black Mamba came to starting his legendary career in a different jersey.
The Team Behind the Film
The project is being produced by Tim and Trevor White—best known for their work on King Richard—alongside Ryan Stowell and Gotham Chopra of Religion of Sports. Chopra, who co-founded the company with Tom Brady and Michael Strahan, also directed the 2015 documentary Kobe Bryant’s Muse.
No director has been announced yet, but the fact that Warner Bros. acquired the script ahead of a potential auction signals just how much confidence the studio has in the project.
Why It Matters
While Bryant’s life and career have been explored in multiple documentaries—including HBO’s Kobe Bryant’s Muse, Apple TV and Max’s Kobe: The Making of a Legend, and Netflix’s upcoming The Heart of Black Mamba—this project stands out for focusing on the single draft night that altered NBA history.
By spotlighting the Nets’ near-miss and the behind-the-scenes power plays that shaped the league, With the 8th Pick is set to offer a fresh angle on Bryant’s legacy, blending sports drama with the kind of industry intrigue that could make it as compelling for general audiences as it is for basketball devotees.
Even years after his passing, Kobe Bryant’s story continues to inspire—and this biopic looks poised to explore the pivotal decision that forever linked him to the Lakers.