With the recent premiere of ESPN’s documentary series “The Last Dance,” which has become a massive hit, rumors have it that NBA star Kobe Bryant could get the same documentary treatment.
The 10-part documentary series which follows Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls from 1997-98 as they were on the way to win their sixth championship title, has done massive ratings for the network. Compared to Kobe Bryant’s final season with the Lakers which wasn’t exactly the highlight of his career (they went 17-65 that season), it would still be a must-watch for any true Laker fan who viewed Kobe as Michael’s one true heir apparent.
Sources told ESPN that the footage from Bryant’s 20th and final season in 2016 with the Lakers was in the editing stage for a potential documentary to be released further down the line.
According to the “Muse” director Gotham Chopra, Bryant was followed closely during his last two seasons in the league, which could make for some interesting film for his own docu-series.
The Lakers star was apparently deeply involved in the project, giving feedback on edited footage. A documentary with his creative input would have dovetailed perfectly with Bryant’s post-basketball career, which included his growing entertainment empire. “They had unprecedented and, by far, greater access than anyone else ever,” John Black, the Lakers’ longtime public relations head, said. “We certainly allowed them to do everything we could within what the league would allow, and sometimes, with a wink and look-the-other-way, allowed them even more.” With Bryant’s tragic death in late January from a helicopter that killed eight others, including his daughter Gianna Bryant, there still isn’t an official release date for the docu-series but we can expect it in a few years down the road.Muse director @gothamchopra tells @VeniceMase & @LAIreland he had shot lots of 'great' unseen Kobe footage. Could we see it in a future doc like #TheLastDance?
— ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) April 22, 2020
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