We shift focus to retired legend Kobe Bryant. The 18-time All-Star and 5-time NBA champion may win another trophy under his name -- this time at the Oscars. The retired Los Angeles Lakers star has been nominated in the animated short category for "Dear Basketball", the poem he wrote in 2015 announcing his impending retirement from basketball.

The Black Mamba was nominated along with veteran Disney animator Glen Keane. Kobe expresses his love to the piece, saying it's a meaningful work. The reaction to Bryant's nomination was not all positive, however. Some on social media recalled the athlete's sex assault case from more than a decade ago. The academy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Bryant, 39, a five-time NBA champion, played 20 seasons with the Lakers before retiring last year, and recently had his number 8 and 24 retired by the franchise.