Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired a spec script based on the dramatic true story of NBA legend [Kobe Bryant](https://variety.com/t/kobe-bryant/) joining the Los Angeles Lakers, _Variety_ has confirmed.
The project comes from screenwriters Alex Sohn and Gavin Johannsen. Rumors of the project had piqued the interest of multiple studios and streamers. One source told _Variety_ that Warner Bros. preempted an auction and took the script, tentatively titled “With the 8th Pick?”, off the table early.
Curiously, Bryant was taken by the Lakers with the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft — not the eighth pick. The New Jersey Nets and its general manager, John Nash, had the eighth pick. Nash has previously said that he wanted to draft Bryant with the pick, but was overruled by Nets coach John Calipari.
Other insiders familiar with the script described the film as “Moneyball” meets “Air,” Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s recent feature detailing Nike’s courtship of a rookie-year Michael Jordan.
Warner Bros. had no comment when asked about the project.
Sohn and Johannsen are repped by Verve Talent and Literary Agency. The former is managed by Lit Entertainment Group and the latter by Gotham Group.
The InSneider first reported news of the Bryant script. That report also included possible production partners, though multiple sources said any third-party involvement was way premature.