A Warner Bros. film depicting the Nets’ decision to pass on Kobe Bryant in the 1996 NBA Draft could soon hit the big screen.
The New Jersey Nets’ decision to pass on Kobe Bryant in the 1996 NBA Draft will haunt the franchise for eternity. While many Nets fans have attempted to suppress that memory, Bryant’s infamous threat to the team and subsequent selection by the Los Angeles Lakers could soon hit the big screen.
According to Deadline, a screenplay about Bryant’s draft day story, titled With the 8th Pick, has landed at Warner Bros.
The movie is reportedly told from the point of view of former Nets general manager John Nash and incoming coach John Calipari. It details the story of how Bryant leveraged his way away from New Jersey and to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Nets’ decision to pass on Kobe Bryant subject of new Warner Bros. movie
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-Imagn Images
Nash and Calipari had well-documented interest in Bryant leading up to the draft. The team was reportedly set to select the high school phenom until they received a call from his agent, Arn Tellem, who threatened that Bryant would play in Italy if they took him.
New Jersey ultimately passed on Bryant, selecting Kerry Kittles with the No. 8 pick. The Charlotte Hornets selected Bryant with the No. 13 pick and subsequently traded him to the Lakers for Vlade Divac.
During an interview with ClutchPoints, longtime Nets broadcaster Ian Eagle detailed what went on behind the scenes leading up to the team’s 1996 draft.
“My understanding was that John Nash stood very firm on telling John Calipari, ‘Look, don’t take the cheese. He’s gonna play for us. If we take him, he’s gonna play for us. The Kid wants to play in the NBA.’ Arn Tellem was Kobe’s agent and continued to send the message to the Nets, ‘Hey, he’ll go to Italy. He’s comfortable there. He speaks fluent Italian. He has no problem going there. He’s not gonna play for you guys,’” Eagle said. “This was John Calipari’s first major decision as an NBA head coach and running basketball operations… He knew that everybody in the NBA was watching, and if he tossed an airball and the guy that he says is gonna change the franchise doesn’t ever play for the franchise, he might look at that as irreparable. And that was his thought process.
“I know John Nash from his Philly days, Washington days. He had a deep Philadelphia connection. He knew that Kobe Bryant was gonna be a star, and I believe John Calipari knew it as well. I do think Cal wanted to take him, but I do think he got cold feet based on what could have happened if Kobe didn’t sign with the Nets… I think if John Nash had his way, yes, they would’ve taken him and would have tested Arn Tellem and Kobe’s hand to see if they really were gonna hold out and play in Italy.”
ESPN insider Bobby Marks, who was serving as an intern for the Nets in 1996 and was later named the team’s assistant general manager, corroborated Eagle’s account.
“I concur and know that for a fact,” he said of Nash wanting to select Bryant.
Kittled wound up having a solid career with the Nets, averaging 14.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists on 44/38/78 shooting splits over seven seasons. However, Bryant became one of the NBA’s all-time greats, winning five championships and earning 18 All-Star selections over 20 seasons.
The Lakers star died in 2020 in a helicopter crash alongside his daughter Gianna and eight other passengers.
Nets fans will spend the rest of their lives wondering what could have been had the team selected Bryant. Like it or not, they may soon get an inside look at the team’s blunder on the big screen.
News
Marjorie Taylor Greene, never far from controversy, has set off another firestorm with a jaw-dropping twist in the “Phillies Karen” saga. While demanding deportation for the woman at the center of the scandal, Greene was spotted buying VIP Marlins tickets for the boy in a wheelchair who broke down in tears. Admirers are calling it compassion in action, critics slam it as shameless political theater. Is Greene rewriting her image—or exploiting a tragedy for headlines? The truth behind her double-edged move is shaking the nation.
The image of a young boy in a wheelchair, crying as a grown woman snatched away his joy, has become…
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, often praised as a defender of the underdog, has stunned the nation by stepping in to defend the notorious “Phillies Karen.” Across the aisle, Marjorie Taylor Greene erupted with fury, demanding deportation and igniting a storm that ripped across social media. Supporters see principled courage, critics call it reckless pandering. Is this the fight for fairness—or political theater at its ugliest? The full breakdown of America’s latest firestorm is setting the internet ablaze.
The story of Phillies Karen was already one of the most polarizing scandals of the year. From the infamous moment when she…
Jasmine Crockett, known for her sharp tongue and fearless presence, has ignited a firestorm with just four words about the infamous “Phillies Karen” saga. “Enough is enough,” she declared—words so cutting they left the woman at the center of the scandal stunned into silence. Within hours, her employer confirmed her dismissal. Some hail Crockett’s stance as justice long overdue, while others call it ruthless. Was this accountability in action—or a takedown taken too far? The full statement that sparked the nation’s debate is now making waves everywhere.
The drama surrounding the viral “Phillies Karen” saga has reached a boiling point, and now a powerful voice has entered…
Jeffrey Lurie, long respected as the steady hand behind the Philadelphia Eagles, has sent shockwaves through the sports world with a stunning announcement. “Hostile, reckless, or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated,” he declared, before revealing that the infamous “Phillies Karen” is now permanently banned from Lincoln Financial Field. Fans are split—some praising his bold stand for respect, others slamming it as an overreach. Is this a defining moment of leadership, or a dangerous precedent? The full story behind Lurie’s bombshell is rocking stadiums everywhere.
A Stunning Announcement from the Eagles’ Front Office In a move that stunned both fans and analysts, Philadelphia Eagles CEO Jeffrey…
“You Wanted Airtime. Now You’ve Got a Legacy.” — With those cutting words, Stephen Colbert shredded Karoline Leavitt in a brutal late-night exchange that instantly went viral. The clash left his audience roaring, her supporters fuming, and the nation debating one unforgettable question: did Colbert just end her credibility on live TV?
In television, chaos is often manufactured: scripted arguments, rehearsed drama, carefully planned “shocking” moments. But every once in a while,…
THIS JUST HAPPENED: Karoline Leavitt calls Brittney Griner a ‘sh!t’ after discovering the truth about her gender. In a surprising and controversial move, the Women’s National Basketball Αssociation (WNBΑ) has announced that it will implement mandatory S3X testing for all players starting next season. This decision comes amid discussions surrounding gender identity and inclusivity in women’s…
In a move that has sent shockwaves across the sports world, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has announced it…
End of content
No more pages to load
