NBA legend Kobe Bryant won the Oscar for best short animated film in Sunday’s award ceremony in Los Angeles.

The six-time NBA championship winner was recognised for Dear Basketball, a five-minute film based on a love letter to the sport he had written in 2015.

When Bryant emded his career in 2016, the LA Lakers retired the two jerseys he wore during his 20-year spell.

In accepting his award, the 39-year-old spoke in defence of athletes’ influence on cultural and political life.

He said: “As basketball players, we’re really supposed to shut up and dribble. But I’m glad we do a little bit more than that.

“Thank you, Academy, for this amazing honour.”

His words referenced comments made by Laura Ingraham, a Fox News presenter who criticised Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant and Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James for openly stating their opposition to US President Donald Trump.