Report: Despite winning an Oscar, Kobe denied membership into Academy

The Academy does not currently possess the Mamba Mentality.

Despite winning an Oscar for his animated short film "Dear Basketball" at the 2018 Academy Awards, Kobe Bryant has been denied the chance to become a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, according to Variety's Kristopher Tapley.

While the Short Films and Feature Animation branch of the Academy reportedly supported Bryant's admittance, the Los Angeles Lakers' future Hall of Famer was ultimately deemed to have an insufficient body of work in film to warrant the prestigious invitation at this time, and his candidacy was overruled by the Academy's governors committee.

Bryant's bona fides on the hardwood are unquestionable, but his background in film remains nascent. Other than "Dear Basketball," Bryant's only other production credits are the 2015 documentary "Kobe Bryant's Muse" and 10 episodes of his basketball analysis television show "Detail," for which he is also credited as a writer.

It appears Bryant will have to further establish his place in the film industry to garner future consideration.