Kobe Bryant denied invite to join AMPAS

Basketball champion and winner of this year's Best Animated Short Oscar Kobe Bryant has not been featured in the list of new members invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

The five-time NBA champion, who wrote, executive produced and lent his voice to "Dear Basketball" directed by animator Glen Keane, was recommended for membership by the executive committee of the Academy's short films and feature animation branch, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

But his name was removed after the list was reviewed by a second committee, which will present the list of potential new members to the full board of governors, which meets on June 23.

It is believed the committee had reservations about Bryant's nomenclature that he does not yet possess a substantial enough body of work to merit an invitation; "Dear Basketball" being his first filmmaking venture.

This is not a one-of-a-kind instance. One of last year's two winners in the same category, Piper's Marc Sondheimer, was also not invited after the ceremony at which he won.