Matt Barnes Says Kobe Bryant Is 'Breaking Down Barriers' After Oscar Win

Former NBA swingman Matt Barnes had nothing but praise for Kobe Bryant after the Black Mamba took home the Oscar for best animated short Sunday at the 90th Academy Awards.       

"I think it's dope," Barnes told TMZ Sports of Bryant's win for Dear Basketball. "He's breaking down barriers, still being great. So he's definitely paving the road for the rest of us."      

Barnes, who retired from the Association in December, is set to make his own foray into film as he prepares to produce a biopic about Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton. 

"We're assembling the cast, talking to a few directors right now," he said. "We've got the funding, the script, so we're definitely coming with that pretty soon."