Kobe Bryant tributes pour in from 2020 Oscars as stars remember basketball legend

Spike Lee [Image: Getty Images]

The stars of Hollywood have honoured the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant at tonight's Academy Awards ceremony.

The National Basketball Association player, 41, died in a tragic helicopter crash with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna last month and the world has mourned them both ever since.

Tonight director Spike Lee wore a fashion tribute to Kobe, who won at the Oscars in 2018 for Dear Basketball, an animated short based on the letter he wrote after news broke of his retirement from basketball in 2015.

Kobe's number 24 was embroidered on the front of Spike's purple jacket in a touching tribute to the late star's Los Angeles Lakers' number.

Matthew A. Cherry [Image: AFP via Getty Images]

Meanwhile, the winners of Best Animated Short Film, producers Matthew A. Cherry and Karen Rupert Toliver dedicated their win for film Hair Love to the late Kobe.

"We have a firm belief that representation matters deeply," said Rupert Toliver in the speech.

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Cherry spoke about how the film was made to "see more representation in animation and to normalize black hair."

He ended the speech by dedicating the award to Kobe Bryant.

Spike Lee [Image: REUTERS]

Kobe will also likely be included in the In Memoriam segment of the show which sees the Academy remember the stars and talents of the Film industry that we have lost over the last year.

Grammy Awards winner Billie Eilish will perform a track over the tribute montage which is sure to bring a few tears to the audience present.

READ ALSO: Harrowing 911 calls audio from Kobe Bryant helicopter crash released

The ceremony has just only confirmed even more that the legendary life of Kobe Bryant may be over but it's certainly not forgotten.