Did Kobe Bryant Slamdunk Spike Lee With Final Cut On His Basketball Doc?

Yesterday we posted the trailer for Spike Lee’s basketball documentary about basketball giant Kobe Bryant called, “Kobe Doin’ Work,” and found some quotes where the filmmaker said he was happy that he was given unprecedented access to the superstar athlete and that the L.A. Lakers organization thankfully did not try and interfere.

But apparently someone closer to home battled with Spike Lee: Bryant himself.

According to the New York Post (take it with a grain of salt if you like), Bryant demanded he have creative control over the project. Lee had worked for months negotiating with Lakers coach Phil Jackson, the NBA and ESPN (for which the doc was shot) to get what he wanted and then at the last minute, Bryant allegedly wouldn’t cooperate until he had creative control (is the Post trying to say, had final cut?).

“It went so far that Lee had a last-minute plan to substitute Spurs star Tim Duncan for Kobe and make the whole documentary about Duncan,” said one source. But apparently they worked it out…. Sort of. The usually combative Lee had to essentially relent according to another insider.

“Spike Lee completely yielded. And at the start of the film, when Kobe arrives at the Staples Center and sees Spike with the camera, he gives him a big smile and thumbs up, showing he knows he won the battle.”

A Spokesperson for Lee called the story “totally baseless.” Could be totally false, but Lee is not one to really shut his mouth. Let’s keep our ears out for any following updates as if it is indeed true, Lee would easily just come out and give all the details.

In more constructive news, “Kobe Doin’ Work” airs on ESPN on May 16.