Retired professional basketball player Kobe Bryant said he was glad basketball players do more than "shut up and dribble" while speaking at Sunday's Oscars ceremony.

Bryant and animator Glen Keane were accepting the award for Best Animated Short Film for their movie "Dear Basketball."

"To Kobe, for writing 'Dear Basketball,' " Keane said while accepting the award. "It's a message for all of us, whatever form your dream may take, it's through passion and perseverance that the impossible is possible."

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"I don't know if it's possible. I mean as basketball players we're really supposed to shut up and dribble, but I'm glad we do a little bit more than that," Bryant said.

The former Lakers star appeared to be referring to conservative commentator Laura Ingraham's remarks last month. She was addressing LeBron James and Kevin Durant after they criticized President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE in an online video, saying the president doesn't “give a f--- about the people.”

“Millions elected Trump to be their coach,” Ingraham said. “So keep the political commentary to yourself, or, as someone once said, 'shut up and dribble.' "

Durant fired back at Ingraham, calling the remarks "racist."

"Ignorance is something I try to ignore. That was definitely an ignorant comment,” he said. “I do play basketball, but I am a civilian and I am a citizen of the United States, so my voice is just as loud as hers, I think — or even louder."

James echoed Durant's sentiment, tweeting the hashtag "we will not shut up and dribble."