Gordon Hayward addresses story that he let Kobe Bryant get to 60 points in his final game
By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Kobe Bryant stories continue to waterfall in as we approach 48 hours since the tragic death of the NBA icon. Circulating Tuesday is a story from Bryant’s final game involving the Celtics’ Gordon Hayward, who was then on the Jazz.
Commentator Mike Tirico remarked in an There’s a moment from Kobe’s final game that few people saw and nobody really remembers … but @miketirico won’t ever forget it. pic.twitter.com/prJGObG58y
Hayward has weighed in about the tale on Twitter, and says it’s a tall tale. He denied intentionally committing the lane violation to help Bryant get to 60 points, instead arguing that he competed the whole way through the game just like the famously competitive Bryant would have wanted. Here’s the start of Hayward’s thread, but The past day has been incredibly heartbreaking for me. Kobe is someone that I looked up to and admired and developed a personal relationship with. I have struggled so much with trying to understand the devastating news and like many others I’m still trying to process it.
It has also come to my attention that there is a story going around tonight about an intentional lane violation that I took to ensure Kobe would get his 60th point in his final game and many are applauding me for the gesture. The fact of the matter is that is not true.
— Gordon Hayward (@gordonhayward) January 28, 2020
Good on Hayward to set the record straight and put the right spin on the thing. Think Kobe would’ve been thrilled if Hayward just let him score? Not something he would’ve ever done himself.
Also good on Tirico to acknowledge Hayward’s clarification of the story he told in that interview. Hayward’s version definitely sounds more consistent with what you’d expect from Bryant and competing against him.
Please check out this thread from @gordonhayward, so glad he clarified what I had always assumed was intentional that night. Our paths have never crossed since that night. Thank you @espn for reairing Kobe’s final game. Still all so hard to believe. https://t.co/iWRzjIaTPl
— MikeTirico (@miketirico) January 28, 2020
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
