Gordon Hayward says he would not let Kobe Bryant get any free points against him — even during the final seconds of the last game of Bryant’s career.
On Monday, the day after Bryant died in a helicopter crash, sports announcer Mike Tirico shared a story of how Hayward intentionally committed a lane violation so that Bryant could notch 60 points in the last game of his 20-season NBA career.
With 14.8 seconds remaining, Bryant made the first of his two free throws to reach 59. To ensure Bryant would get 60, Tirico said Hayward intentionally stepped into the paint early on the second free throw.