Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward disputes that he tried to commit a free throw lane violation to ensure that Kobe Bryant would score 60 points in the final game of his career.
Hayward took to Twitter on Monday after NBC commentator Mike Tirico, who called Bryant’s final game for ESPN, pointed out the movement during an appearance on The Ringer’s “Ryen Russillo Podcast.”
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Hayward, who was playing for the Utah Jazz at the time, could be seen stepping into the lane as Bryant took his second free throw attempt with 14.8 seconds left in the game.
If the violation had been called and Bryant, who had 59 points at the time had missed, he would have been given another chance to hit the free throw.
Flip the Page to see Hayward’s denial:
