Gordon Hayward opens up on Twitter about playing in Kobe Bryant's final game

Micah Adams

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Gordon Hayward opens up on Twitter about playing in Kobe Bryant's final game image

Count Gordon Hayward among the scores of current and former players mourning the loss of Kobe Bryant.

Like so many others, Hayward's career has been profoundly touched and influenced by Bryant both on and off the floor.

Hayward was a member of the Utah Jazz team that played against Bryant in his memorable final game when he scored 60 points. And Hayward was on the floor when Bryant hit the free throw for the final one of his 33,643 points.

There was a story circulating on Monday about that very free throw. Broadcaster Mike Tirico, who called that game for ESPN and now works for NBC, appeared on The Ryen Russillo Podcast and shared an anecdote about Hayward committing a lane violation on that free throw in the event that Bryant missed in order to give him another crack at 60.

Kobe Bryant scores his 60th point in his final NBA game.

Hayward published a series of heart-felt tweets on Monday which included a clarification of that anecdote, offering up that he did not intentionally step into that lane and that each and every one of Bryant's 60 points came without any preferential treatment.

For his part, Tirico himself later responded via Twitter: "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 had to believe."

Now in his 10th season, Hayward is playing his best basketball since the 2016-17 season when he made his first and only All-Star team as a member of the Jazz. It's been a long road back for Hayward, who suffered a gruesome leg injury just five minutes into his debut with the Boston Celtics to open the 2017-18 season.

Who was among the first to reach out to Hayward?

Kobe Bryant.

The Lakers' superstar penned a lengthy instagram post to Hayward with words of encouragement and inspiration. It was one of countless instances of Bryant embracing his role as an idol among the current generation in his post-playing career.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Be sad. Be mad. Be frustrated. Scream. Cry. Sulk. When you wake up you will think it was just a nightmare only to realize it’s all too real. You will be angry and wish for the day back, the game back THAT play back. But reality gives nothing back and nor should you. Time to move on and focus on doing everything in your power to prepare for surgery, ask all the questions to be sure you understand fully the procedure so that you may visualize it in your subconscious while being operated on and better the chance of it’s success. Then focus on the recovery process day by day by day. It’s a long journey but if you focus on the mini milestones along the way you will find beauty in the struggle of doing simple things that prior to this injury were taken for granted. This will also mean that when you return you will have a new perspective. You will be so appreciative of being able to stand, walk, run that you will train harder than you ever have. You see the belief within you grow with each mini milestone and you will come back a better player for it. Best of luck to you on this journey my brother #mambamentality always.

A post shared by Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) on

Including that final game, Bryant and Hayward played against each other 14 times.

The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.

Micah Adams

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Micah Adams is a Managing Editor and Head of Affiliate and Commercial Content at Sporting News. Prior to joining SN in 2021, Adams spent over a decade producing and leading content teams at ESPN, DAZN and The Social Institute. Adams graduated from Duke University in 2009 and remains a Cameron Crazie at heart well into his 30s. When not losing sleep or hair over the Blue Devils, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bulls, and USMNT, Adams enjoys chasing his two small children around along with his wife, losing golf balls, spending time outdoors and binging terrible movies.