“He doesn’t my bad I’m late…” Kobe Bryant LAUNCHED his car keys to bleachers after arriving late to practice with Gordon Hayward

Gordon Hayward revealed an interesting story about him training with Kobe Bryant.

“He doesn’t my bad I’m late…” Kobe Bryant LAUNCHED his car keys to bleachers after arriving late to practice with Gordon Hayward

Gordon Hayward and Kobe Bryant (Credits: Sports Illustrated and ISPO.com)

There is an impressive legacy that the late great Kobe Bryant left behind that will endure forever. Gordon Hayward, who was good friends with the Black Mamba, recently told another interesting story about the late legend. Gordon Hayward, a veteran winger for the Charlotte Hornets, attributes his resilient mentality to working out with Kobe Bryant.

Hayward effectively claimed that he became a star because he got to work out with the late superstar. In the most recent episode of Podcast P, he told Paul George the story. According to him, Kobe asked that they meet at the gym at seven in the morning. Since Hayward was well aware of the Mamba’s strict time constraints, he arrived at the gym early. However, Kobe arrived late, and perhaps, as Hayward suggested, the Lakers icon was simply trying to gauge his mentality.

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After arriving at the gym, Hayward noticed that Kobe was not there, despite it already being past 7. He immediately texted Kobe and told him where he was. Gordon Hayward said via Podcast P,

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He is like you are there. Texted back immediately. I'll be there in 5 minutes. After Kobe entered the gym Gordon had a scene in front of him. He said, "He walks in, and throws his keys off to the bleachers. He Doesn't say anything like My bad or I am late.

Gordon recalls that Kobe asked him for the ball and they began practicing for nearly two hours without saying anything about him being late. Kobe proceeded to ask him to arrive the following day at 5:45. Unlike their first session, Kobe arrived earlier than Gordon the next day, a routine that went on every day, since the incident.

Kobe Bryant’s final game against Gordon Hayward was controversial

The Utah Jazz and Gordon Hayward were in the front row for the late Kobe Bryant’s memorable NBA farewell game. Even after the last whistle had blown, “The Black Mamba” had the entire NBA world in a frenzy. In his last game, he defeated the Utah Jazz with a game-high 60 points, capping off an incredible career. That became controversial, though, when Gordon entered the lane.

Gordon Hayward and Kobe Bryant
Gordon Hayward and Kobe Bryant (Credits: ELLE and The Denver Post)

With 14.8 seconds remaining in the game, Paul Millsap fouled Bryant, allowing him to reach 58 points. With his first free throw made, the shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers was on the verge of a spectacular 60-point performance. Hayward entered the lane early before his second free throw, which would have awarded Kobe an additional free throw. The legendary LA Lakers player made another free throw to reach 60 points, but no foul was called.

Years later, the Boston Celtics’ Gordon Hayward disproved the myth with a series of tweets he posted. People earlier believed that he deliberately fouled Kobe to help him finish with a 60-point performance. Even so, he stated through X that it was not his intention and that treating Kobe in this way would simply be disrespectful.

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