Gordon Hayward says he was a goal on the defensive finish of the court docket due to his pores and skin color.
Hayward appeared removed from upset when discussing the matter this week, as a substitute having fun about it on The Dan Le Batard Present with Stugotz.
“For no matter motive, whenever you see the white man guarding you, it’s like, ‘Let’s iso him and go at him,’” Hayward stated. “And so that you gotta hope that you just get to cease that the primary time, or else they’re simply going to maintain going at you each single time. And I positively wasn’t the worst defender on the workforce, however for no matter motive, you verify within the recreation and [they say] ‘We’re going at him. We’re going proper at him.’
“After we performed the Lakers one of many years and so they had Ron Artest… he seems at me after which seems again at Kobe and he’s like ‘Hey Kob, simply throw me the ball within the submit man. Look who’s guarding me. I’ve obtained Bieber guarding me.’” @gordonhayward tells an unbelievable story… pic.twitter.com/pH05TFlUje
— Dan Le Batard Present with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) August 7, 2024
“I’m telling you, there’s just a few type of stereotype. It’s like individuals’s eyes mild up. I bear in mind, and this most likely didn’t essentially should do with the truth that I used to be white, however possibly it was like my face and hair and every little thing. However once we performed the Lakers, I feel it was pre-season one of many years, and so they had Ron Artest. I checked within the recreation and he seems at me after which seems again at Kobe and appears at me and he’s like, “Hey, Kobe.” He’s like pointing at me like, “Simply throw me the ball within the submit, man. Look who’s guarding me. I obtained Bieber gardening me.” And certain sufficient, you understand he simply posted me up and Ron Artest was actually good, I had no likelihood. I imply, what are you able to do? At that time, what am I going to do? What am I going to say to Ron Artest?”
To be honest to Hayward, he was an above-average defender in his prime, even when he wasn’t elite.
The previous Jazz and Celtics star is now retired after enjoying his remaining season in 2023-24 with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
READ MORE: Kobe Bryant’s Epic Message to Gordon Hayward Revealed
