Orange County Register

EL SEGUNDO — Kobe Bryant has a competition going with Pau Gasol over who can make more left-handed shots.

But just as Celtics-hating Lakers owner Jerry Buss would want, Bryant’s rivals for over-the-backboard shots include two Celtics: Rajon Rondo and Larry Bird. (Many others such as Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson have hit similar shots that didn’t count or were after play was dead.) Memphis’ Rudy Gay hit one last season that was counted.

Bryant described his shot as “like a putt” in the way he had to read the angle.

“Seemed like an obvious (foul) call to me: A guy just hip-checks you out of bounds,” Bryant said of the play on which he didn’t draw a whistle against Thunder rookie James Harden.

About Bird’s long-ago shot, Bryant accurately pointed out: “His didn’t count, though.”

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