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New Hornets forward pays off layaway bills at Charlotte Walmarts

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In his first month in Charlotte after joining the Hornets as a free agent, forward Gordon Hayward is already giving back to area families.

Hayward paid off layaway gifts for 221 shoppers at the Walmart stores on East Independence Boulevard, North Tryon and Wilkinson Boulevard.

“Having this happen was one of my highlights of the year,” Rashad Smalls told Channel 9′s DaShawn Brown.

>> Watch the video at the top of this page to hear from Hayward and more from Smalls on how much the gesture means to families such as his.