Grant Williams and Jayson Tatum had been teammates for 4 seasons with the Boston Celtics from 2019-23. Earlier than the Celtics confronted Williams’ present workforce, the Charlotte Hornets, the six-year veteran mentioned it was “particular» to see his former teammates win the NBA championship final season.
“Truthfully, I didn’t actually really feel depressed as a result of I left Boston,” Williams mentioned. by way of Noa Dalzell of CLNS Media. “I wasn’t a type of guys that, if I had been traded there, like if there was rigidity, it will have been totally different.”
Some would possibly query that “unhealthy blood” comment after Williams introduced Tatum with a success extra applicable for an NFL recreation than an NBA recreation close to the tip of Boston’s 124-109 win over Charlotte Friday. With 2:02 left, Tatum grabbed a rebound and introduced the ball up the courtroom. Williams ran at him in half courtroom and uncovered him with a shoulder verify.
Williams was cautioned for a Flagrant 2 foul and was ejected from the match.
“Grant Williams accelerates, makes vital impression on the dribbler,” referee James Williams mentioned, turning the foul into Flagrant 2. “Unbasketball play, potential for harm.”
Watching the play, it is laborious to argue that Williams was making an attempt to get the ball. Perhaps he was making an attempt to pressure a turnover with the rating at 114-105. However he simply fell on Tatum, main him along with his shoulder. Because the referee mentioned, “a recreation with out basketball.”
Tatum walked away with out confronting Williams, maybe simply wanting the match to finish. Perhaps he is aware of how his former teammate performs generally. However Tatum’s present teammates, together with Jaylen Brown, appeared to really feel otherwise, yelling at Williams as he left the courtroom.
After the match, Brown ripped Williams, claiming the collision was intentional.
“Actions converse loudly. It’s like that, we gained, however there’s no room for that within the recreation,” Brown mentioned. by way of Boston Herald. “I assumed JT and Grant had been mates. I suppose not.”
“What are we speaking about?” Are you all seeing the identical play as me?” he added. “He hit it prefer it was a soccer play, like Ray Lewis crossing the center or one thing. That is how it’s. Grant is aware of higher than that. »
Talking to NBC Sports activities Boston, Williams claimed he wasn’t making an attempt to harm Tatum.
“I believe it was extra about him not seeing me greater than the rest,” Williams mentioned. “Like, I am reaching, and I positively made contact with the physique earlier than I reached.
“Most likely a gross foul; positively not intentional. I am not making an attempt to harm him in any method. Everyone knows he is certainly one of my closest mates within the league.”
Tatum led the Celtics with 32 factors and 11 rebounds, making 11 of 13 free throws. Williams had six factors, seven rebounds and 5 private fouls earlier than being ejected. LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 31 factors.
If anybody harbors laborious emotions due to Williams’ egregious foul, that would grow to be evident rapidly. The Celtics and Hornets play once more Saturday for the rematch of a back-to-back.
