There's clearly no love lost between Jayson Tatum and one of his former teammates.
Grant Williams played with Tatum on the Boston Celtics from 2019 to 2023. The Celtics won the title in the first year without Williams.
Now, the Celtics visited Williams' new team, the Charlotte Hornets, on Friday night, and Williams showed no mercy.
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Charlotte Hornets No. 2 Grant Williams fouls Boston Celtics No. 0 Jayson Tatum in the fourth quarter during a game at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina on November 1, 2024. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Late in the game, Tatum was dribbling up the court when Williams hit him in the side. Both players fell to the court and a brief skirmish ensued between the two teams.
Williams was given a bad 2 because the umpires deemed the hit a “non-basketball play,” and Jaylen Brown agreed.
“He hit it like it was a football play,” he told reporters after the game, calling the hit “on purpose.”
“It's like Ray Lewis crossing the middle. That's what it is. Grant knows better than that.”
“Actions speak louder, so that's the reality,” Brown continued. “We got the win so we move on, but there's no room for that in the game. I thought JT and Grant were friends, but it looks like they're not.”
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) helps forward Jayson Tatum (0) to his feet after being fouled late in the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. (Jim Dedmon-Imagine Images)
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Tatum described Williams as “one of my closest friends in the league,” but Williams said the hit was unintentional but acknowledged negligence.
“I think more than anything he just didn't see me,” Williams said. “It’s like, it’s reaching, but it definitely made contact with the body before it reached.”
#2 Grant Williams of the Charlotte Hornets guards #0 Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter during a game at Spectrum Center on November 1, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
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The Celtics won the game 124-109, but it won't be long before we see if there's still some bad blood left. The teams will resume play in Charlotte on Saturday night at 6 p.m.
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