In a surprising turn during the Boston Celtics‘ recent matchup against the Charlotte Hornets, Jaylen Brown didn’t hold back after teammate Jayson Tatum took a rough shoulder check from former Celtic, Grant Williams. With two minutes left on the clock and Boston up 114-105, Tatum secured a defensive rebound and advanced up the court when Williams charged in, slamming him with what many described as a blatant, non-basketball move.
The impact drew immediate criticism from Brown, who compared the hit to a “football play” and went so far as to liken it to an aggressive “Ray Lewis” tackle, calling out the intentional nature of the foul. “It was for sure intentional; what are we talking about here?” Brown asserted during the postgame press conference. “Grant hit him like it was a football play… It is what it is.”
Tatum propulsa a los Celtics a otra racha formidable: nueve seguidos sin perder
Williams’ explanation draws skepticism from former teammates
Williams, who played four seasons alongside Tatum in Boston, was quick to defend his actions post-game, maintaining that the contact was accidental. “It was definitely not intentional. JT’s one of my closest friends in the league,” he told NBC Sports, adding, “I think it was more a case of him not seeing me as I was reaching for the ball.”
The foul was deemed a Flagrant 2, resulting in an automatic ejection for Williams, who finished his night with six points, seven rebounds, and five personal fouls. Despite Williams‘ insistence on his innocence, the play itself struck a nerve for Brown, who hinted that the incident may have unearthed some unresolved issues. “I thought JT and Grant were friends. I guess not,” Brown said pointedly, underscoring the friction left after Williams‘ departure from the team.
Williams joined the Hornets this season after his four-year stint with the Celtics, and although he’s spoken highly of his time in Boston, the hit on Tatum brought to light the competitive edge that can sometimes strain former friendships.
Moving forward with bad blood?
The Celtics ultimately came away with a 124-109 victory, with Tatum delivering a standout performance of 32 points and 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, the clash with Williams has only deepened the rivalry, adding an extra layer of drama to future Celtics-Hornets matchups. Fans are already speculating if the fallout will simmer down or escalate further, given Brown’s vocal reaction and Williams‘ dismissive defense.
As both teams advance in the season, all eyes will be on how this tension between former teammates impacts their next encounter on the court.
