Warriors' Draymond Green dissects Jayson Tatum and Grant Williams' late game scuffle
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green expressed his discernment of what transpired between former teammates Grant Williams and Jayson Tatum’s late-game scuffle in the Boston Celtics’ 124-109 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.
In a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, the four-time NBA champion dissected what he felt were the true intentions of Williams’ hit on Tatum in the fourth quarter, which was eventually called a flagrant foul, penalty 2 on the Hornets forward, ejecting him from the game.
“Grant Williams saying it’s not intentional fouling JT like that is mad wild. And he smiling about it,” Green posted.
Green, who faced both Tatum and former Celtic forward Williams in the 2022 NBA Finals, followed it up with comments on Williams’ game awareness.
“Thinking a blindside hit “on ya mans” is a smile worthy offense means 1 of 2 things… you have zero awareness or you a goofy…. And both make you a goofy… goofy,” he said.
He followed it up with what he thought was Williams’ motive in the late-game hit.
“He mad at JT about something lol… 💍😮 he was suppose to keep him in Boston lol. JT got a ring and dude let his frustrations out about it,” Green said.
Tatum was leading a fastbreak when Williams blindsided him, running the Celtics star over. The referee then blew his whistle and ordered a review of the play.
Tatum rose back up and went straight to the bench as the referees reviewed the play. The two were not seen interacting with each other following the sequence.
The Celtics traded Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2023 offseason. After a quick stint with the Mavericks, Williams was again shipped to the Hornets in a midseason trade, which brought PJ Washington to Dallas.
The Celtics and the Mavericks fought for the NBA championship in last season’s finals.
Celtics’ Jaylen Brown expresses disbelief in Grant Williams' flagrant foul on Jayson Tatum
Jayson Brown came to the aid of superstar teammate Jayson Tatum as he expressed his disbelief in Grant Williams’ late-game hard foul. Brown expressed his disappointment in his former teammate, calling him out for what he described as “football play.”
"He hit him like it was a football play. Like, Ray Lewis coming across the middle or something. It is what it is. Grant know better than that," Brown said.
Brown was also confused about why Williams hit Tatum hard in the play as both are friends, stemming from their time together in Boston.
"I thought JT and Grant was friends. I guess not," Brown added.
The Celtics and the Hornets will not have to wait long for their next meeting, as both teams meet again tomorrow night at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.