Former Celtic ejected for hitting Jayson Tatum in open court ‘like Ray Lewis’

There is seemingly nary emotion mislaid betwixt Jayson Tatum and 1 of his erstwhile teammates.

Grant Williams played alongside Tatum with the Boston Celtics from 2019 to 2023. The Celtics won the rubric successful their archetypal twelvemonth without Williams.

Well, the Celtics visited Williams' caller squad successful the Charlotte Hornets connected Friday night, and Williams showed nary mercy.

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Grant Williams #2 of the Charlotte Hornets fouls Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics successful the 4th fourth during their crippled astatine Spectrum Center connected November 01, 2024 successful Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

Late successful the game, Tatum was dribbling up tribunal erstwhile helium was deed connected the broadside by Williams. Both players fell to the court, followed by a little skirmish betwixt some teams.

Williams was assessed a flagrant 2, arsenic referees deemed the deed a "non-basketball play," and Jaylen Brown agreed.

"He deed him similar it was a shot play," helium told reporters aft the game, saying the deed was "intentional." 

"Like Ray Lewis coming crossed the middle. It is what it is. Grant cognize amended than that."

"Actions talk large truthful it is what it is," Brown continued. "We got the win, we determination on, but there’s nary spot successful the crippled for that. I thought JT and Grant was friends. I conjecture not."

Boston Celtics defender Jrue Holiday (4) helps guardant Jayson Tatum (0) onto his feet aft a foul precocious during the 2nd fractional against the Charlotte Hornets astatine the Spectrum Center.  (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

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Tatum did accidental that Williams is "one of my closest friends successful the league," portion Williams said the deed was not intentional, but admitted fault.

"I deliberation it was much truthful helium didn’t spot me, much than thing else," Williams said. "Like, I’m reaching, and I decidedly made interaction with the assemblage earlier I reached."

Grant Williams, #2 of the Charlotte Hornets, guards Jayson Tatum, #0 of the Boston Celtics, successful the archetypal 4th during their crippled astatine Spectrum Center connected November 1, 2024, successful Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

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The Celtics won the game, 124-109, and it won't instrumentality agelong to spot whether determination is inactive atrocious blood. Both teams are backmost successful enactment successful Charlotte astatine 6 p.m. connected Saturday night.

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