Jaylen Brown was visibly upset when former Celtics teammate Grant Williams committed a hard foul on Jayson Tatum in Boston’s recent victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Reflecting on the play, Brown didn’t hold back, stating:
“I don’t know what that was about. I think that spoke for itself. I don’t know if Grant missed JT or I don’t know what that was. But it wasn’t a basketball play. Grant no better than that.”
“Actions speak loud. So it is what it is. We got the win. We move on. But there’s no place in the game for that. I thought JT and Grant was friends. I guess not.”
“I mean, everybody saw the same thing, right? Non-basketball play.”
The incident caught fans and players by surprise, as Williams and Tatum had previously shared a close bond during their time together in Boston, frequently seen sharing laughs and even connecting off the court.
The incident occurred in the fourth quarter as the Celtics were securing a 124-109 win. With just over two minutes left, Tatum attempted to push the pace on a fast break, only to be met with a shove from Williams at half-court. The contact was deemed excessive, leading to a flagrant foul 2 and Williams’ ejection. Jaylen Brown, known for his loyalty to his teammates, had a strong reaction to the foul, confronting Williams on the court and later calling out the act in his post-game comments.
The aggressive foul has added a layer of tension to a matchup that usually lacks such animosity. For years, Williams was a critical role player for the Celtics, someone who worked hard and often brought a jovial presence to the team dynamic. However, his departure to the Hornets in free agency last season seems to have shifted the tone. Williams later claimed there was “no malicious intent,” explaining that he simply got caught up in the moment while attempting to make a defensive play.
However, his words didn’t appear to sway Brown, who, along with his Celtics teammates, seemed to view the foul as unnecessary and unsportsmanlike. The encounter also speaks to the heightened physicality and frustration the Hornets experienced in the game. Charlotte had fought back from a significant deficit, closing the gap to just one point in the fourth quarter.
But a series of missed opportunities, including a key free throw from LaMelo Ball, seemed to increase the Hornets’ frustration. Shortly after Williams’ ejection, LaMelo Ball himself received a flagrant-1 foul for a reckless closeout on Tatum, and Miles Bridges was also ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct in the closing moments of the game.
On the court, Tatum didn’t let the incident impact his performance. The All-Star forward finished with a game-high 32 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Celtics to a 124-109 victory. Jaylen Brown added 25 points, solidifying Boston’s 5-1 start to the season. While Tatum didn’t speak to the media after the game, his resilience in bouncing back from the hard foul underscored the Celtics’ focus on the bigger picture: winning games.
This incident might be an isolated moment of frustration from Williams, but it adds an unexpected chapter to the history between these former teammates. Brown’s post-game remarks make it clear that he and the Celtics are disappointed in Williams’ actions. As the Celtics continue their strong start to the season, it remains to be seen how Williams and Tatum will interact the next time they face each other, and whether this event will leave a lasting impact on their friendship.
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