Grant Williams downplays laborious foul on Tatum: ‘We have seen approach worse’ initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Boston
A number of Boston Celtics gamers thought Grant Williams was out of line when the Charlotte Hornets ahead barreled into Jayson Tatum late within the fourth quarter Friday night time.
Williams sees issues a bit in a different way, nevertheless.
In an interview with NBC Sports activities Boston’s Kayla Burton after Boston’s 124-109 win over Charlotte, Williams claimed his actions weren’t intentional when he collided with Tatum at midcourt with two minutes remaining in a play that resulted in a Flagrant 2 foul and an ejection for Williams.
“I feel it is extra so he did not see me greater than the rest,” Williams mentioned. “Like, I am reaching and I positively make contact along with his physique earlier than I attain; most likely a tough foul, positively not intentional, not attempting to harm him by any means. Everyone knows he is certainly one of my closest buddies within the league, and as you see he obtained up and simply walked away.”
Celtics ahead Jaylen Brown instantly took situation with Williams’ foul and confronted the Hornets ahead with some alternative phrases. Williams, who spent his first 4 NBA seasons in Boston and says he nonetheless has shut buddies on the crew, understood Brown’s ire however nonetheless downplayed the foul.
“JB form of escalated it, however I perceive he is attempting to guard his teammate,” Williams instructed Burton. “However that is my canine it doesn’t matter what.”
“I perceive the way it was perhaps like a blind facet (hit), and he was extra stunned than the rest, however prefer it wasn’t like I took him out or took his leg out or did the rest,” he added. “Like, we have seen approach worse within the league. I feel that on the finish of the day, everyone knows that is my canine, so no malice or any situation of that regard.”
Whether or not Williams will face self-discipline for his foul on Tatum stays to be seen, however there was one instant consequence of his actions: His plans to host a number of Celtics gamers for dinner after the sport seemingly had been canceled.
“I would assume most of these guys is not going to be coming over for dinner tonight, however I will discuss to them once more tomorrow,” Williams instructed Burton. “I had wings and stuff ready, so it is form of humorous that it is like, nicely, the sport ended that approach. However I will see them tomorrow and we’ll compete once more.”
The Celtics and Hornets play one another once more Saturday night time at Spectrum Heart, and we would not be stunned if C’s gamers are a bit much less pleasant towards their former teammate this time round. Tip-off is about for six p.m. ET on NBC Sports activities Boston.
