Former Celtic sent off for punching Jayson Tatum in open court ‘like Ray Lewis’

Clearly there is no love lost between them Jayson Tatum and one of his former teammates.

Grant Williams played alongside Tatum in Boston Celtics from 2019 to 2023. The Celtics won the title in their first year without Williams.

Well, the Celtics visited Williams’ new team in the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, and Williams showed no mercy.

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Grant Williams #2 of the Charlotte Hornets fouls Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics in the fourth quarter during a game at the Spectrum Center on November 1, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

Late in the game, Tatum was dribbling down the court when he was hit in the side by Williams. Both players fell to the pitch and a short skirmish broke out between the two teams.

Williams was given a flagrant 2 because the officials deemed the hit a “non-basketball play,” and Jaylen Brown agreed.

“He hit him like it was a football game,” he told reporters after the game, claiming the hit was “intentional.”

“Like Ray Lewis going up the middle. That’s how it is. Grant knows better.”

“Actions speak volumes, so it is what it is,” Brown continued. “We won, we move on, but there is no place for that in the game. I thought JT and Grant were friends. I don’t think so”.

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) helps forward Jayson Tatum (0) get back to his feet after being fouled late in the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center. (Photos by Jim Dedmon-Imagn)

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Tatum said Williams is “one of my closest friends in the league,” while Williams said the hit was not intentional but pleaded guilty.

“I think it was more about him not seeing me than anything else.” Williams said. “For example, I reach and I definitely made contact with my body before I reached.”

Grant Williams, No. 2 of the Charlotte Hornets, guards Jayson Tatum, No. 0 of the Boston Celtics, during the first quarter during a game at the Spectrum Center on November 1, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

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The Celtics won 124-109 and it didn’t take long to find out if there was still bad blood on the team. Both teams return to action in Charlotte on Saturday at 6 p.m.

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