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The Hornets' Grant Williams left after attacking former teammate Jayson Tatum in the Celtics' 124-109 win

Grant Williams and Jayson Tatum were teammates with the Boston Celtics for four seasons from 2019 to 2023. Before the Celtics played Williams' current team, the Charlotte Hornets, the six-year veteran said it was “special” to see his former teammates win the NBA championship last season.

“Honestly, I didn’t really feel down about leaving Boston,” Williams said, via Noa Dalzell of CLNS Media. “I wasn't one of those people who, if I had been traded out there, something bad would have happened.” Blood, it had been different.

Some might question that “bad blood” remark after Williams rewarded Tatum with a hit near the end of Boston's 124-109 win over Charlotte on Friday that was more befitting an NFL game than an NBA match. With 2:02 minutes left in the game, Tatum grabbed a rebound and brought the ball up the court. Williams ran up to him in halfcourt and put him down with a shoulder check.

Williams was cautioned for a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the game.

“Grant Williams accelerates and has a significant impact on the dribbler,” referee James Williams explained as he upgraded the foul to Flagrant 2. “A non-basketball game, risk of injury.”

Watching the play, it's hard to argue that Williams was trying to get the ball. Maybe he was trying to force a turnover with the score at 114-105. But he just ran into Tatum and led with his shoulder. As the referee stated, “a non-basketball game.”

Tatum walked away without confronting Williams, perhaps just wanting the game to end. Maybe he knows how his former teammate plays sometimes. But Tatum's current teammates, particularly Jaylen Brown, seemed to feel differently and yelled at Williams as he left the court.

After the game, Brown criticized Williams, saying the collision was intentional.

“Actions speak loudly. It is what it is, we got the win, but there’s no room for that in the game,” Brown said, via the Boston Herald. “I thought JT and Grant were friends. I don't think so.”

“What are we talking about? Are you all seeing the same game I saw? It is what it is. Grant knows better.”

Speaking to NBC Sports Boston, Williams claimed he wasn't trying to hurt Tatum.

“I think it was mostly because he didn’t see me more,” Williams said. “I reach forward and I definitely made contact with the body before I reached it.

“Probably a hard foul, definitely not intentional. I'm definitely not trying to hurt him. We all know that’s one of my closest friends in the league.”

Tatum led the Celtics with 32 points and 11 rebounds, making 11 of 13 free throws. Williams had six points, seven rebounds and five personal fouls before being sent off. LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 31 points.

If anyone is upset about Williams' apparent foul, that could quickly become clear. The Celtics and Hornets play again in the return game of back-to-back games on Saturday.

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