Former Celtic kicked out for hitting Jayson Tatum in public ‘like Ray Lewis’

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

Grant Williams starred alongside Tatum with 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 their game at Spectrum Center on November 01, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

Late in the game, Tatum was dribbling down the court when he was hit on the side by Williams. Both players fell to the field, followed by a brief scuffle between both teams.

Williams was assessed a flagrant 2 because the refs deemed the shot a “non-basketball play” and Jaylen Brown agreed.

“I hit him like it was a football,” he told reporters after the game, saying the hit was “on purpose.”

“Like Ray Lewis coming across the middle. It is what it is. Grant knows better than that.”

“Actions speak volumes, so it is what it is,” Brown continued. “We won, we’re moving on, but there’s no place in the game for that. I thought JT and Grant were friends. I guess not.”

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) helps forward Jayson Tatum (0) to his feet after a late foul during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. (Images Jim Dedmon-Images)

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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 admitted fault.

“I think it was more so he didn’t see me, more than anything else,” Williams said. “For example, I arrive and I definitely made contact with the body before I arrived.”

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

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The Celtics won the game, 124-109, and it won’t take long to see if there’s any more bad blood. Both teams return to action in Charlotte on Saturday night at 6 p.m.

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