Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams (2) Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Jayson Tatum defends 'annoying' former Celtics teammate

Grant Williams is developing quite a reputation for himself in the NBA. A year ago, he was a key part of a Celtics team making a run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Over the summer, he was dealt to the Mavericks in a sign-and-trade move, and by this year's trade deadline, he was shipped to Charlotte. 

Williams changing three jerseys within eight months has made some question his willingness to be a team player. Shortly after the Mavericks moved him, ESPN's Tim McMahon reported on "The Hoop Collective" that Williams "rubbed people the wrong way" in Dallas with his "yapping" and also that he "didn't report in shape" during preseason training camp. 

Recently, Mavs assistant GM Michael Finley somewhat backed up some of those claims, telling 105.3 The FAN a story of a peeved Luka Doncic destroying Williams in a practice session.

To add insult to injury, Celtics announcer Mike Gorman has referred to Williams as a "back locker room guy" who was "annoying to everybody" during his four-year stint in the organization. 

"He was annoying to everybody," Gorman said of Williams on 98.5 The Sports Hub recently. "Initially, everybody thought he was kind of a wiseass and kind of funny, but then it just kind of wore thin.

"...The guy's a bad locker room guy. If you're a bad locker room guy [and] you're an eighth or ninth guy, you're not going to be the eighth or ninth guy for long because you're not going to be on the team for long." 

Jayson Tatum has come to the defense of his former teammate. 

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