Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Former Celtics Player Sends Message After Jayson Tatum Incident

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt John | Last updated Apr 15, 2025 5:05 PM ET

In one of the strangest moments of the 2024-25 season for the Boston Celtics, ex-Celtic and Jayson Tatum's former teammate Grant Williams decided to throw a cheap shot in the closing minutes of their game against the Charlotte Hornets.

It was bizarre not just because the two used to play together but because their friendship was pretty well-documented. Following the incident, there hadn't been any updates regarding if the two had buried the hatchet.

When the Celtics and Hornets matched up for the last two games of the season, Tatum and Williams caught up with one another, signaling they put it behind them. After the regular season finale, Williams revealed to CLNS Media's Bobby Manning that the two are on good terms again.

“Me and J.T. are cool. That’s my dawg, forever,” Williams told Manning. “No matter what happens in our life, I’m gonna have his back, and I believe he’s gonna have mine as well. I made an immature act. When that happened, I reflected on it, and at the time, I think I kind of brushed it off."

Williams added that suffering a season-ending ACL tear helped him see what went wrong.

"...maybe if they play a CLE, just because if J.B.'s not fully healthy, which I hope that he becomes that, or at least be able to play at 85-95% of his capacity, I think they'll have success...it'll be fun to see who comes out of the wets to play them."https://t.co/98RfAu6bM4
— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) April 14, 2025

"It’s helpful that the injury gave me a perspective too," he added. "It’s just like making sure you’re not only doing things the right way but also competing and stuff like that and recklessness. So I was able to have that conversation, and that’s being two mature men, that’s a guy that would do anything for me, and I feel like I’d do anything for him as well.”

Williams averaged 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 43.9% from the field and 36.5% from three in 16 games before his season ended.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: