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Former Vol Grant Williams ejected after on-court scuffle with NBA superstar

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated 1/25/24

Dallas Mavericks forward Grant Williams, a former Tennessee Vols standout, was ejected on Wednesday night after an on-court scuffle with Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant and center Jusuf Nurkić.

Williams bumped into Durant in the first quarter, knocking Durant to the ground. After the whistle was blown, Williams stood over Durant which didn't sit will with Nurkić, who then proceeded to shove the former Vol.

Durant got up and also shoved Williams, which led to a brief on-court scuffle that was quickly calmed.

Williams and Durant both played for Rick Barnes (Williams at Tennessee and Durant at Texas), but that connection clearly hasn't led to any love between the two forwards.

Devin Booker on Grant Williams:
"He just wants to do antics man. We’re out their trying to hoop so big props to Nurk for holding it down. If I would’ve seen that, I would’ve done the same thing. That’s how we get down. We’re not with the nonsense.”pic.twitter.com/tDKkAtl0sH
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 25, 2024

Williams was later ejected from the game in the third quarter after complaining to an official about not getting a call.

Grant Williams gets ejected after getting embarrassed by Nurks staredown pic.twitter.com/AIbSXRkCw3
— Cage (@ridiculouscage) January 25, 2024

Williams, a two-time SEC player of the year, is certainly playing the "villain" role in the NBA these days, something that plenty of players have taken issue with.

"It's not necessary. I don't think Grant Williams wanted to play basketball tonight. He wants to do the antics, man. We're out there trying to hoop," said Suns guard Devin Booker on Wednesday after the game.

The Suns and the Mavericks will play again on February 22. That matchup will be must-see TV.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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