grant williams and Jayson Tatum They were teammates for four seasons in the boston celts from 2019-23. Before the Celtics played Williams’ current team, the charlotte hornetsthe six-year veteran said it was “special” to watch his former teammates win the NBA championship last season.

Some might question that “bad blood” comment after Williams dealt Tatum a hit more appropriate for an NFL game than an NBA showdown late in Boston’s 124-109 win over Charlotte on Friday. . With 2:02 left in the game, Tatum grabbed a rebound and brought the ball up the court. Williams ran up to him at half court and knocked him down with a blow to the shoulder.

Williams received a flagrant foul 2 and was ejected from the game.

“Grant Williams accelerates, has a significant impact on the dribbler,” explained referee James Williams in raising the foul to Flagrant 2. “A non-basketball play, with potential for injury.”

Watching the play, it’s hard to argue that Williams was trying to go for the ball. Maybe he was trying to force a turnover with the score 114-105. But he simply collided with Tatum, shouldering forward. As the referee stated, “a play that is not basketball.”

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

After the game, Brown criticized Williams and said the collision was intentional.

Speaking to NBC Sports Boston, Williams stated that he was not trying to hurt Tatum.

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 ejected. LaMelo Ball He led the Hornets with 31 points.

If anyone has hard feelings about Williams’ flagrant foul, that could become apparent quickly. The Celtics and Hornets will play again on Saturday in the second leg of a back-to-back.