Celtics player Jayson Tatum has come to the defense of his former teammate, Grant Williams, following recent criticism directed at Williams since his trade from the Mavericks to the Hornets. Despite negative remarks, including being labeled a “bad locker room guy” by Celtics broadcaster Mike Gorman, Tatum took to social media to praise Williams as a “great teammate.”
The criticism surrounding Williams seems to originate from the Mavericks organization, which reportedly had issues with him. Williams had signed a four-year contract with Dallas last offseason but experienced a decline in performance after a promising start to the season, leading to his trade to Charlotte. Reports suggest that his relationship with Mavericks star Luka Doncic played a role in the trade.
Williams had spent the first four seasons of his career with the Celtics from 2019 to 2023, where he became a rotational player and contributed to memorable moments like the Game 7 victory over the Bucks in the 2022 Eastern Conference semifinals. However, he sought a larger role and contract, prompting his move to Dallas.
Despite the playful teasing he received from teammates in Boston, Williams was well-liked in the locker room, as indicated by Tatum’s supportive tweet. When the Celtics faced the Mavericks in January, several players took the opportunity to reconnect with Williams after the game.
