How Jayson Tatum Reportedly Reacted To Grant Williams Apology

Jayson Tatum and Grant Williams didn’t say anything to each other on the court Friday night after the Hornets forward doled out a blindside hit on his former Boston Celtics teammate.

Williams, who received an automatic ejection due to a flagrant 2 foul on the play, still hadn’t talked to Tatum when he met with the media following Boston’s 124-109 win at the Spectrum Center.

But according to The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn, the two reportedly did find time to discuss what happened and they somewhat made up.

“Was told Grant Williams and Jayson Tatum did talk after Friday’s game,” Washburn wrote on the X platform. “Williams was apologetic. Tatum was apparently still annoyed but accepted.”

Williams and Tatum developed a tight bond when they played four seasons together with the Celtics. The two apparently were in good standing going into the game as Williams called Tatum “one of my closest friends in the league.”

But that didn’t stop Williams from recklessly trucking Tatum with 2:02 left in the fourth quarter as the Celtics star made his way over half-court in transition. The hard collision sent both players sprawling to the floor and Tatum got up very quickly and headed straight to the free-throw line without saying a word to Williams. The response from Tatum in a heated situation drew a round of applause from Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.

Jaylen Brown, who ripped into his former teammate after the game, came over in defense of Tatum and had words for Williams before everyone was separated.

Tatum might not have gone over Williams’ house Friday night — Williams apparently planned to host some members of the Celtics, but expected them to back out following the on-court incident — but he couldn’t entirely get away from Williams with the Celtics and Hornets squaring off in a rematch Saturday at the Spectrum Center.

And all eyes will be on Tatum and Williams to see how they interact and if their relationship has now turned icy.