Suspension Coming For Grant Williams? NBA Ref Explains Ejection After Hard Foul

Former Celtics forward Grant Williams might be getting an unpleasant call from the NBA league office soon.

Williams got caught up in controversy late in Boston’s 124-109 road win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night. Williams came flying in from the side and aggressively crashed into Celtics star Jayson Tatum just over half-court, sending both of them sprawling to the floor.

It looked to be an intentional act from Williams even though he denied that it was. Williams rocking Tatum certainly bothered Jaylen Brown, who called out his ex-teammate after the game.

The referees deemed upon review that Williams’ foul was “unnecessary and excessive,” resulting in a flagrant 2 foul and an automatic ejection. Williams will also be fined a minimum of $2,000 by the league and could face a suspension due to his shoulder check on Tatum.

Crew chief James Williams explained in a pool report with Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer what he saw on the play to assess Grant Williams with a flagrant 2. Here is the full transcript:

Question: Why was Grant Williams ejected?

James Williams: “Grant Williams was ejected from the game because his foul was upgraded to a Flagrant Foul Penalty 2 and per rule that carries an automatic ejection. At review we saw that he accelerated his speed prior to the contact, and so he makes significant contact with the dribbler. The acceleration is considered wind up, the impact was significant, potential for injury, so this was determined to be unnecessary and excessive, which gets us to a Flagrant Foul Penalty 2. Again, by rule, that is an automatic ejection from the game.”

Williams, if not suspended, will see the Celtics again Saturday with the two sides squaring off in a mini two-game series from the Spectrum Center.