Grant Williams on Jayson Tatum defending him about being a bad locker room guy: 'That meant the world...I didn't even ask him'
Tatum came to Williams’ rescue this past week, using his thumbs to author a quick reply on X, formerly known as Twitter, to a headline highlighting Gorman’s unflattering depiction of the 25-year-old. “Yeah, that meant the world,” Williams said. “And honestly, I didn’t even ask him. So, that’s why it was even cooler and I had to thank him afterward because that’s my dog for life. And all those guys up in Boston are. I talk to those guys more than most in my whole life career. (Derrick White), Payton (Prichard), Sam (Hauser), Al (Horford) — those guys have been huge over my course of my career and the time I spent there in Boston.
Source: Charlotte Observer
Source: Charlotte Observer
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Rod Boone @rodboone
Spoke with Grant Williams about the notion he’s a ‘bad locker room guy’ and wanted to get his take on Mike Gorman’s comments.
He gave his thoughts about the situation to @theobserver, including Celtics star Jayson Tatum defending him:
charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlot… – 10:18 PM
Spoke with Grant Williams about the notion he’s a ‘bad locker room guy’ and wanted to get his take on Mike Gorman’s comments.
He gave his thoughts about the situation to @theobserver, including Celtics star Jayson Tatum defending him:
charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlot… – 10:18 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Celtics injury report for tomorrow:
Jaylen Brown – Right Ankle Sprain – QUESTIONABLE
Kristaps Porzingis – Right Hamstring Strain – OUT
Jayson Tatum – Right Ankle Impingement – QUESTIONABLE
Derrick White – Left Hand Sprain – OUT – 5:23 PM
Celtics injury report for tomorrow:
Jaylen Brown – Right Ankle Sprain – QUESTIONABLE
Kristaps Porzingis – Right Hamstring Strain – OUT
Jayson Tatum – Right Ankle Impingement – QUESTIONABLE
Derrick White – Left Hand Sprain – OUT – 5:23 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Porzingis will miss a 5th straight game with his hamstring strain. Derrick White is out tomorrow too. Brown, Tatum questionable. – 5:06 PM
Porzingis will miss a 5th straight game with his hamstring strain. Derrick White is out tomorrow too. Brown, Tatum questionable. – 5:06 PM
NBA Kicks @NBAKicks
Nautical vibes for @Pp_doesit on his Jordan Tatum 2 PE! #NBAKicks pic.twitter.com/BnXYLBEubJ – 2:13 AM
Nautical vibes for @Pp_doesit on his Jordan Tatum 2 PE! #NBAKicks pic.twitter.com/BnXYLBEubJ – 2:13 AM
Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
Paolo Banchero laced up the “Yacht Club” Jordan Tatum 2s tonight pic.twitter.com/fuLbCKAot4 – 11:26 PM
Paolo Banchero laced up the “Yacht Club” Jordan Tatum 2s tonight pic.twitter.com/fuLbCKAot4 – 11:26 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
#Suns 28 #Hornets 26 after one.
PHX: Eric Gordon 8 points off bench, Grayson Allen 7 points, Devin Booker 0 (0-for-3 FGs)
CHA: Grant Williams 8 points off bench, Miles Bridges 7 points, Brandon Miller 0 points, 2 fouls.
Score now 41-32 #Suns. Bradley Beal 9 points. pic.twitter.com/raYCr79QNi – 7:47 PM
#Suns 28 #Hornets 26 after one.
PHX: Eric Gordon 8 points off bench, Grayson Allen 7 points, Devin Booker 0 (0-for-3 FGs)
CHA: Grant Williams 8 points off bench, Miles Bridges 7 points, Brandon Miller 0 points, 2 fouls.
Score now 41-32 #Suns. Bradley Beal 9 points. pic.twitter.com/raYCr79QNi – 7:47 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Talked to Joe about JB/JT balance. Brown has been on fire & is shooting more FGA than Tatum over last 10: “If one of them’s playing really well, you want to keep that. Last night, we changed the sub pattern so that we could keep the matchups that we wanted later in the quarter” pic.twitter.com/G4QugmXPVy – 1:10 PM
Talked to Joe about JB/JT balance. Brown has been on fire & is shooting more FGA than Tatum over last 10: “If one of them’s playing really well, you want to keep that. Last night, we changed the sub pattern so that we could keep the matchups that we wanted later in the quarter” pic.twitter.com/G4QugmXPVy – 1:10 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
BSJ Game Report: Celtics 127, Suns 112 – Brown & Tatum combine for 63 in fourth straight win bostonsportsjournal.com/2024/03/15/bsj… – 12:13 AM
BSJ Game Report: Celtics 127, Suns 112 – Brown & Tatum combine for 63 in fourth straight win bostonsportsjournal.com/2024/03/15/bsj… – 12:13 AM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Jayson Tatum representing the St Louis @Cardinals after the game pic.twitter.com/klXlFIzUXg – 10:47 PM
Jayson Tatum representing the St Louis @Cardinals after the game pic.twitter.com/klXlFIzUXg – 10:47 PM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Jayson Tatum was asked when he had time to write a children’s book: “I don’t sleep.” – 10:44 PM
Jayson Tatum was asked when he had time to write a children’s book: “I don’t sleep.” – 10:44 PM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
The Celtics beat the Suns 127-112 for their 4th straight win. Gritty one from the C’s coming off a long road trip. Jaylen Brown with 37 points, Jayson Tatum with 26 and Al Horford with 24. C’s are 52-14. Next up are the Wizards on Sunday.
masslive.com/celtics/2024/0… – 9:41 PM
The Celtics beat the Suns 127-112 for their 4th straight win. Gritty one from the C’s coming off a long road trip. Jaylen Brown with 37 points, Jayson Tatum with 26 and Al Horford with 24. C’s are 52-14. Next up are the Wizards on Sunday.
masslive.com/celtics/2024/0… – 9:41 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
#Celtics pull away from the #Suns for a 127-112 win. PHX were healthy and had two days off in Boston. Brown 37, Tatum 26, Horford 24, White 13; Booker 23, Beal 22, Allen 20, Durant 20.
3pt:
BOS 25-50
PHX 11-31 – 9:40 PM
#Celtics pull away from the #Suns for a 127-112 win. PHX were healthy and had two days off in Boston. Brown 37, Tatum 26, Horford 24, White 13; Booker 23, Beal 22, Allen 20, Durant 20.
3pt:
BOS 25-50
PHX 11-31 – 9:40 PM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Tatum and Brown (61 points combined) are outscoring Beal, Durant and Booker (53 points) so far. – 9:18 PM
Tatum and Brown (61 points combined) are outscoring Beal, Durant and Booker (53 points) so far. – 9:18 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
#Celtics eight threes in 3Q, lead #Suns 102-85. Brown 28, Tatum 26, Horford 19; Durant 18, Beal 18, Booker 15, Allen 13. – 9:12 PM
#Celtics eight threes in 3Q, lead #Suns 102-85. Brown 28, Tatum 26, Horford 19; Durant 18, Beal 18, Booker 15, Allen 13. – 9:12 PM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Frank Vogel with a tech. Celtics up 85-72. Jaylen Brown with 28 points while Jayson Tatum has 25. C’s are rolling right now. – 8:58 PM
Frank Vogel with a tech. Celtics up 85-72. Jaylen Brown with 28 points while Jayson Tatum has 25. C’s are rolling right now. – 8:58 PM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Subtle thing of Celtics immediately finding Horford for FTs with what Suns are cross-matching on defense but Suns go to double Tatum and White knocks down an open 3. Execution difference. – 8:52 PM
Subtle thing of Celtics immediately finding Horford for FTs with what Suns are cross-matching on defense but Suns go to double Tatum and White knocks down an open 3. Execution difference. – 8:52 PM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Tatum just went 12/12 in naming where his teammates played college ball – 8:52 PM
Tatum just went 12/12 in naming where his teammates played college ball – 8:52 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Those are the 3s that hurt.
Tatum drives, Durant forces miss, but #Celtics get 2nd shot, Brown 3.
Beal 3 answer. #Suns down five. – 8:46 PM
Those are the 3s that hurt.
Tatum drives, Durant forces miss, but #Celtics get 2nd shot, Brown 3.
Beal 3 answer. #Suns down five. – 8:46 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
#Suns Big 3 of Booker, Durant and Beal: 36 points on 15-of-33 shooting (2-of-8 from 3).
#Celtics Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown: 43 points on 17-of-24 shooting (6-of-10 from 3). – 8:44 PM
#Suns Big 3 of Booker, Durant and Beal: 36 points on 15-of-33 shooting (2-of-8 from 3).
#Celtics Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown: 43 points on 17-of-24 shooting (6-of-10 from 3). – 8:44 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
#Celtics lead #Suns 65-60 at half. Tatum 23 (9-11 FG), Brown 20, Horford 11; Durant 15, Beal 13, Booker 8.
FG: BOS 25-43
PHX 25-55
REBS: BOS 13, PHX 27. – 8:32 PM
#Celtics lead #Suns 65-60 at half. Tatum 23 (9-11 FG), Brown 20, Horford 11; Durant 15, Beal 13, Booker 8.
FG: BOS 25-43
PHX 25-55
REBS: BOS 13, PHX 27. – 8:32 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Halftime: BOS 65, PHX 60
Durant: 15 Pts, 7-11 FG
Beal: 13 Pts, 5 Ast, 5-11 FG
Booker: 8 Pts, 4 Ast, 3-11 FG
Tatum: 23 Pts, 9-11 FG – 8:30 PM
Halftime: BOS 65, PHX 60
Durant: 15 Pts, 7-11 FG
Beal: 13 Pts, 5 Ast, 5-11 FG
Booker: 8 Pts, 4 Ast, 3-11 FG
Tatum: 23 Pts, 9-11 FG – 8:30 PM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combine for 43 points on 17-24 shooting in the 1st half. C’s lead 65-60 at halftime. – 8:29 PM
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combine for 43 points on 17-24 shooting in the 1st half. C’s lead 65-60 at halftime. – 8:29 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Ginormous 3s by Tatum. Especially the first one in what looked like an empty transition possession. Suns stay within 5 at half. Making a living in the mid-range that Boston is willing to give up. 55-43 PHX in FGA.. – 8:29 PM
Ginormous 3s by Tatum. Especially the first one in what looked like an empty transition possession. Suns stay within 5 at half. Making a living in the mid-range that Boston is willing to give up. 55-43 PHX in FGA.. – 8:29 PM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Celtics lead the Suns 65-60 at halftime
Tatum with 23 points, Brown has 20 – 8:28 PM
Celtics lead the Suns 65-60 at halftime
Tatum with 23 points, Brown has 20 – 8:28 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Jayson Tatum back-to-back 3s. Has 23. #Suns down 65-60 at half. #Celtics – 8:28 PM
Jayson Tatum back-to-back 3s. Has 23. #Suns down 65-60 at half. #Celtics – 8:28 PM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Awesome first half from Jayson Tatum. He’s up to 23. Doing a great job playing downhill. Brown is too. – 8:28 PM
Awesome first half from Jayson Tatum. He’s up to 23. Doing a great job playing downhill. Brown is too. – 8:28 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Jayson Tatum is playing at another level tonight. He has it all working – 8:27 PM
Jayson Tatum is playing at another level tonight. He has it all working – 8:27 PM
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Jayson Tatum finishes the first quarter with a team-high 14 points 😤
Celtics lead the Suns 35-32.
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/TZi4I4aYn8 – 8:01 PM
Jayson Tatum finishes the first quarter with a team-high 14 points 😤
Celtics lead the Suns 35-32.
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/TZi4I4aYn8 – 8:01 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
End of 1Q: BOS 35, PHX 32
Durant: 15 Pts, 7-8 FG
Beal: 9 Pts, 4-5 FG
Booker: 4 Pts, 1-6 FG
Tatum: 14 Pts, 6-9 FG
Celtics are 7-for-11 from 3, Suns are 2-for-8. That’ll do it! – 8:00 PM
End of 1Q: BOS 35, PHX 32
Durant: 15 Pts, 7-8 FG
Beal: 9 Pts, 4-5 FG
Booker: 4 Pts, 1-6 FG
Tatum: 14 Pts, 6-9 FG
Celtics are 7-for-11 from 3, Suns are 2-for-8. That’ll do it! – 8:00 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
#Celtics 1Q with a 17-6 run, lead #Suns 35-32. Tatum 14, Horford 8, Brown 5; Durant 15, Beal 9, Booker 4. – 7:59 PM
#Celtics 1Q with a 17-6 run, lead #Suns 35-32. Tatum 14, Horford 8, Brown 5; Durant 15, Beal 9, Booker 4. – 7:59 PM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Celtics end the 1st quarter on a 17-6 run to take a 35-32 lead. They’re 7-11 from 3 despite coming off the long road trip. Tatum with 14 points, Durant with 15. – 7:58 PM
Celtics end the 1st quarter on a 17-6 run to take a 35-32 lead. They’re 7-11 from 3 despite coming off the long road trip. Tatum with 14 points, Durant with 15. – 7:58 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
This time it’s Tatum with the hot start. He already has 10 to counter the #Suns shot making. PHX 26, BOS 23, 3:12 left in 1Q. #Celtics – 7:51 PM
This time it’s Tatum with the hot start. He already has 10 to counter the #Suns shot making. PHX 26, BOS 23, 3:12 left in 1Q. #Celtics – 7:51 PM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
oh yeah, Jayson Tatum vs. Kevin Durant tonight shaping up to be great. 10 points for Tatum, 11 for Durant already – 7:50 PM
oh yeah, Jayson Tatum vs. Kevin Durant tonight shaping up to be great. 10 points for Tatum, 11 for Durant already – 7:50 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Brown coming out early in these 1Q more often this month in favor of a longer Tatum stretch. – 7:49 PM
Brown coming out early in these 1Q more often this month in favor of a longer Tatum stretch. – 7:49 PM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Tatum received his Player of the Month Award at halfcourt, which he won in February
It’s his second of the season and fourth of his career pic.twitter.com/xHuzajrkoE – 7:28 PM
Tatum received his Player of the Month Award at halfcourt, which he won in February
It’s his second of the season and fourth of his career pic.twitter.com/xHuzajrkoE – 7:28 PM
Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
Suns at Celtics – TD Garden – March 14, 2024 – Starters
Boston – Holiday, White, Brown, Tatum, Horford
Phoenix – Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic
OUT – Boston: Porzingis Phoenix: Josh Okogie, Damion Lee, Eric Gordon pic.twitter.com/GbDZvhURBk – 7:01 PM
Suns at Celtics – TD Garden – March 14, 2024 – Starters
Boston – Holiday, White, Brown, Tatum, Horford
Phoenix – Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic
OUT – Boston: Porzingis Phoenix: Josh Okogie, Damion Lee, Eric Gordon pic.twitter.com/GbDZvhURBk – 7:01 PM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Scenes from the Garden pregame:
Jayson Tatum warms up as Paul Pierce pushes deeper into a sea of fans to sign autographs pic.twitter.com/bAoJAOMXna – 6:17 PM
Scenes from the Garden pregame:
Jayson Tatum warms up as Paul Pierce pushes deeper into a sea of fans to sign autographs pic.twitter.com/bAoJAOMXna – 6:17 PM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Jayson Tatum with some serious kicks at the Garden tonight pic.twitter.com/PgXAsARu9q – 5:17 PM
Jayson Tatum with some serious kicks at the Garden tonight pic.twitter.com/PgXAsARu9q – 5:17 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
The Jays since the All-Star break:
Tatum — Brown —
26.6 PPG 28.0 PPG
7.3 RPG 6.1 RPG
45.9 FG% 53.2 FG%
Celtics are 8-2. pic.twitter.com/C2sSP9jDG7 – 12:54 PM
The Jays since the All-Star break:
Tatum — Brown —
26.6 PPG 28.0 PPG
7.3 RPG 6.1 RPG
45.9 FG% 53.2 FG%
Celtics are 8-2. pic.twitter.com/C2sSP9jDG7 – 12:54 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
From Wednesday:
‘Passing of the guard’: Kevin Durant addresses Jayson Tatum being NBA MVP candidate as Suns face Celtics tonight in Boston (w/videos) #Suns #Celtics azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral – 10:30 AM
From Wednesday:
‘Passing of the guard’: Kevin Durant addresses Jayson Tatum being NBA MVP candidate as Suns face Celtics tonight in Boston (w/videos) #Suns #Celtics azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral – 10:30 AM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
‘Passing of the guard’: Kevin Durant addresses Jayson Tatum being NBA MVP candidate as Phoenix Suns face Boston Celtics on Thursday at TD Garden (w/videos) #Suns #Celtics azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral pic.twitter.com/OAKLsZBrNH – 12:02 AM
‘Passing of the guard’: Kevin Durant addresses Jayson Tatum being NBA MVP candidate as Phoenix Suns face Boston Celtics on Thursday at TD Garden (w/videos) #Suns #Celtics azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral pic.twitter.com/OAKLsZBrNH – 12:02 AM
More on this storyline
Duane Rankin: “You wouldn’t even notice J having that.” Bradley Beal on Jayson Tatum 1-of-6 in 3rd for 3 points in third, but #Celtics outscored #Suns. 37-25, in quarter to build 17-point lead. “It was good you could slow the superstar down, but you got to keep everybody else at bay too.” pic.twitter.com/v4tf6QxS6I -via Twitter @DuaneRankin / March 15, 2024
Cameron Tabatabaie: Mazzulla praises Tatum’s excellent play on both ends as of late: Everything with him starts with his defensive intensity pic.twitter.com/YFQBKf4pxx -via Twitter @CTabatabaie / March 14, 2024
Jayson Tatum: Grant Williams= Great teammate! -via Twitter / March 14, 2024
Williams doesn’t agree with Gorman’s assessment one bit. “It’s always difficult from the outside looking in,” Williams told The Observer. “I try my best to take the high road on most things. I’ve always tried to treat people with respect. Gorman was just talking in regard to what he thought he experienced and if you ask any one of my teammates across my career in this league, they’d know that I have not only been a great teammate, but a person they can rely on, a person they could talk to. That’s something that I’ve tried to pride myself on. “So it’s tough hearing things like that because you never want to have someone attacking your character, especially as a teammate but also as a man. But at the end of the day, you can only focus on what you can control.” -via Charlotte Observer / March 16, 2024
Over the weekend, we heard more on the record from Mavericks assistant general manager Michael Finley describing one noteworthy exchange between Williams and Mavericks star Luka Doncic. “I remember, just to share a quick story with you guys,” Finley said. “One day in practice, a player on our team, I won’t call his name out — but it’s Grant Williams. He decided he wanted to get under Luka’s skin. He felt Luka didn’t come that day ready to practice. To make a long story short, they had a scrimmage going and he was talking trash to Luka up and down the court. So finally, Luka says ‘Okay,” and Luka went on a 26-6 run by himself. You can ask anybody, I’m not exaggerating. He showed everything, the 3s, the postups, the floaters, everything by himself.” -via Booth Newspapers / March 12, 2024