Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green called out Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams for defending his hard foul on Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum during Friday’s game. Green criticized Williams’ claim that the foul wasn’t intentional, questioning both his intentions and his judgment.
Green’s comments followed a tense moment in the fourth quarter when Williams received a flagrant foul 2 and was ejected after knocking Tatum near half-court. Tatum had been leading Boston with a 32-point, 11-rebound performance that ultimately guided the Celtics to a 124-109 victory over Charlotte.
Green took to social media to express his disapproval, calling Williams “goofy” for suggesting that his blindside hit on Tatum was unintentional. In his post, Green stated, “Grant Williams saying it’s not intentional fouling JT like that is mad wild…Thinking a blindside hit ‘on ya mans’ is a smile-worthy offense means 1 of 2 things…you have zero awareness or you a goofy… And both make you a goofy… goofy.”
The altercation further highlighted the competitive tension between the two teams, with Boston seizing the lead following a series of hard fouls. Jaylen Brown added 25 points for Boston, while Derrick White and Jrue Holiday combined for 31 points to help the Celtics finish strong.
Williams, who joined the Hornets in the offseason, faced backlash for the incident, which intensified the game’s physicality. Shortly after Williams’ ejection, Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball committed a hard foul on Tatum during a three-point attempt, resulting in his sixth personal foul and subsequent ejection. Ball had led the Hornets with 31 points, but his exit allowed Boston to capitalize and expand their lead.
In his tweet, Green speculated on Williams’ motives, suggesting that frustrations over Tatum’s continued success with Boston might have influenced the foul. Green hinted that Williams might be holding residual resentment over Tatum’s achievements, including Boston’s recent championship, writing, “He mad at JT about something… he was supposed to keep him in Boston.”
The physical play extended to other members of the Hornets as well, with Miles Bridges also receiving a flagrant foul in the game’s closing moments. The ejections of three Hornets players underscored the game’s intense atmosphere, which even involved rookie Tidjane Salaun’s surprising nine-point contribution, highlighting the team’s efforts despite their depleted lineup.
