How Jayson Tatum Chose To Address Reckless Foul From Grant Williams

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum had plenty of time to think about how he wanted to address his conflict with Grant Williams to the media.

Tatum chose not to talk with reporters following Friday’s night game when Williams delivered a blindside hit on the five-time All-Star that sent them both tumbling to the ground.

But when Tatum hit the podium with a chance to speak out on the incident with Williams for the first time after Saturday’s 113-103 win at the Spectrum Center, he decided to completely bypass the topic.

“I don’t really want to talk about it,” Tatum told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston’s Kayla Burton. “Just got ready for the game today. We came to Charlotte, did what we were supposed to do. Going to Atlanta to try to get another win before we go home.”

If Tatum was out for any sort of revenge Saturday, he barely showed it. The only time there was a blip on the radar that Tatum tried to get back at Williams was when he swung on the rim following a dunk and banged into the Hornets forward. It was tough to tell whether Tatum did that intentionally, though.

Tatum ultimately went about his usual business and finished with a team-high 29 points, buoyed by a 14-for-17 showing from the free-throw line. He only made 1-of-9 3-pointers and committed five turnovers while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out three assists.

“I don’t ever make it about one person. I understand who I am, who I am in this league and come out and play the right way,” Tatum said. “It’s not about a matchup or anything. Just come out, try to dominate. Give my team the best chance to win and playing the right way whether that’s scoring, rebounding, screening for other guys. The objective is to make sure we give us the best chance to win. So, it’s not about a situation with no other person.”

The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn reported that Tatum and Williams talked at some point following the incident and “Tatum was apparently still annoyed but accepted” Williams’ apology.

Tatum might forgive but he certainly won’t forget what happened. Once the final buzzer sounded Saturday, instead of mingling with the opposition on the court, Tatum bolted for the locker room, avoiding any possible encounter with Williams.