Jayson Tatum and Grant Williams formed a close bond while playing for the Boston Celtics. Williams was drafted by Boston in 2019 and spent four seasons with the organization before being moved to the Dallas Mavericks. Tatum and Williams formed a bond and frequently exchanged light banter.

On January 22, during a game between the Celtics and the Mavericks, Tatum struck Williams. As the halftime bell rang, Williams launched a halfcourt shot, which Tatum decisively blocked. Tatum spoke to Williams after the block, but he has chosen not to share the precise words.

Williams became a free agent in the offseason, and the Celtics declined to re-sign him, prompting him to join the Mavericks. The matchup between the Celtics and the Mavericks was Tatum and Williams’ first meeting as NBA players. Tatum had a terrific performance, scoring a game-high 39 points, and Williams added two points off the bench for Dallas.

Tatum showed no mercy after blocking Williams’ shot, swatting the ball into the seats before exchanging words with him. When asked to repeat what he had said, Tatum responded he couldn’t. He admits to putting forth extra effort to block the shot, describing it as a friendly, competitive moment.

Tatum’s impressive performance against the Mavericks came after a rough night against the Houston Rockets. He struggled with his shooting in that game, but rebounded with an amazing performance against the Mavericks, posting a double-double with 39 points and 11 boards.

Tatum underlined the NBA’s ups and downs, as well as the possibility for atonement in the upcoming game. He realized that not every game would go as planned, but he cherished the opportunity to come back stronger.