Grant Williams banned? NBA referee declares ejection after hard foul

Former Celtics forward Grant Williams could soon receive an unpleasant call from the NBA league office.

Williams found himself in a controversy late in Boston's 124-109 road defeat of the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night. Williams came flying from the side and aggressively collided with Celtics star Jayson Tatum just over half the court, sending both of them to the ground.

It appeared to be a deliberate act by Williams, although he denied it. Williams rocking Tatum certainly bothered Jaylen Brown, who called his former teammate after the game.

Upon review, the referees concluded that Williams' foul was “unnecessary and excessive,” resulting in a flagrant 2 foul and an automatic ejection. Williams will also be fined at least $2,000 by the league and could face a suspension for his shoulder check on Tatum.

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

Ask: Why was Grant Williams kicked out?

James Williams: “Grant Williams was ejected from the game because his foul was upgraded to a Flagrant Foul Penalty 2 and is an automatic ejection per rule. Upon review, we saw that he increased his speed before contact and therefore made significant contact with the dribbler. The acceleration is considered excessive, the impact was significant and potentially causing injury, therefore this was deemed unnecessary and excessive, resulting in a flagrant foul 2 penalty. According to the rules, this is also an automatic exclusion from the game. ”

If Williams is not suspended, he will face the Celtics again on Saturday, with the two teams facing off in a mini two-game series at the Spectrum Center.