‘I mean, I don’t want to…’ - Jayson Tatum speaks out about Grant Williams' harsh foul

Jayson Tatum didn't waste any time in leaving the court at the Spectrum Center following Boston Celtics' 113-103 victory against the Hornets on Saturday night. All eyes were on the All-Star after he was thrashed by former teammate Grant Williams for a flagrant 2 foul in the closing seconds of Friday's victory. 

Following the borderline cheap shot, Saturday night was the first opportunity for the two to engage in public since Williams was dismissed for the offense. However, Jayson Tatum maintained that attitude when he spoke to the media in Charlotte after the game and refused to welcome his old teammate on the field.

After the encounter on Friday night, Tatum, who finished with 29 points in the win, remained silent. Tatum avoided answering the Williams issue when he was asked to comment on the matter on Saturday night. “I mean, I don’t really want to talk about it,” Tatum said when asked about the flagrant foul. “It’s just — got ready for the game today, we came to Charlotte and did what we were supposed to do, and we’re going to Atlanta to try to get another win before we go home.”

Jayson Tatum has been key consistency for Boston Celtics

Grant Williams forcefully body-checked Tatum, putting the Celtics star on the ground while he was carrying the ball down the court, ignoring any play on the ball. Tatum remained silent following the event. Tatum continued by saying that experiences such as this aid in his development as a player. He claimed, "They face-guarded me, put Grant on me to deny, and didn't want me to get the ball." It improves you and makes you stronger. You come up with more ways to influence the game. To be productive, don't restrict yourself to a single method. That thing doesn't really concern me because I lift every game day.

Through seven games this season, Tatum has been a picture of consistency for Boston Celtics, shooting 48.2 percent from the floor and averaging a team-high 30.3 points. He scored a team-high 29 points in Saturday's victory, demonstrating his determination to keep his composure in the face of the Williams battle.