Playing in the NBA can come with several uncertainties. Teammates that make an Eastern Conference Finals run together may find themselves in different teams the very next season. This was the case with the Boston Celtics superstar, Jayson Tatum and their former forward, Grant Williams.

After a disappointing run with the Celtics in the playoffs, Grant Williams was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2023 offseason. The Mavericks themselves have been very active this season to acquire some help for their star duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. However, after joining the Mavericks, Williams had some words for how he would approach his matchup against Jayson Tatum. His statements against Tatum were not well received by fans who unleashed their rage on Twitter.

Grant Williams stated how he would guard Jayson Tatum

Grant Williams was drafted 22nd by the Boston Celtics in 2019. Since joining the Celtics, Williams was a strong force off the bench for them. After a terrific run in the 2022 NBA playoffs, Williams saw an impressive rise in all the major statistical categories in the 2023 season. He also saw an increase in minutes for the Celtics off the bench. However, Williams had an underwhelming outing in the NBA playoffs, eventually falling out of the rotation.

Williams’ trade to Dallas brings him a multitude of opportunities. The Mavericks were in desperate need of defensive forwards and they got just that in Williams. The NBA star has been a terrific defender throughout his career and formed a strong defensive lineup alongside Marcus Smart. His defensive abilities have always been a topic of discussion. In a recent statement however, Williams seemed to take a dig at Tatum while stating how he would defend him.

Read More: “F**k Around, and You’ll Find Out”: Jimmy Butler and Grant Williams Intensely Locking Horns Had Fans Going Berserk

In the statement, Williams said, “You can’t go left. And I’m gonna be physical with you and you’ll go cry to the referees.”

While stating how he would guard him, Williams also threw shade at Tatum’s interactions with referees. This enraged the NBA world that took to Twitter to express their disappointment.

Fans react to Williams’ statement

Fans were not having Williams’ statement on Tatum. They took to Twitter to share their reactions. Some fans just dismissed Williams’ ability to defend Tatum.

Fans also shared hilarious memes to react to the statement:

Users also referred to Williams’ performance against the Miami Heat:

In fact, several fans brought up Williams’ poor playoff performance:

However, some fans seemed to agree with his statement.

Williams had his say about his matchup against the Celtics and Jayson Tatum. However, the 24-year-old will have an added role in his new team, the Mavericks.

Watch This Story: Popularity Prevails: Derek Jeter Reigns Supreme Over Alex Rodriguez, Defying Stats and Winning Hearts

With the Mavericks desperately requiring some defenders who can also shoot the three ball, Williams could be a perfect fit in their roster. Jayson Tatum on the other hand will have bigger goals for his 7th season in the NBA. After a disappointing exit in the Eastern Conference Finals, the 4 time All Star would look to lead the Celtics to the championship.