Grant Williams 'Dissapointed' by No Tribute Video From Celtics | Interview w/ Cedric Maxwell

Name: Grant Williams 'Dissapointed' by No Tribute Video From Celtics | Interview w/ Cedric Maxwell
Uploaded: 2024-05-05T16:13:29+00:00
Duration: 51 min 10 s
Channel: CLNS Media Sports Network

CLNS Media Sports Network

1 year ago

Hornets forward Grant Williams talks about his reputation since splitting his season between Dallas & Charlotte, playing with Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, and the difference between playing for former Celtics head coach Ime Udoka and Joe Mazzulla.

0:00 Grant Williams joined the show
2:30 Grant on getting trading from Dallas
3:25 Grant on people saying he’s a bad locker room teammate
9:30 Tatum defends Grant
11:07 Playing Tatum and playing with Luka
15:35 Grant on his personality
18:48 How Grant started playing ball
20:20 Kyrie Irving in Dallas
26:44 Mazzulla vs Udoka
31:13 Grant on Ime Udoka suspension
33:05 NBA officiating
37:00 Grant on being traded to Charlotte
42:10 Grant on no tribute video
44:05 Boston fans showed love to Grant
46:25 Grant Williams NBA Finals Prediction

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00:00Cedric Maxwell podcast is powered by Price Picks the exclusive daily fantasy partner of the CLNS media network.

00:18Another episode of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.

00:22I'm Josue Pavone alongside Cedric Maxwell and fellows.

00:25We told you we're going to have some great guests.

00:28We got one right here.

00:29Very special guest.

00:30Grant Williams, NBA veteran, former Celtic, Charlotte Hornet.

00:35Big man joining the show, man, during his offseason.

00:37What's going on, Grant?

00:38Appreciate you stopping by.

00:39Thanks for having me on.

00:40Happy to be here.

00:41Heard something about your voice.

00:43Tell us.

00:44Your vocals weren't right.

00:46Yeah, we had to postpone this.

00:48That's right.

00:49Tell us what happened, man.

00:50Because I'm like, what's wrong with my voice?

00:52If anybody, if I heard anybody not to talk, it had to be you.

00:57Yeah, just say it was like a whole week and a half, two weeks where I really just either didn't have a voice or I was raspy.

01:03So it was interesting dealing with that.

01:06You know, it wasn't from season.

01:08That's the crazy part.

01:09Like I was yelling as much as I could during the year.

01:11But then all of a sudden my voice goes away when I start the offseason.

01:14It's crazy.

01:15But happy to have it back.

01:16And, you know, hopefully people are happy to hear it again.

01:19Well, tell us a little bit about your Charlotte team before we talk about your former team and all these other things.

01:26Just tell us what you're doing right now and how they're doing.

01:29Well, what I'm doing is what you see.

01:31I'm sitting here watching games.

01:32But outside of that, golfing and just, you know, enjoying the offseason as much as I can.

01:37But at the same time, getting prepared.

01:39You know, our team's young, has a lot of great potential.

01:43I feel like no one really expects much of us, which is part of the good thing, because we have the talent to be able to do a lot of special things next year, whether it's winning games but also making playoffs and just making an impact on each other.

01:55You know, as we continue to grow, whatever draft pick we add this upcoming offseason.

02:00And then on top of that, the veterans that we'll continue to bring back and hopefully whoever we sign, hopefully we get Myles back.

02:06And it's just a good opportunity for us to really make a lot of great things happen.

02:11Just the way this man's a veteran.

02:13He talks like a veteran.

02:15His words are measured.

02:17All this stuff.

02:18I want to get to the knitting, the down, dirty stuff, because both your former teams are playing right now.

02:25How do you feel about that?

02:27You look at Dallas.

02:28Dallas gave you this money.

02:29Then they all of a sudden decided that, you know, this doesn't fit.

02:33How did that, you know, rang out with you in the first place?

02:38Yeah, for me, it was one of those where I didn't take anything from it.

02:42Like they gave me the opportunity to make the money that I am making now, but also have an opportunity to make a name or even position myself for the team that I'm on currently.

02:52I'm excited for the opportunity here in Charlotte.

02:54But when it comes to Dallas, I'm excited for those guys.

02:57You know, they look good and competing against the Clippers.

02:59I'm excited for my man, D. Jones.

03:01I just want to give a big shout out to him because not only is he a tremendous human being, but a great teammate and a person that plays incredibly hard.

03:08One of the best defenders in the league in my eyes.

03:10But other than Luka and Kaepernick, the special ones, they've always been.

03:14Joe Sway, before you ask your question, I got to get to this because this is crazy.

03:18When did you become a bad guy?

03:22I mean, all of a sudden I see Mike Gorman talking about you.

03:25I see people from Dallas in the background talking about you.

03:29And the guy that I've always known and the guy that I love is a friend.

03:33And, you know, you didn't have any of this.

03:37So where did all this crap come from about you?

03:40I have no idea.

03:41Honestly, it's one of those where I think when a narrative is created, people pick up, like, jump on it.

03:47So I think after the trade and everything else that got leaked from whatever else, I don't know who leaked, like whether it was Tim Legler or stuff like that, saying people didn't like me there.

03:56I don't know what it was, but it started it.

03:58And then I guess when Draymond, while I was there at Dallas, I remember Draymond and Book were talking about how I was being a tough guy and all this other stuff.

04:07But I've always been a guy that protects and helps my teammates whenever possible.

04:11So I never go into a game saying I'm going to try to fight nobody.

04:14So it's really interesting just hearing all those different narratives that you just try your best to take the high road and move past them.

04:21Because I really appreciate each and every player that I play with, every player that I've come across.

04:26You know, I love to compete. I'm a natural competitor.

04:29And sometimes your competitive instincts get the best of you.

04:31But at the same time that the whole bad guy narrative, no idea.

04:36Well, look with me. Hold on. You were rubbing heads with Jimmy Butler.

04:40Yeah, I mean, this is my boy.

04:46I'm sticking with you thick and thin.

04:48But you did a beast with some people and it was it was right in front of our eyes.

04:54You know what's funny? It's funny because I never if you know me, Max, I'm not the first type to talk first.

04:59You know, so like it's like if you look at a Jimmy story, I always tell it all the time.

05:04Like Jimmy, when he when I shot the three right before that play happened and what happened?

05:08I remember he said, hell, no, that ain't here. And so I made the three.

05:13I said, I'm here. I'm here. Like I'm making it because I like that.

05:18And then he made the shot. He said, I'm here, too.

05:21I mean, I don't remember what we said. It was just like that blackout moment.

05:24But like I'm never a type to back down from a level of competition.

05:28I enjoy it. Like I'm just I'm the type person that like I want to compete against you no matter how you like to compete.

05:33Whether it's you talking trash and then I talk. But if you don't talk, the honest is the Joe beat never talks trash like that.

05:39At least not to me. But, you know, like those guys, like they just get the work in.

05:44And I love those type of players, whether it's like no matter where we are, no matter what game we're playing.

05:50I'm ready to compete at the highest level and we're going to battle. And that's what I enjoy.

05:54I love I love the battle. I love the war. And some nights you're going to lose and other nights you're going to win.

05:59So I always try to keep my head high through it. And when I lose, I admit that I got my ass kicked.

06:03And then when I win, I'm expected to be here the same.

06:06You know, I'm glad you guys brought this up, because one of the biggest quotes that stood out to me at the game five was what Jason Tatum talked about when he asked, well, who who decides what tough is right?

06:18Toughness. I mean, everyone has their own sort of definition in a sense. Right.

06:21Doesn't always have to be all the loudest guy in the room or or the guy who's maybe a quiet leader.

06:26You know, there's there's different forms of toughness. So when guys want to change the narrative, it's sort of depends on who's who speaking on it.

06:36Right. Like who defines that? You know, like, yeah, the spirit of the moment, like you just said, you and Jimmy Butler going at it or whatever.

06:41Like, yeah, you're going to talk your itch because you're in the you're competing, you know.

06:45And I thought that that was one of the great moments of that series, because it was like, man, when when Sutherland down all three is like someone needs to start showing some of that, showing some, hey, we're going to get pushed around here.

06:54And I thought that you really were the guy that sort of changed that, you know, throughout that series.

06:58And then, of course, the comeback obviously fell short in game seven.

07:01But man, to force a game seven, it takes a lot of toughness and a lot of grit to get back into the series the way you guys did.

07:09Absolutely. Like I always respect those heat teams because like I always say, when you define tough, you think of the guys who do it consistently.

07:16Like you can see this a little magic teams get in there like they're a team that people would say is it breeds toughness, you know, like same with Tibbs teams in New York.

07:24Those guys are tough no matter if they're fighting you or if they're just playing hard.

07:27And Miami is a team that like me and Bam always talk just because we know each other.

07:33So we're 15, 16 years old. So like I say, he thinks I'm compliment or not complimenting him.

07:38There was one play, I think, where he had a little shimmy fade and I said, OK, you know, we're kind of your game.

07:42He's like, curse me out. But I was like, I'll just give you a compliment.

07:46My bad. Those teams play hard, man.

07:49And you got to love it. You got to step into it.

07:52Like no matter you'll see a lot of these playoff moments that are going to happen where a team is going to try and put an impact.

07:58Like you saw in not just the Miami Heat-Boston series, Bam ran through Al's chest in game four.

08:03You know, whether it's the Mavs Clippers series, you know, where PJ gets going and gets the crowd going and gets the team going.

08:11It sparks some level of toughness because you look over each series.

08:15I remember game one watching the Mavs series. Clips came out on some like we're going to bully you guys.

08:20And then that next game they responded. So that's the love of the playoffs for me is something I miss and wish I was in right now.

08:27But that level of competitive edge, that level of understanding that winning is priority, no matter how it looks, no matter how ugly it gets.

08:35And I think that's the identity of toughness. You know, you can be a guy that wants to fight everybody, but, you know, it's a level of insecurity.

08:41So I always say that being tough doesn't necessarily be defined by being the loudest in the room or being a guy that walks around saying no one's going to mess with me.

08:49Unless you're James Johnson, because James Johnson killed one.

08:55You know, I always say that there's certain guys you don't **** with.

09:03His name came up in this podcast.

09:09Listen, listen, I'm used to saying, like, if you get into a fight at school and you lose, you better fight again and keep fighting.

09:17One of those guys where I say, Ma, I'm going to need some help.

09:25You know, it must have been pretty cool because Max brought up the Mike Gorman comment about you weren't always the best teammate.

09:31And Jason Tatum just goes out on Twitter and just says pretty much like, hey, that's Cap.

09:36You know, like, what was that like to hear, to see rather Jason Tatum speak up and just sort of set the record straight?

09:43I thought that was pretty cool.

09:44Yeah, man, that was special. I remember when he did that, I didn't ask him to do that.

09:49I just sent him a text afterwards. Like, I appreciate you.

09:51Like, that's something that goes unnoticed sometimes.

09:55And I appreciate him. D White, I think, spoke up about it as well.

09:58And like, I still keep in contact with my teammates from my rookie season.

10:01Like, I talk to Carson and Taco and guys like that.

10:04I try to reach out to everybody because, you know, we're all brothers at the end of the day.

10:08And as players, you know, it's a difficult thing sometimes.

10:11You might not have the closest relationship, but there might be a level of respect.

10:14There's other guys that you have close relationships with and they're going to be the ones that you maybe invite to your wedding one day or stuff like that.

10:20But being a bad teammate is something I never want to be called or labeled because I try my best to be there for my teammates in whatever capacity possible.

10:29And, yeah, sometimes I will acknowledge that I get annoying or get some level of like like some shut up, Grant.

10:35Like, we got to just focus on this. And I accept it because I know my personality and my goofiness is not for everybody.

10:41And I always remember Tice. This is the perfect example. Tice hated me, I think, when I first got to Boston.

10:48He always used to tell me to shut up and stuff like that.

10:50And we went to a couple of dinners and he just started getting comfortable around me.

10:54Now he's one of my closest friends. But like I always tease him.

10:57I remember back in the day, man, you used to treat me wrong as a rookie.

11:00It wasn't because I was a rookie. And he was like he was like, yeah, I could stand you.

11:04But I think the thing about the NBA, I want to ask you this comparing two players because you play with two great players.

11:16You see Jason Tatum and then you see what you have with Luca.

11:22How different are those two players and what are their games like since you've seen them up close and personal?

11:28It's actually very interesting because someone asked me this the other day.

11:32In terms of their ability, like the level of impact they both have on the game is incredible and special.

11:39You know, I haven't had the opportunity to see JT on his own, like by himself.

11:44No other like necessarily like where Luca's Kyrie's down, a couple of guys down, secondary score playmakers.

11:51I remember when JB went down. That's when I saw JT in that net series.

11:55I remember he had 61. Like people act like he doesn't have that.

11:59But JT's ability to defend and then impact the game offensively, not just by scoring, but by playmaking is something special because he trusts his teammates.

12:07And it's something that he's had to learn, develop. Luca, I think he's in a position right now where he knows that he can carry a team.

12:14And I think he's going to develop that where it's like, OK, I can carry.

12:17But at the same time, like last night, you saw how he was getting off the ball, playing faster and stuff like that.

12:22And I think as he develops that continues, similar to how JT did, like it's going to be special.

12:26He's going to be special to watch. He's already won. I think he's like him and him, JT, Jokic and who's the fourth?

12:33Giannis, you could say. Four of the top best players in the league.

12:38You can argue your case for each one and each one's different.

12:42But I think that, like, it's special to be on the teams with those two.

12:45Luca slows the game down to make way. I think he makes more difficult shots and tail.

12:50Just in terms of the shots that he's able to take and the footwork and his pace and stuff like that.

12:55How the hell does that man get his shot off? It looks slow motion.

12:59I'm like looking at it. You can see it come.

13:04I want you to get what I want to say. They said he's going to be the one that, you know,

13:08you guys talk about Larry Bird and how cold he was back in days, stuff like that.

13:12He's going to be that. Like, no one's going to believe how good Luca was.

13:16No one's going to believe like, oh, how is he doing this at this pace?

13:19So you guys just weren't athletic enough for the guard.

13:22Now, this this guy is special.

13:25And like, I'm excited to see who fought fights between the faces of the league,

13:29between him, JT and Anthony Edwards over the next five, 10 years.

13:34And then when Victor becomes Victor, like when he is in the conversation.

13:37But like, man, I was around that man in practice every day, day to day.

13:41And he's a phenomenal player.

13:44But he's also like people always talk about Luca as if like he's not this good guy.

13:48He's he's amazing. He's a good dude.

13:50And he's a person that you can also always say that he wants to compete.

13:54He wants to win. And sometimes it may look like he's whining or complaining.

13:57But at the same time, like that's just a level of passion.

14:00Sometimes it may look different compared to person by person.

14:04And I'm thankful to be able to say I played with both of those two guys in my career.

14:08And who knows? I must be able to say the same.

14:11Hopefully, Bob Lomelo and Brandon Miller as they continue to develop.

14:14You see, you see, I did that just the way I turn that page.

14:19That's how you do it. That's a veteran.

14:21That's some good shit, right?

14:24Right back to his team.

14:27That's pretty good, young man. You've learned a lot.

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15:49Normally that doesn't happen. Did that come from your mom?

15:53You know, because she is so in your dad.

15:56Are those people the people that influence you to be more talkative and, you know, just let your personality flow?

16:02Yeah, I would say my dad got me for the social aspect, being able to walk up to anybody and say hello and introduce yourself and talk.

16:09Like I remember there was a story about the big three where my friend was the biggest fan of Ice Cube and run our tests and a couple of others.

16:17And he's the shyest guy you can ever, ever know. And my dad's like, man, come on.

16:21He like walks us over. He's like, this is Kyle. This is Grant. This is my kid.

16:25Like and everything like I just got it from him, like being able to say, like, what's the worst that could happen?

16:30Someone just says go away or, you know, shut up or something like that.

16:33Yeah. You got to get used to rejection. So that's where I got it from the social aspect.

16:37For my mom, I feel like that's where I got my curiosity.

16:40And I think that's why some people always say, like, he's a know-it-all or wants to know it all, at least, because like I was she told me back in the day, like, there's always seven solutions or more to an equation or problem.

16:50So you have to look like I don't want you to just give me one. I want you to give me all of them.

16:54So, like, that's why I always ask why it's because it's not because I'm questioning or trying to be argumentative because I'm curious.

17:01Like, I want to know how they got to the answer, like how I can view it from a different perspective.

17:06And I think that can rub people the wrong way sometimes.

17:09But at the same time, like, I always assume that I do it from the good place in my heart.

17:14I never want to do it from a contentious, like I put diminishing way.

17:17But that's those are the two people that I kind of learn my life from.

17:21And I try and tell people to live the same way, because when it comes to the social aspect, like you never know who you'll meet one day.

17:27You'll never know what will arise. You never know what connections and friends you can make that might be lifelong.

17:33And then from the other perspective, you never know what you can learn.

17:35Like, you never know, like what coach can teach you something that you would never expect it or that.

17:40You know what, Grant? That's that's different from a mother of color.

17:44OK, like just wait, mom, just wait. Can you imagine your mom asking you something?

17:50You go, why? Oh, yeah. You had about one.

17:58Yeah, one good. Why doesn't my dad? There was no time.

18:03I don't know why. It's just like I told you to go out there.

18:06I know it's 150 degrees right now, but you go out there and cut that grass.

18:12Hey, why? No, no, no. The best is the best is why?

18:16And then what you say? Never mind. Never mind. It's done.

18:20I'll get it done. All right, dad. My bad. My grandma, my grandpa.

18:24Man, that was it. Like I learned. That's how I learned how to shut up, too.

18:29That's why my mom said that the reason why she raised me that way is I don't want to beat my children.

18:34I want to be the person that, like, makes an impact on you. And I was like, geez, my grandma did as much as you.

18:38You said you wouldn't. So now.

18:43Hold on, Max. I got to ask this question real quick. When did you when did you start playing basketball?

18:48When did you fall for the game, so to speak? Was it a social thing?

18:52Did you like how did the game come into your life? And when did you realize, like, man, I could you know what?

18:57This is this is my future. Yeah, I came from a basketball family.

19:00So, like, in a way, like I was a kid that honestly was just a lazy kid that just like was there really no much.

19:06I was just enjoy basketball because it gave me the chance to meet friends, stuff like that.

19:10And my cousin, Salim Stoudemire, Damon, those guys.

19:14That's the reason why, like, I have some type of connection from my dad's side.

19:19And then I remember, like, I remember I fell in love with it.

19:24Really going into my high school season because before I just loved the competitiveness of basketball.

19:30I enjoyed the socialness of basketball because I was a shy kid. I was a guy that was insecure.

19:33I was a nerd. So it wasn't like something that something that made me cool.

19:37And then eventually I was like, hey, like, I love this sport. I love being in the gym.

19:41I love working out like I am. And I'm getting like you. Sometimes you may lose that love.

19:45And I feel like that's something you find again, you know, when it comes to the profession, trying to get back to your love and passion.

19:52And I remember that was high school that I remember that was like, you know what?

19:57Like, I love this game and I want to see what the most I can do out of it.

20:01And I want to continue to improve, get better. And no matter what people say or do around me, I'm going to make the most out of opportunities that I receive.

20:08And I got to ask you this question. When did Kyrie Irving become the love bug again?

20:14Because he's gone from, you know, villain. Nobody likes him. Get out of this team.

20:20And now you see a whole nother side. He's got to Dallas and they've just embraced him.

20:26And he seems like he's in this growth pattern. I mean, you're there with him. You play women.

20:32But how how has that changed? That just seems really kind of cool. It's really cool for me to see that come for you.

20:39I feel like it's a little girl from every person. At the same time, it's all it's always narrative and spin.

20:44You know, same way they talked about Russell Westbrook being, quote, the worst player and talked out of his name.

20:49He was in L.A. and then he goes to the Clippers and you're like, oh, like he's an impact player.

20:53And it's changed the narrative and the conversation around him. But like these guys, like I remember Kyrie, when I first got to the league,

20:59he treated me with some of the most respect and care of any rookie second year, third year player.

21:04And I'm thankful because he was that way when I got to Dallas, too. He's a very inquisitive, conversationalist person.

21:10He may sometimes everybody has their swings. Everybody has their ups and downs, whether it's I do, too.

21:16And I smile every single day. But like Kyrie's been a person that like that love bug, that kind of like embracing.

21:23Like he always has that on teams. When did the hell did he come and stomp on the leprechauns?

21:28No, here we go. Here we go. No, I'm not letting that go.

21:33You know, I said, here we go. I know that was. And I've always been the biggest Kyrie fan.

21:40That's the one time I was pissed off with Kyrie about doing it because there was no need to do that.

21:45Do you remember? Do you remember when T.O. went to the star? Yeah, I do.

21:50That's when I went for that either. That's when like they talked about him.

21:57I'm not I'm not supporting what he did at all because, you know, like I have a level of respect for Boston and feel like a care that they showed me.

22:04But at the same time, like that's that level of like, you guys want to treat me this way. All right, then we'll do this.

22:09We're going to compete when we beat you. I'm like, put my flags, get my flag like Oklahoma, Texas game.

22:14Put my flag in the middle of your stadium because like you guys didn't want me or you guys talk crazy about me.

22:21I'm going to show you different. See, Max, see, Max takes it as a as a stop to the organization.

22:27I take it as he was stopping to the to the fans. But, yeah, I take it as stopping to the fans.

22:32Like, you know, you don't want to keep talking. Call me this. Call me that. Like, all right.

22:36Wipe my foot when I just beat you guys walking in your arena.

22:41That seemed like more like dog like dog shit was on your foot and you just wiped it.

22:46I was like, I love you, dude. But that was and then that in that made everything else go.

22:56And I've always been he goes from that to Brooklyn. He's in Brooklyn, obviously.

23:02And he was loved there. And then all of a sudden he wanted to leave. And now he gets to Dallas.

23:07And I'm I'm I'm genuinely happy for Kirby Irving. It seems like he's in a great place right now.

23:14And I'm happy for him as a person and a person that you've been around and a person.

23:19I've always said maybe the best finisher I've ever seen.

23:24I've never seen that before. I said the most talented guard the Southerners have ever had offensively would have been Kyrie Irving.

23:31And I look at the league. He might be one of the most special guards like that.

23:36That left handed shot that he shot against, you know,

23:40that was crazy that he was able to make over the Joker.

23:44So he just has so many tools, man. So many so many irons is crazy.

23:49It's crazy because, like, I was fortunate to be able to play those guys a couple of times, like one on one and stuff like that during this during the year.

23:56And guarding Kyrie sometimes I used to talk trash because I guard him pretty well.

24:00And then we get to one on one and stuff like that. And the shots that he's able to create for himself, the separation he's able to create.

24:06Like that's something I always say is special about him because he's not the most athletic or oversized guy.

24:11But like his ability to use his footwork, his positioning, how to stop on a dime, how to use either hand like it's just special.

24:17And then Luca, his size and his ability to just create space like two separate different players.

24:23And honestly, it's just really cool to play with and against.

24:27The man's a crane when I watch Luca.

24:34And I understand what you're saying, because I remember being I was one of the first guards, one of the guys to guard Larry Bird.

24:42And I was thinking the same way. I'm like, shit, no, this this ain't real.

24:46This and I stood out there for about the early 80s or after about the hour of play.

24:53I had not I had pretty much talked about this white boy.

24:58White boy can't play after about an hour and get to the next black person I got to after that practice.

25:03I said, you know what? But the white guy can play down there and just change the narrative to who he was.

25:09And I'm sure that I'm just like, I'm very curious in.

25:14How it was viewing Luca from afar, but then viewing him every day, that's a different feel for anybody.

25:21Yeah, I was on a cell phone. I was like, he makes a lot of tough shot.

25:25No, like I remember I talked to him when I got there and I said, like, did you ever feel like I guarded you?

25:31Well, you know, like because like there was some times where like I would get good, great defense.

25:35He'd make a tough shot. He's like, yeah, you're right. Like he would. He's just a guy.

25:39He's just like he's asshole sometimes. It's funny. But at the same time, like, it's really cool because like when you get there, you realize that he does work on all these things.

25:48And he has like a love for the game and a level of commitment to it.

25:53And like it's all about like he just really he worked with me. He works on this game.

25:58He threw it off the backboard one time and it went in. I've never seen that.

26:03The big the big jumbotron in somebody's building, he throws it up to the top, hits the hits the jumbotron and then comes straight in.

26:10He works on that. He works on everything you can think of.

26:16I remember there was a game where it was a 28 foot mark. I was I think I got subbed out and he was on a 28 foot mark.

26:23He bumps and like is in a trap location. He throws it up. It was right. And it goes off the glass and goes in.

26:28Like he does. He does that every single day. Like he'll walk into the gym and there'll be a ball right there.

26:33He'll just start from wherever the ball rack location is and then he'll make like three or four of them in there.

26:39All right, cool. Like I kind of have to have the feel like it's just he just special. He's special.

26:44What was the biggest difference between playing for Imei Yudoka and playing for Joe Mizzoula?

26:49Because that turnaround from the twenty twenty two team, man, like we'll we'll never forget that.

26:54You know, just the way you guys ended the season with riding through the playoffs all the way to the NBA Finals, two wins away.

27:00And then all of a sudden you guys have a new coach heading at the training camp.

27:04Oh, you have to adapt to that. Just tell me, like, what was the biggest differences that you could think of off the top between playing for Joe Mizzoula?

27:11And that first season compared to what Imei Yudoka was like?

27:15Two different styles. I think I think honestly, polar opposite styles, you know, like Imei is very tough.

27:22I want dog like I want to defend like offense will come.

27:26Like I just want guys who are willing to play as hard as possible and fight and whatever else and grip.

27:31And then Joe's a little bit more like he still is like, you know, he's crazy to sell.

27:35He wants to fight tough. He still wants that. But he's way more offensively minded.

27:39He's way more like I want to get better pace. You don't want to give him better looks.

27:42I don't turn an open shot. So even the contestant was don't turn him down.

27:46And that's where I feel like I think that it was it wasn't.

27:50I always say, like, you have to give credit to Joe because, like, the first year of a head coach put in a position that he was in.

27:57That's difficult for anybody. Like you're trying to both keep what was working, going well, also like putting your own twist on things.

28:04And I think that's probably a good, good thing. Not a good thing.

28:07But, like, at the same time, like, I think that it was something that was needed to happen for, like, myself, like for Sam to play, because that fits more Joe style versus when it was me and him.

28:18It's like a question of like, oh, great. God has helped you. Let's get there last year.

28:21But then it's like Sam is kind of fitting the kind of system and play that I want to play.

28:26So I think that it's just two different styles of coaches.

28:30And we see that across the league, like when like a clip for like these guys have their tips.

28:35These guys have their style of teams. You know, they know the type of athlete, the type of person they want in their system versus like Joe's kind of handed a team.

28:43And that's why I think that this year's team has so much success, not just in addition with the drew ad and the Christoph's ad, but like the styles of play, like a man in Houston.

28:53Like he changed that team around because at the end of the day, he brought toughness and he brought grit to an organization that hadn't necessarily had a level of consistency or style of play.

29:02And I think that, like, both are tremendous coaches are just completely different.

29:06Like it's like arguing like Rick Barnes to Nate Oates. Like Rick Barnes is a little more old school, a little more physical, a little more down.

29:17Like I want to make the game ugly while Nate Oates is like, I want to play more fast. I want to shoot more threes. I want to play more NBA style.

29:23Like it's just two great coaches. And once they get their teams, they can make the best, best maximize their potential.

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31:13Let me ask you this because, you know, everybody kind of wanted to know.

31:17When the whole thing happened with Imei and the controversy you had leaving with the Boston Celtics.

31:25As a player, one, I know you had to be surprised.

31:29But did you guys finally get an understanding?

31:32Because that just had to be shocking.

31:34It was shocking to me when they just called me overnight saying Imei's out.

31:38Imei's out? What the hell do you mean Imei's out?

31:40Yeah. I feel like there's more to say, but I can't. We're not going to say.

31:45But I would say that.

31:47Grant's not talking. Is that what you're saying? Grant is holding something.

31:52Josue, hold on a minute.

31:54I guess Langston Wurst.

31:56I know. Plus Max, we didn't tell him, man. We keep it on 100 here.

32:00We should have put a disclaimer.

32:01Yeah, we keep it on 100.

32:02That's what we do here.

32:03Langston Wurst was right about something. He called me the mayor back in the day.

32:07So, you know, I'm making this the right answer.

32:09I would say that I was definitely shocked because, you know, but you have to understand the organization's position.

32:16So, you know, I was definitely like bummed and frustrated and didn't want him to leave and a bunch of other different emotions.

32:23But at the same time, you know, you try to understand from the organizational perspective and business side of why it had to happen.

32:31And, you know, we all have our understanding of the story and kind of things that were happening and blah, blah, blah.

32:38And I always just say, like, I'm supportive of my man because he's one of the best coaches in this league.

32:46This dude is the best, Josue.

32:48This is the first time I've ever heard him.

32:50He's got a future in politics.

32:52Blah, blah, blah.

32:54It doesn't connect. Pick that. That's not a communicator, Grant.

32:59You know, that's the seven things your mom told you. Blah, blah, blah.

33:03What the hell is that? That's on the Simpsons. I mean, really.

33:07That was option D. That was option D.

33:10That group chat must have been crazy.

33:13I'll just say that. I'm sure. Between you and the teammates, man.

33:18Because, yeah, it was crazy. Crazy 48 hours for sure.

33:22It was a crazy 48 hours. And it's funny because, like, it's cool because I just me and Joe had just gotten back from Europe because I took Joe to Europe because I wanted to work with him that year.

33:34And then all of a sudden all this stuff happens. You're working with the head coach. That's crazy.

33:38But then that's why I was so like, that's why it was so difficult at the time, because, like, I was going through the whole contract and also playing well.

33:47And then all of a sudden stop playing. It was just a weird thing.

33:50We talked in Boston, me and Joe, after everything that settled all the dust.

33:54So and after I was on Charlotte and stuff like that, and like he's always been my family.

33:59So, like, that's something that I was great, great impression to, like, be able to have your brother back because, like, people always wonder, like, what's wrong with you and Joe?

34:06What's wrong with this? What's wrong with that? And it's cool to be able to say, like, we're good and moving forward.

34:11And, like, I'm supportive. I've always been supportive of him. But now we're back to where we were.

34:16It is it is the NBA is in a great place right now, but I'm just trying to feel as a player.

34:25You get an understanding or did you get the memo how the rules were just changed after the All-Star break?

34:31Because the game was completely called different. I'm like a foul, which was a foul, wasn't a foul.

34:38It was it's drastic, honestly, like it's normally like there's going to be some changes like every year you're going to have it where you like.

34:45I remember last year you'd be like, oh, it's a little more physical, you know, or they're letting things go a little bit more.

34:50Like that's why people always wonder, like, Grant, why are you always weird during the season foul so much and stuff like that?

34:55And then, like, when the end of the season slash playoffs happen, you're like, oh, it is about all.

35:01Because like late in the season, they stop calling the fouls that are like the tick, the flails that guys do to get their point averages and stuff like that.

35:09But this year was like aggressively changed. Ridiculous.

35:16Yeah. Watching the playoffs right now. I'm like, I played a playoff series and this year's completely like way more physical and I would have loved it.

35:25Like like it's something that like I wish they were able to do this over 82 games and over the course of like the whole season.

35:32But I do understand like player health, player safety, because like if you did this over 100 plus games, like you might have a lot more entries than needed.

35:39But like they definitely I don't know if it was a memo to a referee saying, you know, tighten up or if you need to do something.

35:46But they definitely changed or like even some of the challenges that will happen during this during the playoffs.

35:52Now, you watch a little like, yeah, like that's technically that would be a foul in the regular season.

35:57That would be a foul. And all of a sudden they're like, yeah, it was incidental contact.

36:01I'm like, oh, the same thing during the season.

36:07Like I always laugh because I'm like and then like I understand there's going to be selective officiating sometimes.

36:12Like you can't throw a beat out for the Flaker foul.

36:14You know, Mr. Robinson, let me do that. I'm out of there.

36:19Like certain things, I'm just like, all right, like you got to understand there's going to be some some there's going to be some gray area.

36:25But the black and white is a little more gray now than ever before.

36:30I think in this whole playoff series and everything.

36:34But that Joel Embiid thing, that to me was it was pretty bad.

36:40I mean, he he just reached out and grabbed the guy's leg and yanked him.

36:46I was like, what part of the game is that?

36:52Russell Westbrook got a flagrant for slapping a guy in the face and stuff like that.

36:56Like, oh, yeah. Like what? That's like, I remember during the season.

37:01This is a sore subject. But I remember Brandon Miller took one gym and put his arm out a little bit too high.

37:08Got contact with the guy. I was like, oh, it's gonna be a flavor. One flagrant to.

37:12I'm like, so I'm just like, all right, let me just compare this to the playoffs that I'm watching.

37:17I'll watch some of the plays. I'm like, oh, OK, we're going to keep these games, keep these games fun.

37:22Like these guys are going to get thrown out. Like I think as a fan of the sport, like it's good.

37:27Like if I'm like if I'm you, Max, I'm old. Like if I'm even like the old school, like 90s, 80s, 70s, 60s players watching this game, you're like, oh, this is this is the basketball I want to see.

37:37Like we had scores in the 90s, 96 to 80 in the playoffs.

37:41Like that's that's fun in my eyes because it's not just the defense is allowed to play more, but we're not giving the like, oh, I just flailed and I'm getting a call.

37:50Like it's like, oh, we're going to compete for every basket, every bucket.

37:53And there's going to be some tough shots being made. There's also going to be some different schemes that can be done.

37:57So I enjoy it. Here's one of the things that happened to you.

38:00And I like for you to tell the fans a little bit about it. Getting traded in the middle of the season.

38:05Different when you get trade during the offseason, but in the middle of the season.

38:10It's a little bit more upsetting or is it just dramatic? What would you say?

38:17It depends. So, like, if it was blind, I definitely would have been a little bit more like.

38:24Like what the heck, like more frustrated, stuff like that.

38:27The benefit is that like me and Nico have a great relationship, a good relationship, but we were able to communicate.

38:32He's a very honest GM or tries to be with anything that's potentially possible.

38:38And I remember I was communicating to the whole process because I had an idea. And I remember it was going to I knew it was going to happen.

38:46So, like, it was more difficult, more so when you get there and like trying to adapt, figure out where to live.

38:51Like, that's something that people don't understand, because I was in a hotel for three and a half months.

38:56So, like, living out of the bags, I never went back to Dallas.

38:59So, like, I had to have my mom or friends or family kind of go back and like ship bags or like whether it was like fly out with them.

39:06Be like, hey, I need some clothes to wear, because otherwise you just kind of live.

39:10You're living out of bags for the next. But, you know, look, it had to be a lot easier going to Charlotte, though.

39:16I mean, a lot easier because of, you know, you. Yes and no, man.

39:21Not everyone wants to go home. You want. Why did you never come back and play it?

39:26Oh, why did you come back and play a shot? I said, Max, I was done.

39:30I didn't have nothing to give. I was you wasn't trying to do that.

39:35I was done playing. You could have you could have had three more years, you know, say you had three.

39:39Yeah, let's say pathetically. Right. And you're like, you know what? I'm going to play a shot.

39:43I would. I would. I would have loved Charlotte at twenty five when you were right.

39:47When you were when you were playing, trying to, you know, be to be develop your career.

39:54Probably not. OK, but you want me.

39:58He want me to keep it on the. Keep it on it. Yeah, exactly.

40:02Something I will say that surprised me was that, like how much I would love it.

40:07Like I got here at first, I was kind of nervous because I was like, I'm going to be surrounded by all these people I grew up with.

40:12And as much as they love and care, but like you're always going to call it up and like you have to balance stuff like that.

40:17But it's something special about playing for your hometown team and also special with if your hometown team is trying to build something and you can be a part of it.

40:27That's something that I think I'm taking pride in, because like I remember I grew up with the Hornets, I grew up with the Bobcats.

40:33And like the fact is, we haven't had the success that necessarily a franchise would want in this NBA and the league.

40:39So if you're a part of that team or if you're a part of that group that can hopefully spur those next 30, 20, 50 years,

40:46like I would love to be a part of that and lay the foundation and set it for the future.

40:52Was Jordan, let me ask you this, was Jordan around at all or was he hands on?

40:57Was he out of there by the time you got there?

41:00Yeah, he's still I think he's still a minority owner.

41:04He shot me a text just because I'm a Jordan athlete and also because I've known him before.

41:09So I was thankful that, you know, he reached out to me. It was like, you know, excited to have him.

41:13But I think he's a little more hands off now. You know, Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin are the governors and they're incredible.

41:20I'm going to tell your mom if you ever use that blah, blah, blah again, talking, she's going to be in your ass.

41:26OK, you know, Grant, that is not how you communicate.

41:30That'd be like you, you know, and I you're communicating.

41:34I've seen you before on air. It's just funny when you think about how you how you play and what you do, man.

41:40I love it. But for you to communicate like that, that's kind of crazy to me.

41:45That's true. I've got to say, I just didn't want to, you know, I don't remember the whole text word for word.

41:49So I just don't want to I want to say like misquote what he said.

41:53But I will say is that the new ownership really cares, wants to invest in the franchise,

42:00both from an investment in terms of like the facilities, but also really want to make it an organization that can compete with these historic

42:09and competitive teams that have been over the course of these past 15, 20 years in the NBA.

42:14So I'm excited for the potential here and the growth here, because not only do the ownership want really to happen,

42:20but I think the city does. And I think that as we continue to grow, like there's something that we can make really special and make happen.

42:28And I think that's going to be sooner than people think. What was coming back to the Garden like?

42:32Because like you said, well, I don't know if we I think we talked about it before we started recording,

42:35but you still keep in contact with a lot of your former teammates.

42:39First time going into the visitor locker room.

42:42And second part of my question is, were you surprised by the by the tribute video or the length of it rather?

42:48Just the whole experience. What was it like? Well, I didn't get a tribute video.

42:52I was like, dang, I was like, I don't know. That was that was the controversy.

42:58I mean, after the fact, we we didn't even know if we should actually call it a tribute video or salute video, because I have.

43:05Listen, Max and I, we've been going to these games for years and years.

43:09I've never seen it done like that. I was expecting them to show those three.

43:13You knock down in the corner. Game seven.

43:17What's this great thing like? Hey, Grant, thanks for coming.

43:23I always try to, you know, play devil's advocate or look from the other side.

43:28But I think it's because when Rob told them he wanted just to salute, like, thank you and stuff like that.

43:34Because they gave smart the video and I got to respect it.

43:38You know, smart was there for eight years and was a true impact on the city and organization and everything else.

43:44And as much as I was involved in the community and love Boston organization, you know,

43:49I think they just were trying to be consistent with what they had done prior. But was I a little bit disappointed?

43:54Yeah. Just because I feel like there was some great years in those four years that I was there.

43:59Kid, they got drafted there. And I was a kid that grew up there and was able to, you know,

44:03hopefully go through a lot of things that helped help them get to the point where they are now.

44:08But I was thankful just because, you know, even even if it's a slow dedication, no matter how small,

44:13you know, you've got to be grounded, have some gratitude because they could have just not done anything.

44:17So even though it was just a thank you grant, you know, that's something that can be standard across the league, you know.

44:23But it definitely kind of surprised me. Normally, knowing twists and all the guys that are there, I would assume that they would have wanted to.

44:30But my guess is whether it was organizationally or something,

44:33they were trying to be respectful of the people that just came, whether it was Malcolm or Rob.

44:39Yeah, no question. It's good to see you back, man, because obviously when you switch teams,

44:43you kind of push things back. And I just know the fans were excited.

44:46I saw a handful of your jerseys in the crowd.

44:49And it's always cool because that's sort of the Celtics tradition, Celtics culture.

44:54Like people will remember you forever. And especially when you come up big in the playoffs,

44:59you know, that huge game center performance. And of course, the team that went to the finals.

45:04And like you said, a team that drafted you and you started your career.

45:08Yeah. And then in regards to like coming back as a visitor.

45:11Yeah, it was definitely weird just because like I was like, oh, yeah, I remember riding that bus backwards up the tunnel.

45:17You're like, yeah, I love this. And then like walking into the visitor's side.

45:22It's really, really nice. I've never been over there, but it was pretty nice.

45:26But I remember I didn't go on the court before the game, but I remember coming out and there was nothing but love like in the arena.

45:33Like people saying, come back, like we'll want you back, like and stuff like that.

45:37And they were like, you'll be the next Al, we trade you and then come back two years later.

45:43Or Tice, I remember they said we'll have Tice back for a third time.

45:46Yeah, Tice are the same. That's right.

45:48It felt refreshing, you know, because, you know, when you're playing there, you're going to have to make some emotional, no matter where you're playing.

45:54But like the fact is, like the true fans, the ones that show up every single night that are supportive of the team,

46:00like it felt cool to be able to come back, see the jerseys, see the love that was being poured.

46:04And it feels cool to be able to say that, you know, you made an impact someplace, no matter if it was small or large.

46:10Dude, we want to thank you for coming on with us, man.

46:13And, you know, just giving you something that I'm pissed off that it's 86 degrees right now in Charlotte.

46:19And me and Joe Sway are dealing in the 50s here.

46:22Nothing about spring. I mean, we got clear skies every now and then.

46:25But the weather, man, Grant's not it, man. It's a classic, classic.

46:29You can wear a sweater, but, you know, you're going to be hot during the day.

46:32But at night, you don't need that sweater again.

46:34I've retired my Canada Goose.

46:37Oh, see, you don't need that anymore.

46:39Listen, listen, y'all have fun because I'm getting pretty 90 degree weather, golfing in the morning, even during the winters.

46:46You know, you might get a little cold, put a jacket on.

46:49But, like, I got a chance to be able to say, like, oh, the only thing that I could say that Boston doesn't have that we have down here is the pollen and all that stuff.

46:57You know, the allergies, allergies. But other than that, y'all have it.

47:00Y'all have fun. I can see the sun in November.

47:03Y'all can have the gloomy skies all you want. I'm going to be smiling.

47:06Thank you, Grant. Hold on, hold on, hold on.

47:09Watch this, Joe Sway. Watch this. Blah, blah, blah, blah.

47:13I want a prediction. How's this playoff going to end? Real quick.

47:16It's been a crazy first round.

47:18Can I put contingencies?

47:21Yeah, do whatever you want to. Keep it 100, man. You're going to offend us.

47:25So I'll have Celtics. And so it's either going to be, it's going to be Celtics Nuggets.

47:31And I think that if the Celtics play the Nuggets, the Nuggets win by, like, it's like a seven game series or six game series and the Nuggets find a way to win.

47:38If the Nuggets lose to the Timberwolves, I have the Mavs go into the finals, Celtics-Mavs, and I have Celtics beating the Mavs in probably six games.

47:48Wow. Okay.

47:51But I think that's all contingent on if the Minnesota beats Denver.

47:55Because if Minnesota beats Denver, I think that, I think Denver's the hardest team for Celtics to match up against.

48:01And just because Yoke's just that special of a player and his ability to, you know, play, get guys involved.

48:06Is that why you wore that Batman thing that time? The Batman suit?

48:10Oh, yeah, that's right.

48:11When you stopped Yoke's that time and he came back and it rained.

48:16Oh, listen, listen, ever since that day, listen, Max, listen, ever since that day, anytime I play the Nuggets, he been on my ass.

48:26He remembered. That's why he remembered.

48:28He been on my ass. Listen, I love it. I love it. I love competing.

48:33Before we go, one last question I want to ask.

48:37Watching Anthony grow, Anthony Edwards, is he that dude now? Is he that one?

48:46I think that he is still going to continue to grow, but he's that motherfucker.

48:50He's that motherfucker. He's that motherfucker.

48:54He's a guy that you can look at where you're like, if they keep that team together, he's a threat year over year.

49:01It's a matter of like, do they have it this year?

49:04Because like adding that gauntlet to the West, just because you're the man this year doesn't mean that John might come in next year.

49:10It doesn't mean that Luca and them aren't going to improve.

49:13Like it's going to be it's going to be interesting to see who takes that mantle of that guy, because I think it's between JT, Luca and Ant.

49:22Because Giannis and those guys are towards their like prime and stuff like that.

49:25They'll be towards KD's time versus these guys, these young guys.

49:29And then eventually after that, it's going to be Chet and Wimby and whoever else comes, Cooper, if he's that good.

49:35You better not leave Shea out of there. You better not leave.

49:38This is what I say about Shea.

49:40Shea's amazing.

49:41He'll always be the underappreciated assassin.

49:43He'll be that guy. He'll be that guy that they're going to be like, he's going to be top five in the conversation and stuff like that.

49:48They'll never give him that love. But I think that he's going to be that underrated assassin.

49:52That's going to like always be a person that you're like, you know, he deserves more credit.

49:56He deserves more credit. But he's in OKC. They don't talk about him as much as they probably should.

50:01But he's that underrated assassin that you're like, he might be in that James conversation where they're like, he's the best guard in the league.

50:07They might not say he's the best.

50:09Either way, the NBA is in good hands, man. I can't wait to see all these careers unfold for sure.

50:15But he is veteran forward from the Charlotte Hornets.

50:18He is Grant Williams on the Cedric Maxwell podcast. Don't be a stranger, man.

50:22We have to have you back on. Anytime. You know, I'm going to talk.

50:26That's right. Blah, blah, blah, blah.

50:31That's going to do it for this episode of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.

50:33You already know. Rate, review, subscribe, all that good stuff.

50:37He is Cedric Maxwell. I am Josue Pavone. We'll see you guys next week.

50:45Josue Pavone here, CLNS Media.

50:55And if you made it this far, that means you really like this video.

50:58So hit subscribe. Make sure you keep our notifications on, dammit.