NBA
#22 – Grant Williams – Boston Celtics
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
With the 22nd overall pick of the NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics have selected Grant Williams, a former standout with the Tennessee Volunteers.
Williams almost opted to stay in school for his senior season — but this first-round selection validates his decision to move to the next level. At 6-foot-7, Williams offered the type of well-rounded, energy-driven athleticism that the Celtics could always utilize. He’ll need to improve from deep to really leave his mark on head coach Brad Stevens’ tough-to-crack rotation, but his versatility and hard-working skillset will make him a fan favorite in no time.
For those looking for more information on Williams, Basketball Insiders offered a closer look at the forward after the NBA Draft Combine in May. During scrimmages at the combine, Williams was well-lauded for his attention to detail and natural leadership abilities — so it won’t be long before the Celtics’ veteran-driven rotation makes room here either.
In all, Williams was an NCAA Unanimous First Team All-American and the reigning back-to-back SEC Player of the Year — he’s got the awards and plaudits to prove an impressive collegiate resume. If he can take his game to the next level, it’s hard to argue that there was a more perfect home for Williams’ talents than in Boston.
