Grant Williams Bio
Grant Dean Williams is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A power forward listed at 6 ft 7 in and 236 lb, Williams was drafted 22nd overall in the 2019 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics and reached the NBA Finals with the team in 2022. He has also played for the Dallas Mavericks. Beyond his playing career, Williams was elected as the First Vice President of the National Basketball Players Association in February 2023, replacing Andre Iguodala in the role.
Early Life and Background
Grant Dean Williams was born on November 30, 1998, in Houston, Texas, and later moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, as a child. He is the son of Gilbert Williams, a jazz artist and former college basketball player who has worked as a bodyguard for musicians, including Prince, and Teresa Johnson, an electrical engineer for NASA. The family environment blended athletics, music, and science, shaping Williams’ early interests and competitive drive.
Williams attended Providence Day School in Charlotte, where he was teammates with future and fellow NBA player Devon Dotson. As a junior in 2014–15, he averaged 18 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game while leading the Chargers to a 25–5 overall record. During the summer, Williams joined his AAU team, Team CP3 All-Stars, on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Circuit, where he was teammates with fellow top 2016 recruit Harry Giles III. As a senior, he averaged 15.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 blocks per game. Rated a three-star recruit in the class of 2016, Williams committed to the University of Tennessee on November 13, 2015.
Path to Basketball
Williams chose the Tennessee Volunteers over a number of scholarship offers, including those from Ivy League schools Harvard and Yale. He went on to play three seasons of college basketball for the Volunteers, becoming one of the most decorated players in program history. He was an All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection as a freshman, sophomore, and junior, and he was awarded back-to-back SEC Player of the Year honors for the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons, becoming the first player to do so since Corliss Williamson in 1995.
Williams led Tennessee as a third seed in the 2018 NCAA tournament and as a second seed in the 2019 NCAA tournament. In 2019, he was named a consensus first-team All-American. He also collected SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2017 and two First-team All-SEC selections. Williams graduated from Tennessee in three years with a degree in business after turning down the Ivy League opportunities, a path that positioned him for the 2019 NBA draft.
Grant Williams Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Williams was selected with the 22nd overall pick by the Boston Celtics in the 2019 NBA draft. On July 11, 2019, the Celtics announced that they had signed him to a four-year, $11.8 million rookie-scale contract. He made his professional debut on October 23, 2019, coming off the bench in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, and recorded his first career start on December 4, 2019, in a winning effort against the Miami Heat. Williams finished his rookie season averaging just over 15 minutes per game in 69 games, with 3.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
In his second season, Williams slightly increased his averages across all major statistical categories, finishing with just over 18 minutes, 4.7 points, and 2.8 rebounds per game. He also gained a reputation for team-first gestures, pledging to dye his hair pink if his Celtics teammates Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Kemba Walker all made the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. Although Brown did not make the team and the plan was never carried out, the moment reflected Williams’ role as a vocal locker-room presence.
Boston Celtics Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Williams elevated his role during the 2021–22 NBA season, setting career-best averages of over 24 minutes, 7.8 points, and 3.6 rebounds per game. On March 21, 2022, he scored a then-career-high 20 points in a win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. His defining postseason moment came on May 15, 2022, when he scored a career-high 27 points in a decisive Game 7 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. He went 7-for-18 from three-point range, setting records for both made threes and three-point attempts in an NBA Game 7. Williams helped the Celtics reach the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.
The 2022–23 season brought both milestones and challenges. On October 26, 2022, Williams was suspended for one game without pay for making contact with a game official during a loss to the Chicago Bulls. On March 6, 2023, he missed two critical free throws in the final seconds of a 118–114 overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and a confrontation with Donovan Mitchell drew significant online attention. During Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Miami Heat on May 19, 2023, he scored nine points, two rebounds, two assists, and one block in 26 minutes off the bench, but a verbal exchange with Jimmy Butler after a three-pointer helped fuel Miami’s late 24–9 run in a 111–105 loss.
Dallas Mavericks Era (2023–2024)
On July 12, 2023, Williams was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in a sign-and-trade agreement, signing a four-year, $53.3 million contract. He made his Mavericks debut on October 25, 2023, in a 126–119 win over the San Antonio Spurs. His time in Dallas lasted through the early part of the 2023–24 season, providing the Mavericks with frontcourt depth and three-point shooting before a midseason move.
Charlotte Hornets Era (2024–Present)
On February 8, 2024, Williams was traded to the Charlotte Hornets alongside Seth Curry and a 2027 first-round pick in exchange for P. J. Washington and two future second-round picks. Returning to Charlotte, where he had attended Providence Day School, Williams quickly became a key member of the Hornets’ frontcourt rotation. On November 23, 2024, he suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament, meniscus, and other ligaments in the right knee during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks after a collision with center Brook Lopez.
Williams worked through a lengthy rehabilitation, and on January 10, 2026, he officially made his return from injury, playing 13 minutes off the bench during a 150–95 victory over the Utah Jazz. His comeback marked a significant step in the Hornets’ long-term plans and reaffirmed his value to the roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Williams is known for his high basketball IQ, physical interior play, and the ability to stretch the floor as a power forward. He combines rebounding toughness, smart positioning, and reliable three-point shooting, allowing him to fit alongside versatile wings and bigger post players. His willingness to set screens, communicate defensively, and accept a variety of roles has made him a dependable complementary piece throughout his NBA career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Williams’ signature achievements are his 27-point Game 7 performance against the Bucks, his 2022 NBA Finals appearance with the Celtics, and his status as a back-to-back SEC Player of the Year. His record-setting three-point shooting in a Game 7 stands as one of the most memorable playoff performances in recent Celtics postseason history, and his election as NBPA First Vice President in 2023 reflects his standing among his peers.
Grant Williams Career Wins
Grant Williams has built a résumé that includes team success at the highest levels, highlighted by an NBA Finals run in 2022 and multiple conference finals appearances. While individual scoring titles are not the hallmark of his game, his shooting efficiency, rebounding, and defensive play have contributed to winning efforts at every stop.
NBA Highlights
Williams reached the 2022 NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2022 and 2023. His Game 7 effort against Milwaukee is considered one of the defining individual performances of his career. With the Hornets, he has continued to provide veteran leadership while recovering from a major knee injury.
Other Wins and Performances
At Providence Day School, Williams led the Chargers to a 25–5 record as a junior and earned statewide recognition as a senior. At Tennessee, he helped guide the Volunteers to the 2018 NCAA tournament as a three seed and the 2019 NCAA tournament as a two seed. He also received the C & C Millwright Athletic Scholarship during his college career.
Grant Williams Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Williams is the son of Gilbert Williams, a jazz artist and former college basketball player who has worked as a bodyguard for musicians, including Prince, and Teresa Johnson, an electrical engineer for NASA. He is a cousin of former NBA players Salim and Damon Stoudamire, extending a deep family connection to professional basketball.
Personal Life
Off the court, Williams is an avid sports card collector, a hobby he often shares on his social media. He threw out the first pitch at a Boston Red Sox game on August 7, 2019, and he graduated from Tennessee in three years with a degree in business. On April 29, 2026, Williams announced his engagement to former Tennessee softball player Kiki Milloy.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year was defined by Williams’ recovery from the right knee injury he suffered on November 23, 2024, against the Milwaukee Bucks. The torn anterior cruciate ligament, meniscus, and additional ligament damage kept him out for the remainder of the 2024–25 NBA season, requiring extensive rehabilitation before he could return to game action.
Throughout 2025, the Hornets built their identity around a young core, while Williams focused on regaining strength, mobility, and on-court rhythm. His presence in the locker room, combined with his frontcourt experience, offered guidance to younger teammates as Charlotte pushed for growth in the Eastern Conference standings.
Williams’ long-awaited return came on January 10, 2026, when he played 13 minutes off the bench in a 150–95 victory over the Utah Jazz, signaling a fresh chapter for both player and franchise. The Hornets entered the next phase of their season with renewed depth in the frontcourt, and Williams aimed to build on the momentum of his comeback with consistent contributions in the rotation.
