Grant Williams Bio
Grant Dean Williams is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing around 107 kilograms, Williams plays as a forward and has built a reputation as a versatile defender and reliable three-point shooter. He played college basketball for the Tennessee Volunteers and was drafted 22nd overall in the 2019 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. Williams has also suited up for the Dallas Mavericks during his professional career.
Beyond his on-court work, Williams was elected First Vice President of the National Basketball Players Association in February 2023, replacing Andre Iguodala in the role. He now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he continues his playing career with the Hornets.
Early Life and Background
Grant Dean Williams was born on November 30, 1998, in Houston, Texas. As a child, he moved with his family to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he spent most of his formative years. He is the son of Gilbert Williams, a jazz artist and former college basketball player who has also worked as a bodyguard for musicians, including Prince, and Teresa Johnson, an electrical engineer for NASA.
Williams attended Providence Day School in Charlotte, where he played alongside future NBA guard Devon Dotson. As a junior in 2014–15, he averaged 18 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, leading the Chargers to a 25–5 record. In his senior year, he posted 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 Tennessee on November 13, 2015, turning down offers from Harvard and Yale.
Path to Basketball
Williams refined his game during the summer on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Circuit with the AAU program Team CP3 All-Stars, where he teamed with future NBA player Harry Giles III. Those experiences helped him sharpen his perimeter skills before his college career began.
At Providence Day School, Williams developed into one of the top high school big men in North Carolina. His combination of size, shooting touch, and court vision made him a priority recruit for several high-major programs. After weighing Ivy League options, he chose the University of Tennessee, where he would later graduate in three years with a degree in business while also earning the C & C Millwright Athletic Scholarship.
Grant Williams Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Williams made an immediate impact at Tennessee, earning SEC All-Freshman Team honors from the coaches in 2016–17. He followed that with back-to-back SEC Player of the Year awards in 2017–18 and 2018–19, becoming the first player to repeat that honor since Corliss Williamson in 1995. He also collected First-team All-SEC recognition in both seasons and was named a consensus first-team All-American in 2019.
Williams led the Volunteers as a third seed in the 2018 NCAA tournament and as a second seed in 2019. After three strong college seasons, he declared for the 2019 NBA draft, where the Boston Celtics selected him with the 22nd overall pick.
Boston Celtics Breakthrough (2019–2023)
The Boston Celtics signed Williams to a four-year, $11.8 million rookie-scale contract on July 11, 2019. He made his professional debut on October 23, 2019, off the bench in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, and earned his first career start on December 4, 2019, in a win against the Miami Heat. He finished his rookie year averaging just over 15 minutes, 3.4 points, and 2.6 rebounds per game across 69 appearances.
In his second season, Williams raised his averages to roughly 18 minutes, 4.7 points, and 2.8 rebounds per game. He broke out in 2021–22, posting 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 over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and on May 15, 2022, he erupted for 27 points in a decisive Game 7 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, hitting 7 of 18 from three-point range. Boston reached the 2022 NBA Finals but lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.
Williams continued contributing during the 2022–23 season and helped the Celtics return to the Eastern Conference Finals. He later was suspended one game without pay on October 26, 2022, for making contact with a game official during a loss to the Chicago Bulls.
Dallas Mavericks Era (2023–2024)
On July 12, 2023, Williams was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in a sign-and-trade agreement. He debuted for Dallas on October 25, 2023, in a 126–119 win over the San Antonio Spurs. He spent the early part of the 2023–24 season with the Mavericks before being moved again at the trade deadline.
Charlotte Hornets Era (2024–Present)
On February 8, 2024, the Mavericks traded Williams 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. The move brought him back to the city where he grew up.
Williams appeared in games for the Hornets during the second half of the 2023–24 season and into 2024–25. On November 23, 2024, he suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament, meniscus, and other ligaments in his right knee during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, an injury that cut his campaign short.
Driving Style and Strengths
Williams is known for his defensive versatility, his willingness to defend multiple positions, and his growing three-point shot. He combines a strong frame with good footwork and has developed into a credible floor spacer from beyond the arc, complementing his work as a screen-setter and rebounder.
Notable Events and Milestones
Williams set an NBA Game 7 record with seven made three-pointers against the Milwaukee Bucks in May 2022, helping Boston reach the Finals. He also threw out the first pitch at a Boston Red Sox game on August 7, 2019, and is a well-known sports card collector who shares his hobby on social media.
Grant Williams Career Wins
Williams has collected individual accolades rather than series championships at the professional level. His standout wins include Game 7 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Bucks and an NBA Finals appearance that same year with the Celtics. College highlights feature two SEC Player of the Year honors and a consensus first-team All-American selection.
College Highlights
Williams earned SEC Player of the Year honors in 2018 and 2019, was a First-team All-SEC selection in both seasons, and was named a consensus first-team All-American in 2019. His 2019 NCAA tournament run as a second seed marked one of the high points of his three-year Tennessee career.
Other Performances
Williams earned SEC All-Freshman Team recognition from the coaches in 2017, capping his debut year with the Volunteers. He has also represented his peers as First Vice President of the National Basketball Players Association since February 2023.
Grant Williams Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Williams comes from a family with strong athletic and academic ties. His father, Gilbert Williams, is a jazz artist and former college basketball player. His mother, Teresa Johnson, is an electrical engineer for NASA. He is also a cousin of former NBA players Salim Stoudamire and Damon Stoudamire, extending a clear family connection to professional basketball.
Personal Life
Williams grew up in Charlotte, where he attended Providence Day School before moving on to Tennessee. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in three years with a degree in business. He is an avid sports card collector and often shares his collection on Instagram. He now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.
2025 Season Performance
Williams entered 2025 recovering from the torn ACL and other ligaments he suffered in his right knee on November 23, 2024, during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. The injury ended his 2024–25 campaign early, putting his long-term availability with the Charlotte Hornets on hold.
Once he returns to full health, Williams is expected to rejoin a Hornets team that acquired him for his defensive toughness and three-point shooting. His role as a versatile forward who can switch across multiple positions should fit the team’s rebuilding plans.
For the 2025 calendar year, the focus for Williams and the Hornets will be on his rehabilitation, his gradual return to game action, and his continued leadership as First Vice President of the National Basketball Players Association. A healthy return would give Charlotte a valuable veteran presence heading into future seasons.