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Watch: Grant Williams hands out gifts to Boston Celtics employees

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey12/24/22GrantRamey
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Grant Williams celebrated the holiday season by handing out gifts to Boston Celtics employees, a tradition the former Tennessee star power forward started earlier in his professional career.

“It’s the holiday season,” Williams said in a video published by the Celtics on social media. “I appreciate everyone in these offices, everyone that does work behind the scenes. Although we’re on the court trying to do our job, everyone does their job even more behind us. So thank you.”

Williams, who had six points, four rebounds and an assist in 23 minutes in Boston’s 121-109 win over Minnesota Friday night, is in the final year of his rookie contract with the Celtics, averaging 9.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 32 games. He’s shooting 51.8 percent from the field and 43.0 percent from the 3-point line.

For his career, Williams has averaged 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 241 games, shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from the 3-point line.

In each of his four seasons, Williams has increased his minutes, points, rebounds, steals and field-goal percentages. He averaged 3.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game as a rookie in 2019-20. He went up to 4.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 18.1 minutes in his second season, then 7.8 points and 3.6 rebounds last season, his third in the league. 

Williams was the No. 22 overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft and signed a four-year rookie deal worth $11.8 million guaranteed, with an average annual salary of $2.95 million.

Williams was eligible for a contract extension up until the Celtics’ season-opener on October 17. 

Report: Grant Williams could earn up to $15 million per year in second contract

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, who spoke with NBA personnel, reported that Williams could make between $12-15 million per year in his second contract. 

“I love being in Boston,” Williams said during Boston’s media day in October. “I love what we have in store. I love what we’ve set up as a team and as people. I love the guys here. I love the city. But when it comes to that, I just let my agents and everybody handle it because if you become too overwhelmed or concerned with it, that’s when you start focusing on your play or start doing things that aren’t characteristic of yourself.

“For me, my No. 1 focus and goal is helping this team win a championship. Everything else takes care of itself. Whether that’s I get extended or I play through the season, whatever that entails, I just have to be prepared for it. It doesn’t sway my mentality whatsoever.”

At Tennessee, Williams went from a relatively unknown three-star prospect, as an undersized power forward, to a consensus First Team All-American over the course of three seasons.

In 104 games with the Vols, he averaged 15.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He averaged 18.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 31.9 minutes per game as a junior in 2018-19.

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