Grant Williams impressing as Celtics' ‘most vocal player' at summer practices

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Anyone who watched Grant Williams shut down Kyrie Irving's "flat earth" theory can gather the 20-year-old has no problem speaking his mind.

Apparently that trait has translated to the Boston Celtics' basketball court.

When asked Wednesday how Williams is establishing himself this week at the Celtics' summer practices, assistant coach Scott Morrison gave an encouraging answer.

"He's been the most vocal player we have out there," Morrison told reporters at the Auerbach Center in Brighton. "So, that's been a big thing. Kind of directing traffic, calling out coverages."

Williams drew interest from Ivy League schools such as Harvard before committing to Tennessee, where he played three seasons before going to the Celtics at No. 22 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. He was a labeled as a versatile, intelligent player entering the draft and appears to be living up to that billing as he prepares for NBA Summer League action.

"I think he has some of those characteristics already as strengths, namely communication and high IQ, being in the right place," Morrison said.

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Williams will be joined in Las Vegas by a young, hungry group that includes three other rookies -- No. 14 pick Romeo Langford (pending a thumb injury) No. 33 pick Carsen Edwards and No. 51 pick Tremont Waters -- and second-year players with something to prove like Robert Williams and Guerschon Yabusele.

It's not exactly a roster filled with star power, but Celtics fans seeking a fresh brand of basketball after a frustrating 2018-19 campaign may find that in this squad.

"I thought today we were almost too unselfish," Morrison said Wednesday. "I had to speak to the guys about making sure they were a threat before they look to pass, but continue to encourage them to make a pass when they are a threat."

Boston's Summer League slate begins Sunday, July 6, against the Philadelphia 76ers, when Williams' leadership and the group's unselfishness will be put to the test in game action.

Here's the schedule for the Celtics' summer league games in Vegas, which you can watch live on NBC Sports Boston:

July 6 vs. 76ers, 5:30 p.m. ET
July 8 vs. Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m.
July 9 vs. Nuggets, 8 p.m.
July 11 vs. Grizzlies, 10:30 p.m.

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