Nicknames are a funny thing, something that sticks when the zeitgeist of the moment resonates with something often said in passing. Seldom does a premeditated thought shift the tides of the things an NBA player is called by his fans. Don’t tell Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams, who has his own ideas about what he’d like to be known as on the court.
“Grant told Jaylen (Brown) he wants his nickname to be (Batman)?” asked Celtics star Jayson Tatum after being informed of the development at the end of his postgame media availability Sunday after Boston trounced the Denver Nuggets and their MVP candidate Nikola “Joker” Jokic.
“I can’t understand why Grant would want to be called ‘Batman,’” continued Tatum. “I’m sure I’m going to ask him when I get on the bus.”
Jayson Tatum couldn’t even begin to process why Grant Williams would want to be called “Batman” 😂 pic.twitter.com/iiSV4UmWep
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) March 21, 2022
“Grant played great tonight, but I’m going to call him Grant; I’m not calling him no damn ‘Batman,’” he added with a smirk. It seems even if you stop the reigning MVP twice in a game, it isn’t enough to coin your own nickname — even if you DID manage to shut down the Joker.