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The reception Kemba Walker earned Thursday night in Charlotte proves how strong of a bond he has with the city.
The same goes for Grant Williams -- because he literally grew up there.
The Celtics rookie attended Providence Day School in Charlotte, just down the road from the Spectrum Center, where Boston defeated the Hornets 108-87.
So, while Walker deservedly held the spotlight all night, Williams had his own army of loyal supporters in the stands.
Williams drew a chorus of cheers (albeit not as loud as Walker's ovation) when he first checked into the game. And while he had an off-night on the court -- zero points in 15 minutes with two rebounds, three assists and a steal -- he showed his hometown love after the game.
Need more proof that Williams was excited to be home? The 20-year-old rookie -- who held his NBA Draft party in Charlotte this summer -- apparently played the role of overzealous tour guide the night before.
"When we were on the bus I was annoying because I was calling out interstates and talking about buildings like I’m a tour guide," Williams said after Thursday's game, via NBC Sports Boston's Chris Forsberg.
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"And everyone was telling me to shut up because it was 1 a.m."
Who knew Walker would be the second-most knowledgeable Celtic when it came to the city of Charlotte?
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