Dallas Mavericks forward Grant Williams is furious because he is rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles rather than the Dallas Cowboys.
Believe it or not, NBA players can be fans of NFL teams outside of the market in which they play. For Dallas Mavericks forward Grant Williams, that NFL team happens to be the Philadelphia Eagles… and the Eagles are the Dallas Cowboys’ main rivals.
After the Eagles defeated the Cowboys in a close game on Sunday, Williams showed up to his postgame press conference in a Jason Kelce Eagles shirt after scoring 18 points on 7-9 shooting in the Mavericks’ 124-118 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Many Dallas supporters reacted angrily on social media, but did they forget that former Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson was also an Eagles fan? What about the time Brunson lost a wager with Luka Doncic and was forced to wear a Cowboys shirt with the words “Luka’s Son” on the back… and then Brunson returned the favor to Doncic? Was there any uproar when Cowboys standout Micah Parsons was spotted wearing a Philadelphia 76ers jersey?
It’s understandable that many fans take rivalries seriously. There’s a reason it’s called a rivalry. Bragging privileges are important. But, at the end of the day, it’s sports, and if you’re going to blame one local player for supporting a rival football team, shouldn’t you also condemn the star football player who supports an out-of-market basketball team?
What I’m about to say will appear harsh, but it’s the reality… Also, please take in mind that I am a Cowboys fan and supporter.
Cowboys supporters aren’t actually upset with Williams; they’re just upset that their team lost a major game to a big rival, and they’re venting their frustration on Williams since his team won and he’s happy about it. The Cowboys appear incapable of winning games against excellent teams, which is the root of the problem.
So, Grant Williams, go ahead and cheer on your Philadelphia Eagles… And don’t forget to place some entertaining bets on Luka Doncic during future Cowboys games. Fans of both the Mavericks and the Cowboys should be able to bear Williams’ football fandom as long as he shoots above 50% for his 6-1 club.
