Boston Celtics 'wanted to show that togetherness and love,' wear shirts in support of Brittney Griner

The Boston Celtics wore t-shirts with the words "WE ARE BG" written across them at Saturday's practice ahead of the NBA Finals to show their support for the imprisoned basketball player.

Grant Williams said that the shirts were important because they showed their support for their sister who is being held in Russia. She's been a vital part of the NBA over the years, college, and in the amount of impact she's had on young female athletes.

We hope to have her back in the U.S. so that she can return to playing basketball and bring the love and tenacity that she always plays with.

Williams, a vice president within the NBPA, said the shirts were a collaboration between both the NBPA and WNBPA, as a way to show support for Griner as she continues to be held in Russia, where she's been in custody since early February

Williams said that they got them here for today. They want to thank them for making that happen. We wanted to do that together. No one questioned it. Everyone agreed to do it. When we got the shirt, everyone put it on right away. They were clean and ready to leave. We wanted to show our support.

One of the best players in the league since being drafted by the Phoenix Mercury with the No. 1 overall pick, she won a championship in her college career.

The 6-foot-9 center has been in custody since being held at an airport in February by the US government.

It was a chance for the Celtics to show their support for Griner with the attention of the basketball world on them.

Jaylen Brown said that they wanted to show their support for the player. We feel like enough is enough because she's been over there for a long time.

The two of them were both on Team USA at the Summer Olympic games in Tokyo. Due to the restrictions on the movement of players, he was able to spend a lot of time with her.

It was during COVID that we couldn't really go out and see other events. Men and women would be in the hotel after the games. We would be playing games in there. The person is a great person. She makes the room lighten with her personality.

It's really difficult to see what she's going through. We are all in support of trying to bring her back to her family. I wore those shirts in support of her.