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

SAN FRANCISCO — Members of the Boston Celtics wore T-shirts with «WE ARE BG» written across them at Saturday's practice ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals in support of WNBA superstar Brittney Griner, who remains detained in Russia.

«The shirts were super important not only showing our support for our sister that is detained over in Russia, Brittney Griner, we just wanted to show that togetherness and love that we have throughout not only the NBA but the WNBA,» Grant Williams said. «She's been a vital part of the WNBA over years past, college, and in the amount of impact she's had on young female athletes, USA and overseas.

»We hope to have her back in the U.S. and reunited with her family and do what she loves and bring that love and tenacity she always plays with on the court."

Williams, a vice president within the National Basketball Players Association, 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.

«They sent them overnight to get them here for today,» Williams said. «They did a phenomenal job, and want to credit them to make that process happen. We just wanted to do that as a team. It was one of those things where no one questioned it. Everyone said, 'Let's do it.' Everyone put the shirt on immediately when we got them, fresh off the box. They were ironed and good to go. So we wanted to show that love and support.»

Griner, 31, is a seven-time WNBA All-Star and a 2014 WNBA champion, and has been one of the league's best players since being drafted by the Phoenix Mercury with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft out of Baylor, where she won a championship in 2012.