Robert Williams III explained

Robert Williams III
Position:Center / power forward
Height Ft:6
Height In:9
Weight Lbs:249
League:NBA
Team:Portland Trail Blazers
Number:35
Birth Date:17 October 1997
Birth Place:Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
High School:North Caddo
(Vivian, Louisiana)
College:Texas A&M (2016–2018)
Draft Year:2018
Draft Round:1
Draft Pick:27
Draft Team:Boston Celtics
Career Start:2018
Years1:
Team1:Boston Celtics
Years2:2018–2019
Team2:Maine Red Claws
Years3:–present
Team3:Portland Trail Blazers
Highlights:
  • NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2017, 2018)
  • Second-team All-SEC (2017)
  • SEC All-Freshman Team (2017)
  • 2× SEC All-Defensive Team (2017, 2018)

Robert Lee Williams III (born October 17, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies.

Williams was drafted 27th overall in the 2018 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. Nicknamed Time Lord,[1] he had a breakout season in 2021–22, which saw him being named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team and reaching the NBA Finals as the Celtics' starting center.

High school career

Williams attended North Caddo High School in Vivian, Louisiana.[2] A consensus four-star recruit, he ranked 50th overall in ESPN’s Top 100 for the class of 2016[3] and was the number one prospect in the state of Louisiana.[4] He committed to Texas A&M University to play college basketball.[5] [6]

College career

In his first college game, he scored five points and had five blocks and seven rebounds.[7] [8] He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year and earned 2nd Team All-SEC honors[9] after averaging 11.9 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds per game as a freshman in 2016–17.

On March 21, despite being credited as a potential first round lottery player, Williams decided to forgo the 2017 NBA draft and stay for another season at Texas A&M.<ref>News: Robert Williams Announces Return to Texas A&M, Will Forgo 2017 NBA Draft. Nathan. Alec. Bleacher Report. July 18, 2017. en-US. July 23, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190723184949/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2698025-robert-williams-announces-return-to-texas-am-will-forego-2017-nba-draft. live.

Following Texas A&M's loss in the 2018 NCAA men's basketball tournament, Williams announced his intention to forgo his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility and declare for the 2018 NBA draft, where he was expected to be a first round selection.[10] Williams was viewed as a potential lottery pick for the 2017 NBA draft and 2018 NBA draft.

Professional career

Boston Celtics (2018–2023)

Come the 2018 NBA draft, instead of being a lottery pick, Williams fell to the 27th overall pick where he was selected by the Boston Celtics due to concerns about his work ethic. On July 5, 2018, the Boston Celtics signed Williams.[11] Williams did not initially make a good impression, being criticized for showing up late and missing team functions.[12] His reputation for missing flights and video meetings caused him to earn the moniker "Time Lord" on online Boston Celtics fandoms.[1] [13]

Williams made his professional debut on October 23, 2018, playing 4 minutes during the Celtics' loss to Orlando Magic, before being assigned to the Maine Red Claws on November 2. Throughout November and December, Williams split his time between the G League and the NBA, before starting to gain more game time with the Celtics following an injury to Al Horford. On December 11, 2018, Williams blocked two shots by NBA All Star Anthony Davis during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans.[14] During the 2021 NBA playoffs, Williams dealt with a turf toe injury. In Game 1 of the first round against the Brooklyn Nets, Williams blocked 9 shots to set a team playoff record for blocks in a game. He also scored 11 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.[15] Despite this record, the team lost the game. The injury hobbled Williams for the remainder of the series and Williams left Game 3 with a sprained ankle after playing just 6 minutes.[16] He missed games 4 and 5, and the team lost the series 4–1.

On December 31, 2021, Williams recorded his first career triple-double, putting up 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, in a 123–108 win over the Phoenix Suns.[17] On March 28, 2022, the Celtics announced that Williams had suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee and would be out indefinitely.[18] Two days later, he underwent surgery and was ruled out for at least 4-to-6 weeks.[19]

Portland Trail Blazers (2023–present)

On October 1, 2023, Williams, along with Malcolm Brogdon and two future first-round draft picks, was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jrue Holiday.[20] On October 25, Williams made his Blazers debut, putting up 10 points and seven rebounds in a 123–111 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.[21] But his season was cut short, suffering a patellar dislocation after colliding with Jaren Jackson Jr. on the Blazer's November 5th game against Memphis. Having successful right knee surgery a few days later, the injury ended his season after six games.[22]

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Boston| 32 || 2 || 8.8 || .706 || || .600 || 2.5 || .2 || .3 || 1.3 || 2.5|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Boston| 29 || 1 || 13.4 || .727 || || .647 || 4.4 || .9 || .8 || 1.2 || 5.2|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Boston| 52 || 13 || 18.9 || .721 || .000 || .616 || 6.9 || 1.8 || .8 || 1.8 || 8.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Boston| 61 || 61 || 29.6 || .736 || .000 || .722 || 9.6 || 2.0 || .9 || 2.2 || 10.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Boston| 35 || 20 || 23.5 || .747 || .000 || .610 || 8.3 || 1.4 || .6 || 1.4 || 8.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Portland| 6 || 0 || 19.8 || .654 || || .778 || 6.3 || .8 || 1.2 || 1.2 || 6.8|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 215 || 97 || 20.5 || .729 || .000 || .660 || 6.9 || 1.4 || .7 || 1.7 || 7.3

Play-in

|-| style="text-align:left;"|2021| style="text-align:left;"|Boston| 1 || 1 || 14.2 || 1.000 || || 1.000 || 4.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 4.0|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career| 1 || 1 || 14.2 || 1.000 || || 1.000 || 4.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 4.0

Playoffs

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019| style="text-align:left;"| Boston| 3 || 0 || 4.3 || .500 || || 1.000 || 2.3 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 1.3|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020| style="text-align:left;"| Boston| 13 || 0 || 11.5 || .742 || .000 || .333 || 3.9 || .8 || .2 || .5 || 3.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021| style="text-align:left;"| Boston| 3 || 0 || 15.3 || .643 || || .500 || 5.0 || .7 || .3 || 3.0 || 6.3|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2022| style="text-align:left;"| Boston| 17 || 15 || 23.2 || .679 || .000 || .893 || 6.2 || 1.0 || .7 || 2.2 || 7.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2023| style="text-align:left;"| Boston| 20 || 4 || 20.9 || .788 || .000 || .679 || 6.0 || 1.0 || .5 || 1.3 || 7.7|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 56 || 19 || 18.2 || .729 || .000 || .742 || 5.3 || .9 || .4 || 1.4 || 6.3

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17| style="text-align:left;"| Texas A&M| 31 || 17 || 25.8 || .558 || .111 || .590 || 8.2 || 1.4 || .7 || 2.5 || 11.9|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18| style="text-align:left;"| Texas A&M| 30 || 23 || 25.6 || .668 || .000 || .471 || 9.2 || 1.4 || .8 || 2.6 || 10.4|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 61 || 40 || 25.7 || .624 || .067 || .541 || 8.7 || 1.4 || .7 || 2.5 || 11.1

Personal life

In July 2018, Williams was revealed to have popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) in both legs. If it degenerates, the vascular disease could require a surgical procedure in the future.[23] Williams has two children.[24]

Nickname

Early in his career, Williams has attracted the nickname "Time Lord" from Celtics fans, in part based upon his timekeeping faux pas upon signing with the team.[25] [26] [27] This has, in turn, gained attention from Timex. Danny Ainge has been recorded as preferring the nickname "Lob".[28]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Leger. Justin. Here's how Robert Williams earned 'Time Lord' nickname. NBC Sports Boston. April 15, 2023. April 26, 2022. June 6, 2024.
  2. Web site: LeBron gives Robert Williams a passing lesson? . January 8, 2017 . July 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190723190431/https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/sports/2015/07/24/robert-williams-texas-basketball-recruiting-espn/30629611/ . live .
  3. Web site: Robert Williams - Basketball Recruiting - Player Profiles - ESPN. ESPN.com. July 18, 2017. November 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201115020831/http://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/211554/robert-williams. live.
  4. Web site: Texas A&M Signs Louisiana Standout Robert Williams. Texas A&M University Athletics Department. en. July 18, 2017. July 23, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190723184927/https://12thman.com/news/2015/11/11/MBB_1111152754.aspx. live.
  5. Web site: North Caddo 2016 forward Robert Williams commits to Texas A&M . January 8, 2017 . June 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180621171022/https://www.nola.com/recruiting/index.ssf/2015/06/north_caddo_2016_forward_rober.html . live .
  6. Web site: Texas A&M's Robert Williams humble amid whirlwind rise . January 8, 2017 . April 23, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200423214207/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/aggies/article/Texas-A-M-s-Robert-Williams-humble-amid-whirlwind-10802395.php . live .
  7. Web site: Texas A&M freshman Robert Williams' stock is soaring after strong start . January 15, 2017 . November 8, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201108035527/https://sports.yahoo.com/news/texas-am-freshman-robert-williams-stock-is-soaring-after-strong-start-031411049.html . live .
  8. Web site: Texas A&M's Robert Williams has NBA scouts' hearts as darkhorse one-and-done . January 8, 2017 . December 6, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171206135748/http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/news/robert-williams-scouting-report-texas-am-one-and-done-freshman-nba-draft-2017/1xyvddwg86mos1oc42bpzmp0h5 . live .
  9. News: Robert Williams is SEC Defensive Player of the Year. shreveporttimes.com. July 18, 2017. en. August 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200809061421/https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/sports/college/2017/03/07/robert-williams-sec-defensive-player-year/98852388/. live.
  10. News: Former North Caddo star Robert Williams turning pro. March 23, 2018. en-US. July 23, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190723190423/https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/sports/college/2018/03/23/former-north-caddo-star-robert-williams-turning-pro/454834002/. live.
  11. News: Celtics Sign Robert Williams. July 5, 2018. NBA.com. July 5, 2018. November 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201109023716/https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/pressrelease/celtics-sign-robert-williams. live.
  12. News: Celtics Rookie Robert Williams' Draft Day Fall Suddenly Makes Perfect Sense. July 10, 2018. The Big Lead. July 12, 2018. July 23, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190723184920/https://thebiglead.com/2018/07/10/celtics-rookie-robert-williams-draft-day-fall-suddenly-makes-perfect-sense/. live.
  13. News: Where did Robert Williams's nickname come from?. Boston.com. March 15, 2021. December 14, 2018. May 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210523065322/https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2018/12/14/robert-williams-time-lord-nickname/. live.
  14. News: Sources: Robert Williams impresses in coming out party with the Celtics. boston.com. December 15, 2018. December 17, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181217042349/https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2018/12/11/robert-williams-anthony-davis-block. live.
  15. News: Leger . Justin . Time Lord sets C's playoff record in Game 1 vs. Nets . NBC Sports Boston . May 23, 2021 . June 27, 2021 . June 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210627224753/https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/robert-williams-sets-celtics-playoff-record-game-1-vs-nets . live .
  16. News: Vatour . Matt . Rob Williams injury: Boston Celtics big man sprains ankle, won't return . masslive . 2021-05-29. June 27, 2021 . June 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210627224747/https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2021/05/rob-williams-injury-boston-celtics-big-man-sprains-ankle-wont-return.html . live .
  17. Web site: The reason Robert Williams surprised Ime Udoka in Celtics' win over Suns. ClutchPoints. DiGiovanni. Sam. December 31, 2021. December 31, 2021. December 31, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211231235115/https://clutchpoints.com/celtics-news-how-robert-williams-surprised-ime-udoka-in-win-over-suns/. live.
  18. Web site: Celtics' Robert Williams III suffers torn meniscus in left knee, out indefinitely . March 28, 2022 . CBS Sports.
  19. Web site: Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III expected to miss 4-6 weeks after surgery to repair meniscus . March 30, 2022 . ESPN.
  20. Web site: Trail Blazers Acquire Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III. NBA.com. October 1, 2023. October 1, 2023.
  21. Web site: Veterans guide Clippers to opening win over Blazers. Reuters. Field Level Media. October 26, 2023. October 26, 2023.
  22. Web site: Robert Williams III Undergoes Right Knee Surgery . 2023-11-13 . www.nba.com.
  23. News: Sources: Boston Celtics rookie Robert Williams has artery condition in his legs. masslive.com. July 12, 2018. en-US. July 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180712183640/https://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2018/07/sources_boston_celtics_rookie.html. live.
  24. News: Celtics' Robert Williams Announces Birth Of Child After Missing Game. nesn.com. May 28, 2023. en-US.
  25. Web site: Where did Robert Williams's nickname come from?. February 18, 2022. February 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220218173350/https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2018/12/14/robert-williams-time-lord-nickname/. live.
  26. Web site: Celtics Sign 'Time Lord' to Multiyear Extension: Report. August 20, 2021. February 18, 2022. February 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220218173349/https://heavy.com/sports/boston-celtics/rob-williams-extension/. live.
  27. Web site: 'Time Lord' Nickname May Lead to a Watch Sponsorship for Robert Williams. September 2020. February 18, 2022. February 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220218173351/https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/09/01/timelord-nickname-robert-williams-watch-sponsorship-celtics-nba/. live.
  28. News: Sources: Where did Robert Williams's nickname come from?. boston.com. December 15, 2018. en-US. December 15, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181215062937/https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2018/12/14/robert-williams-time-lord-nickname. live.