Robert Williams is one of the best defensive players anyone could ask for. He plays the center spot for the Portland Trail Blazers and can erase shots at a very high clip. He was one of the key pieces to the Boston Celtics franchise and was one of the best shot blockers in the league. Williams was even named to the all-defensive second team in the 2021-2022 season and had averaged 2.2 blocks and 1.0 steals per game.
Everyone can see that Williams is a great shot blocker and a defensive anchor but what many miss out on is his passing ability as a big. man He can drop sweet dimes from inside the post to a cutting teammate for an easy assist. Passing with precision was a rare quality for a big man earlier but not any more. Williams can also rebound the ball at a high clip. Last season, he averaged 8.3 rebounds per game.
While his potential is high, Williams has missed way too many games to call him reliable. This was one of the reasons why the Boston Celtics traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers. His durability has been a concern and so far he has only played 215 games despite having been in the league for 6 seasons.
Williams is yet again out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season because of a knee surgery that he has to undergo. His lack of presence caused Boston to lose many games when he played for them. Another problem with Williams is his awareness in the game. He can sometimes get lost in the rotation and commit unnecessary fouls.
While the upside is tremendous, we have yet to see Williams play a full season so far in his career. Hopefully that changes in the next season.
What is the reason behind Robert Williams’ nickname “The Time Lord?”
Williams was always one of the last players to show up to the party. He initially left a bad impression and was criticized for showing up late and missing team functions like practice, players only meetings, and team meetings. He earned a reputation for himself when it came to missing flights and video meetings which earned him the nickname “Time Lord.”
A Celtics fan named Ryan Hebert came up with the nickname for Williams and he was teased with it ever since. The center missed his introductory conference call and his flight to Boston because he overslept. When he played on the court, many fans commented saying Williams stopped the clock to block the shot. Unlike many nicknames that players do not like, Williams loves the name and fully embraces it.
Williams is one of the best shot blockers in the league today and just needs to get healthier to take his career to the next level.
FAQs
A. Williams III was born on August 18, 1996, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
A. Williams III is 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters) tall.
A. Williams III attended Texas A&M University for two seasons before declaring for the NBA draft.
A. Williams III was selected with the 27th overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics.
