Robert Williams (basketball)

For other people with similar names, see Robert Williams#Basketball.

Robert Williams

Williams with the Boston Celtics in 2021
No. 44–Boston Celtics
Position	Center / Power forward
League	NBA
Personal information
Born	(1997-10-17) October 17, 1997 (age 24) Shreveport, Louisiana
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	237 lb (108 kg)
Career information
High school	North Caddo (Vivian, Louisiana)
College	Texas A&M (2016–2018)
NBA draft	2018 / Round: 1 / Pick: 27th overall
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Playing career	2018–present
Career history
2018–present	Boston Celtics
2018–2019	→Maine Red Claws
Career highlights and awards
2× 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)
Stats   at NBA.com
Stats   at Basketball-Reference.com

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

High school career

Williams attended North Caddo High School in Vivian, Louisiana. ^[1] A consensus four-star recruit, he ranked 50th overall in ESPN’s Top 100 for the class of 2016 ^[2] and was the number one prospect in the state of Louisiana. ^[3] He committed to Texas A&M University to play college basketball. ^{[4] [5]}

College career

In his first college game, he scored five points and had five blocks and seven rebounds. ^{[6] [7]} He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year and earned 2nd Team All-SEC honors ^[8] 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. ^[9]

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–present)

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 "Timelord" on online Boston Celtics fandoms. ^[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]

Career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

NBA

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2018–19	Boston	32	2	8.8	.706	—	.600	2.5	.2	.3	1.3	2.5
2019–20	Boston	29	1	13.4	.727	—	.647	4.4	.9	.8	1.2	5.2
2020–21	Boston	52	13	18.9	.721	.000	.616	6.9	1.8	.8	1.8	8.0
Career		113	16	14.7	.720	.000	.623	5.0	1.1	.7	1.5	5.7

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2019	Boston	3	0	4.3	.500	.000	1.000	2.3	.0	.0	.0	1.3
2020	Boston	13	0	11.5	.742	.000	.333	3.9	.8	.2	.5	3.7
2021	Boston	3	0	15.3	.643	.000	.500	5.0	.7	.3	3.0	6.3
Career		19	0	10.9	.702	.000	.500	3.8	.6	.2	.8	3.7

College

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2016–17	Texas A&M	31	17	25.8	.558	.111	.590	8.2	1.4	.7	2.5	11.9
2017–18	Texas A&M	30	23	25.6	.668	.000	.471	9.2	1.4	.8	2.6	10.4
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. ^[18] If it degenerates, the vascular disease could require a surgical procedure in the future. ^[19]

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. This has, in turn, gained attention from Timex. Danny Ainge has been recorded as preferring the nickname "Lob". ^[20]

References

1. LeBron gives Robert Williams a passing lesson?
2. "Robert Williams - Basketball Recruiting - Player Profiles - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
3. "Texas A&M Signs Louisiana Standout Robert Williams". Texas A&M University Athletics Department. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
4. North Caddo 2016 forward Robert Williams commits to Texas A&M
5. Texas A&M's Robert Williams humble amid whirlwind rise
6. Texas A&M freshman Robert Williams' stock is soaring after strong start
7. Texas A&M's Robert Williams has NBA scouts' hearts as darkhorse one-and-done
8. "Robert Williams is SEC Defensive Player of the Year". shreveporttimes.com. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
9. Nathan, Alec. "Robert Williams Announces Return to Texas A&M, Will Forgo 2017 NBA Draft". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
10. "Former North Caddo star Robert Williams turning pro" . Retrieved March 23, 2018.
11. "Celtics Sign Robert Williams". NBA.com. July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
12. "Celtics Rookie Robert Williams' Draft Day Fall Suddenly Makes Perfect Sense". The Big Lead. July 10, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
13. "Where did Robert Williams's nickname come from?". Boston.com. December 14, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
14. "Sources: Robert Williams impresses in coming out party with the Celtics". boston.com. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
15. Leger, Justin (May 23, 2021). "Time Lord sets C's playoff record in Game 1 vs. Nets". NBC Sports Boston.
16. Vatour, Matt (May 29, 2021). "Rob Williams injury: Boston Celtics big man sprains ankle, won't return". masslive.
17. DiGiovanni, Sam (December 31, 2021). "The reason Robert Williams surprised Ime Udoka in Celtics' win over Suns". ClutchPoints. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
18. "Sources: Boston Celtics rookie Robert Williams has artery condition in his legs". masslive.com. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
19. "Sources: Boston Celtics rookie Robert Williams has artery condition in his legs". masslive.com. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
20. "Sources: Where did Robert Williams's nickname come from?". boston.com. Retrieved December 15, 2018.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from NBA.com  and  Basketball-Reference.com  
• Texas A&M Aggies bio