Robert “Time Lord” Williams III is more than just a sweet nickname; he’s an athletic outlier. He’s a 6’10” center with a 7’5” wingspan and a 40-inch vertical. That’s not a typo. The young man has ups . . . and considerably upside, as was on display in the limited minutes he played as a 21-year-old rookie for the Celtics last season.
Williams only appeared in 32 games for the C’s during the regular season, but his per minute stats were off the charts. Time Lord averaged 5.1 blocks/36 minutes, which not only led the NBA (among players who played 280+ total minutes), it’s the highest blocks/36 minutes since Manute Bol’s 5.8 in 1991-92. So yeah, he’s kind of a big deal.
Williams's athleticism was also on display on offense, where he converted 10 of 11 lobs thrown his way and spiked 26 of his 31 dunk attempts. His ability to space the floor vertically should become an asset to the Celtics this season.
If Williams is going to reach his ceiling, he’ll have to improve his decision-making on both sides of the court, but that should come with experience.
When it comes to a player with his physical tools, the sky truly is the limit.
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