BOSTON — Boston Celtics rookie Robert Williams, sidelined the past five games with a groin injury, offered a refreshingly honest admission about the early days of NBA life.
"This might sound funny but I literally don’t know the days of the week,” Williams said after practice on (take note, Rob!) Sunday.
"I promise, I couldn’t tell you what today is. I forget the days of the week. And with the traveling, mix up the hotel room numbers from the previous [night] — it’s a lot man. It’s a lot. It’s worth it though.”
Williams isn’t revealing anything that most rookies haven’t already experienced. The grind of NBA life, particularly with the heavy travel, makes it tough to keep the calendar straight. But in admitting it, Williams probably only strengthened the chances that his “Time Lord” nickname will stick.
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His bigger issue right now is getting that groin healthy so he can get back on the court. Williams has emerged as a fan favorite with his loud finishes of alley-oop lobs. Celtics coach Brad Stevens fretted recently that Williams’ injury cost the rookie some game reps with injuries depleting Boston’s big-man depth (Al Horford missed time with knee soreness and Aron Baynes is currently sidelined by a broken hand).
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"Feeling good, trying to get myself right, mentally, sitting out as much as I’ve been sitting out my rookie year,” said Williams. “But just putting all my trust into the trainers, hoping they get me back in good time and speed.”
The injury was a bit of a freak occurrence with Williams initially uncertain how it happened. Now he believes it likely occurred during shootaround in Houston or in the weight room around that time.
"It was more of, I feel like, a groin injury, kind of a strain, from me dunking at shootaround and squatting in the weight room,” said Williams. "Kind of a weird injury, a weird tweak.”
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Williams got imaging done last week that came back negative and is seemingly getting closer to a return. The Celtics listed him as questionable for Monday’s game against the Nets.
Until then, he’s ignoring the calendar and trying to stay involved.
"I just try to get as involved with these guys as I can when I’m not playing, because if it’s a genuine team happiness, then it’s going to be happiness around the whole thing,” said Williams. "So just I’m out there smiling, happy. Even if I’m not out there with them, I’m still producing in some way.”
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