Offensive Game
Elite finisher in the paint and pick-and-roll. Soft hands and outstanding touch around the basket. Limited offensive creation ability but maximally efficient within his role.
Career Journey
Boston Celtics
2018-2023
Portland Trail Blazers
2023-present
2018 second-round steal (No. 27)
Drafted out of Texas A&M and became a defensive anchor for the Celtics.
2021-22 All-Defensive Second Team
Averaged 2.2 blocks per game (fourth in the NBA) and started at center on Boston's 2022 NBA Finals team.
2025-26 with Portland
Played 59 games — his healthiest season in years — as a rim-protecting backup behind Donovan Clingan.
| Season | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 59 | 6.7 | 7 | 1 | 70.8% | 39.1% |
Robert Williams III — 'Time Lord' — is one of the league's most disruptive interior defenders when his body cooperates, an explosive lob finisher and shot-blocker who reads passing lanes better than most centers his size. His peak came in Boston: the 2021-22 season earned him All-Defensive Second Team honors and a Finals run as the Celtics' starting center, all while he managed a knee that never fully cooperated. That knee is the throughline of his career — recurring surgeries have kept him from stacking healthy seasons. Traded to Portland, he appeared in 59 games in 2025-26 as a defensive-minded backup behind rookie Donovan Clingan. His value has always been rate-based: per minute, few bigs affect the rim like he does.
Offensive Game
Elite finisher in the paint and pick-and-roll. Soft hands and outstanding touch around the basket. Limited offensive creation ability but maximally efficient within his role.
Defensive Game
Generational shot-blocking timing earned him the Time Lord nickname in Boston. His mere presence at the rim alters opponents' decision-making and protects the entire defensive structure.
Intangibles
Understands defensive positioning and help-side principles at a high level. Refined his decision-making in Boston's sophisticated defensive system.
Personal Life & Family
Status
Single
Parents & Siblings
Off the Court
Involved in youth basketball initiatives in Portland and Boston communities
Did You Know?
Williams earned the nickname Time Lord for his extraordinary shot-blocking timing — the ability to hover at the apex and erase attempts at the last possible moment, which coaches have described as a nearly supernatural gift
He is one of the few NBA centers who can guard guards in switch situations while also anchoring paint protection — an almost impossible combination of mobility and size
Despite his incredible athletic gifts, Williams has battled knee and hip injuries throughout his career, limiting him to fewer than 50 games in most NBA seasons
He grew up in Fresno, California — the same city that produced Paul George — in one of California's surprisingly deep basketball pipelines
Career Honors
2018 NBA Draft #27 Overall Pick
NBA Finals appearance with Boston Celtics (2022)
Official Jerseys
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