Robert Williams III
A shot-blocking force whose defensive intensity and rim-rocking dunks made him a fan favorite in Boston before injuries tested his career.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American basketball player·Birthday: October 17·Generation Z
Biography
Robert Williams III, known to fans as 'Time Lord' for his uncanny ability to contest shots he seemed late to, emerged from Texas A&M as a raw but breathtakingly athletic big man. Drafted by the Boston Celtics, his career became a story of tantalizing potential versus physical fragility. When healthy, Williams was a defensive anchor, his leaping ability and timing transforming the Celtics' interior defense into a no-fly zone. His chemistry with teammates fueled highlight-reel alley-oops and momentum-shifting blocks. However, recurring knee issues repeatedly sidelined him, casting a shadow over his impact and ultimately leading to a trade to Portland. His journey reflects the high-wire act of modern sports, where supreme physical gifts constantly negotiate with the body's limits.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Robert was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Robert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Robert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2022.
- Led the NBA in blocks per game during the 2021-22 season while playing limited minutes.
- Was a key starting center for the Boston Celtics team that reached the NBA Finals in 2022.
- Recorded a rare playoff triple-double with points, rebounds, and blocks in the 2022 postseason.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Time Lord' originated from a Celtics staffer joking about his chronic lateness, which he later embraced.
He wore jersey number 44 in college and with the Celtics as a tribute to his father, Robert Williams Jr., who also wore it.
He majored in Agricultural Leadership and Development at Texas A&M University.
He famously dunked a basketball for the first time in the seventh grade.
“I'm just trying to be a presence, block shots, and finish around the rim.”
