Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III is called “Time Lord” because of a nickname that started as an inside joke during his Boston Celtics days, then became a fitting description of the way he plays.

The nickname originally came from Williams’ rocky first stretch as an NBA rookie. After the Celtics drafted him No. 27 overall in 2018, Williams overslept and missed his introductory conference call with reporters. He also missed a flight to Boston shortly after that, according to NBC Sports Boston.

That is where the time part started.

But the reason the nickname lasted is different. Once Williams got on the floor, “Time Lord” became less about being late and more about his timing as a shot blocker, lob threat and rim protector.

Robert Williams’ Time Lord Nickname Started in Boston

The “Time Lord” nickname came from Celtics fans online, especially the corner of Boston basketball internet often referred to as Weird Celtics Twitter.

At first, it was playful. Williams’ early missed call and missed flight gave fans an easy joke about time. Boston.com later explained that the nickname took off from there, becoming part of Williams’ identity before he had even played a major role for the Celtics.

Most rookie jokes disappear quickly. This one did not because Williams became a useful and exciting player.

As he developed in Boston, Williams turned into one of the NBA’s more explosive defensive big men. He blocked shots, caught lobs and changed possessions without needing the ball. The nickname started to sound less like a punchline and more like a scouting report.

Robert Williams Embraced the Time Lord Meaning

Williams has explained the double meaning himself.

During a 2022 interview with Sky Sports, Williams said people first called him Time Lord because of the missed conference call. Then the meaning changed once he started making defensive plays.

“Oh, he’s stopping time to go over there and block shots,” Williams said, describing how the nickname evolved.

That is the version that stuck.

Williams is listed at 6-foot-9, but his athleticism and instincts allow him to play bigger than that around the basket. When healthy, he can rotate from the weak side, meet drivers at the rim and erase shots that look open for a split second.

That is why broadcasters still use the nickname. “Time Lord” is not just Celtics nostalgia. It describes what Williams does best.

Time Lord Followed Robert Williams From Celtics to Blazers

The nickname belongs to Williams, not just to his time in Boston.

It started because of missed appointments. It survived because of blocked shots. And now, with Williams in a Trail Blazers uniform, it remains one of the NBA’s more unusual player nicknames.

So when ESPN calls Robert Williams “Time Lord,” the explanation is simple: Celtics fans gave him the name as a rookie joke, Williams grew into it with his defensive timing, and the nickname followed him to Portland.