TheSportsHub- Beyond a misunderstanding of timezones that led to a missed conference call but before a missed flight back to Boston, the 20-year-old big man lost his wallet somewhere in Boston.
As detailed by MassLive's Tom Westerholm, Williams' missing wallet forced Celtic staffers to frantically search the area while Williams participated in a charity event. Williams then realized he left the wallet at his hotel, and team staffers ultimately found the wallet in time for Williams to make his flight back home. But a day later -- and before a flight back to Boston for the start of Summer League play -- Williams again lost his wallet. This is almost impossible to imagine, I know, but this is something that Williams himself told Westerholm. And just like the first time in Boston, Williams said he knew where it was. D.J. Hogg, a teammate of Williams at Texas A&M and currently with the Pelicans, had it (for some reason). But Hogg was already hours away and didn't have the money to ship it to Williams. So Williams was forced to try to get onto his flight to Boston without his ID. Williams got through, sure, but ultimately missed his flight. So, to recap: Williams missed his introductory conference call with the media because he thought it was an hour behind or ahead. He then lost his wallet upon his arrival in Boston, and found it with justenough time to catch his flight back home. Then, home for barely 48 hours, the 20-year-old somehow lost it again and then missed his flight back to Boston. And after what you have to think was a you-don't-get-a-billion-chances scolding from the Celtic organization, the C's have assigned G-League coach Alex Barlow to essentially be Williams' personal coach. That's because the Celts clearly -- and probably not incorrectly -- think that they need to help teach Williams how to be an adult in the National Basketball Association. ------ I'll tell you what. Robert Williams might come late without any sort of focus or government issued form of identification, but he doesn't come as falsely advertised. For what that scouting report lacks in leadership qualities, it more than makes up for in accuracy, and it's definitely nice to know exactly what you're getting out of what's basically a crap shoot. Now, there's probably something to be said about getting your professional career started on the right foot when the wrong foot is the one that kicked you and your immaturity issues down the draft board in the first place, but I say that "something" is that it sets an unmaintainable standard. A bad first impression might sabotage a relationship before it gets started, but when that relationship is contractually binded all it does is set easy to surpass expectations. The Celtics didn't really expect Robert Williams to grow up overnight after he failed to get his shit together throughout a full year of NBA evaluation, did they? Pulling his head out of his ass was always going to be a process, and the further it appears buried up there in the first place the easier it is to make it seem like there's been progress in getting it to see the light. The precedent is currently set at Boston's first round forward being unable to tell time or keep tabs on anything that didn't grow from his groin. That's such a low bar that he might be able to clear it without the help of healthy knees or fully functioning arteries!
I'm not saying the concerns haven't grown, and rightfully so, since he was selected 27th overall by a team with a coaching staff that's proven capable of getting the most out of its young players, but what Robert Williams does have on his side is relativity. Barring another "misunderstanding of timezones", he might actually be the first player to ever get praised for showing up to his NBA debut before tip-off! Hell, considering how quickly he's gotten to work on innovative prototypes to make sure he doesn't make the same mistake three times (in a week), he might even have all his essentials on his person come opening night! Bet we won't be questioning his professional development then! "Williams even joked about his wallet issues, saying he needs to glue it to his phone."
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