The NFL Draft is just a week away and the Giants have a big decision ahead of them deciding who to take with the 11th overall pick. For some reason, that got GM Dave Gettleman thinking about NBA center Robert “Time Lord” Williams, who has enjoyed a breakout season for the Boston Celtics.
“I’m a Celtics fan, don’t be angry,” admitted Gettleman, who still roots for his hometown C’s despite leaving Beantown decades ago. “A couple years ago, the Celtics drafted Robert Williams out of Kentucky, one-and-done guy, all kinds of potential. Now it’s year three and he’s finally starting to play to his abilities.”
While it’s true Time Lord—a nickname Williams earned for his tendency to show up late to team meetings—has come into his own this year after a relatively slow start to his career, the 6'8" center neither went to Kentucky, nor was he a one-and-done (he spent two years at Texas A&M before going pro). But that’s just semantics. Obviously, Gettleman was trying to illustrate a larger point about how certain players develop faster than others. Though Boston’s patience with Williams appears to have finally paid off (he’s averaged almost a double-double since Daniel Theis was traded to the Bulls last month), the Giants may not have that luxury.
“In the NFL, I’ve got to be really cognizant of the coaches. They’re under the pressure to win all the time, every Sunday is a referendum on their skills as coaches,” Gettleman remarked during Thursday’s press conference. “You got to be really careful when you start taking guys that high that you love their physical skills, the potential, but how long is it going to take to show on the field? That’s kind of the balance I have to get to.”
Clumsy metaphors aside, Gettleman seems pleased with where Williams is in his development, even if the 23-year-old's frustrating first two seasons weren’t exactly smooth sailing.
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