Arbella Home Court Makeover

Taylor Snow

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KINGSTON, Mass. – A case of knee tendonitis is preventing Robert Williams from partaking in 5-on-5 competition during the waning weeks of summer, but the Celtics rookie is doing everything in his power to get back to full health by the time training camp commences in late September.

Williams, whose Summer League session was cut short by the injury, has been putting in early-morning workouts over the past few weeks at the team’s practice facility in Brighton, working with the Celtics’ trainers and coaches to fortify both his body and mind.

“I’m strengthening places I need to strengthen,” Williams said Wednesday afternoon during an Arbella Home Court Makeover unveiling in Kingston, Massachusetts. “Obviously my knee, obviously knowing what’s going on out there on the court, knowing the calls before (coach Brad Stevens) throws me in a 5-on-5 game. He’s been teaching me the past couple days, just hammering in the calls, all the play names, all the nicknames for things, so it’s just been a great perspective, a great opportunity.”

Williams lauded Stevens’ active approach, noting that the coach even joined him for a bike-conditioning workout Wednesday morning.

“He's one of the most hands-on coaches I've ever worked with," said Williams. “[All of] the coaches have been hands-on, on and off the court. But on the court, just stuff like getting out of screens faster, knowing calls. If I’m ICE’ing, get down right away. Just put me up to speed for when training camp does start to roll in so I know what’s going on.”

Williams has been a mainstay at the Auerbach Center this summer, showing up at 8 a.m. to work out. Maintaining a stable schedule, he says, is something that he’s learned from fellow frontcourt mates Aron Baynes and Al Horford, both of whom often show up to the practice facility at 6 a.m.

“Just seeing that exact same repetition, that same consistency every day, I’ve learned a lot from them already,” Williams said.

Williams has also made a solid impression on his teammates over the course of the summer. Baynes told Celtics.com Tuesday afternoon that he’s liked the work ethic he’s seen from the rookie so far.

“He’s definitely got a few attributes that are going to help the team,” said Baynes. “And he’s definitely got an exciting future.”

Building toward that bright future will be a process, but Williams is clearly ready to put in the work to make it happen.

“You have to go through the boring days, as people call them,” said Williams. “You have to go through everything that you wouldn’t expect to go through to get where you want to be.”

Although his first NBA offseason hasn’t gone completely as planned in regard to his health, Williams is still making the most out of the hand he’s been dealt. He’s developing a professional mindset and learning the ropes of the Celtics system, all while getting his body ready for his first NBA grind.

“Injuries happen to everyone,” said Williams. “It’s just a minor setback, as my dad would call it, but just gotta give it 100 percent. Every day that you give 100 percent, you get closer and closer to being back on the court.”

With that attitude, Williams should be cleared for 5-on-5 action in no time.

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Rookie Williams Working Diligently to Strengthen Body and Mind

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BOSTON –The Boston Celtics and team partner Arbella Insurance came together this summer to make three Massachusetts families’ dreams come true.

Back in March, the Celtics and Arbella asked fans to tell them why their family deserved a basketball court brought to their backyard.  Entries flooded in from homeowners across New England telling how a Celtics-themed basketball court would transform the life of the youth in their respective neighborhoods.

The Arbella Home Court Makeover program was established under the pretense of taking the aura of the parquet floor to the backyard of young fans to provide safe spaces to play.

Starting Monday and going through Wednesday, the two organizations unveiled three custom Celtics-themed basketball courts and family rooms to three selected families of the greater Boston community.

The lucky winning families were the Goentzel family of Belmont, Massachusetts, the Simmons family of Raynham, Massachusetts, and the Beatty family of Dorchester, Massachusetts.

“It’s been an incredible journey to see these projects come to life,” said Arbella Digital Marketing Manager Megan Glynn on the creation of the courts. “We are so proud and excited to award these three well-deserved families. The impact has been much more than expected”

Celtics guard Avery Bradley and Celtics legend Cedric Maxwell joined in on the action of the three-day tour.  Each family hosted an official unveil party for their children and neighbors.

To officially mark the opening of the courts, the families played basketball with Bradley and the neighborhood kids all challenged the guard to a friendly game of knockout.

Bradley then presented each family with a personalized Celtics jersey to welcome them to the Celtics family.

“It’s amazing that the Celtics organization and Arbella provided these families with safe places to play basketball,” Bradley said. “Their kids can develop their skills without having to go far or worry about any cars on the road.”

The fun didn’t stop at the homes. Afterwards, the families brought their guests to a local basketball gym where Bradley and Maxwell hosted a basketball clinic for youth participants of the surrounding community.

The Celtics VIPs led drills that aimed to improve participants’ basketball skills and fundamentals.

These were truly experiences that each family will never forget. Congratulations to the Goentzel, Simmons, and Beatty families!

Keep an eye out for next year’s submission dates for your chance to receive your very own Celtics court!

Arbella Home Court Makeover

Rookie Williams Working Diligently to Strengthen Body and Mind

Bradley, Arbella Present Court Makeovers to Local Families