Portland Trail Blazers and Shreveport native Robert Williams III hosts youth basketball camp

SHREVEPORT, LA (KTAL/KMSS) — The Caddo Parish Parks and Rec Department put on a basketball camp for kids in the community, headlined by Portland Trail Blazers center and Shreveport native and North Caddo alum, Robert Williams III. While the focus of the camp was the fundamentals of basketball, Williams hopes his impact goes beyond the court.

“It teaches you more about life. It’s not just about basketball, getting in here, being able to listen to simple commands as far as on the first whistle, be quiet, on the second whistle, clap twice, it’s kind of like that,” Williams said. “We don’t, especially with the little kids, we don’t get in expecting to train them and make stars leaving out of here, but we just want to teach them a little discipline. ”

By being a leader and presence in the community, Williams hopes to spark up more interest in basketball in the Shreveport area.

 “It’s a free camp that I try to do every year, get little kids and older kids something to do,” Williams said. “Just try to get more basketball around here or just get the kids active in any type of way.”

The weight of being a role model is not something Williams considered while dreaming of his NBA future. 

“Even when you think people aren’t looking, they’re definitely looking,” Williams said. “I come in here and feel like a role model, I don’t like to be a role model, nobody does, but when I come in here, I feel like those are shoes I step into. So I gotta make sure I watch what I say, I do the right things and I give them the right knowledge.”

 But it’s a role he embraces nonetheless.

“It’s a blessing and a curse. You can’t pray for something then when you get something that comes along with it, you don’t want it,” Williams said.  “Now I pray to be in the NBA, I pray to be the person that you know people look up to they come to with their problems, so I can’t neglect being an idol to some kids.”

Williams works to be the best man he can for the community, although there are some requests he can’t quite make happen.

“One kid just asked me for a million dollars cash,” Williams said. “Closed mouths don’t get fed they say.”

Last season with the Trail Blazers, Williams suffered a knee injury sidelining him for the rest of the year.

“It’s coming good. I had my surgery maybe like a month before our season ended, wasn’t as bad as the one that happened two years ago, so I’m thankful for that,” Williams said. “Just a minor setback and rehab and doing great. After my camp, I’m gonna head out to Las Vegas, watch, NBA Summer League a little bit, rehab with the team and, be ready for the season.”

Williams is also believed to be one of the Trail Blazer’s most valuable bargaining chips in this offseason, leaving his future status with the team unknown.

“At the end of the day it’s always good to be wanted. We know this is a business, we respect the business, we love the business, but you gotta know the business, know how I can go at any time, but right now I’m here first with my Portland dogs,” Williams said.

Day Two of Williams’ camp begins on Tuesday, July 8th, for grades 5-8 at LSU-Shreveport.