Former Celtic Robert Williams REQUIRED to Have Season-Ending Surgery

Sunday night, in the Portland Trail Blazers' 112-100 loss to Marcus Smart and the Memphis Grizzlies, Robert Williams suffered a severe knee injury.

The former Boston Celtics big man must repair bone and ligament damage due to a right kneecap injury, per Jared Weiss and Shams Charania of The Athletic.

While the initial belief was the Time Lord would have the option for a cleanup procedure that has a two-to-three-month timetable, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports further examination has removed that option, with the 26-year-old from Shreveport, Louisiana, required to undergo season-ending surgery.

The former Texas A&M Aggie has unfortunately dealt with injuries throughout his career. Concerns about his knees are also a significant reason he was available for the Celtics to select 27th overall at the 2018 NBA Draft.

Before the 2022-23 campaign, Williams underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee. That came after his decision in late March of 2023 to have a meniscectomy for a torn meniscus in his left knee, allowing him to return for a playoff run that came within two wins of a championship.

The five-year veteran has worked diligently to return after every setback, and the initial expectation is he's ready for the start of the 2024-25 season.

Fans cheer as Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) hangs on the rim after dunking against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of the 2023 NBA playoffs.

While Boston's decision to trade Williams to help acquire Jrue Holiday in the offseason isn't lost on people as they digest this news, he's a hard-working, high-character individual who's worked extremely hard to develop his game and grind through multiple rehab processes.

Williams is a considerable talent whose game gets people out of their seats and whose impact on both ends of the floor is significant. Hopefully, he's able to get back to showcasing that next season and that this surgery and subsequent changes to his style of play, for example -- he's already started taking more jump shots and spending less time in the air -- help him enjoy a run of good health on the other side of this procedure.

Further Reading

Celtics Center Out for Friday’s Game vs. Nets

Kristaps Porzingis Assesses Celtics Last Attempt in Loss to 76ers

Celtics Enamored with Threes That Don't Love Them Back in Loss vs. 76ers

Examining What Went Wrong for Celtics' Offense in Loss vs. Timberwolves

Jayson Tatum Discusses the Bond Between Him and the City He Stars In

From Self Doubt to Celtics History, Jayson Tatum Discusses Journey to 10,000 Points: 'I Didn't Think I Was Good Enough'

Jrue Holiday Discusses Celtics' Offense and Their Mindset: 'That's How Most People Like to Play Basketball'

Here's Where Jaylen Brown Impressed Joe Mazzulla the Most in Celtics' Win vs. Heat

Kristaps Porzingis Gives Glimpse of How He'll Boost Celtics Late-Game Offense

Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present

Candace Parker on Celtics Trading Marcus Smart, Maximizing Tatum-Brown Tandem, Pat Summitt, and the Sports Matter Initiative