Adrian WojnarowskiSenior NBA Insider November 10, 2023, 12:29 PM ET1 minute read
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III will undergo season-ending surgery on his right knee, sources told ESPN on Friday.
Sources said Williams, who suffered a kneecap and ligament injury in Sunday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, is expected to be fully recovered by the start of the 2024-25 season.
He is expected to undergo the procedure early next week, sources said.
Williams, who came to the Boston Celtics in September as part of the Jrue Holiday trade, was the target of several teams hoping the Blazers would consider a move before the February trade deadline. Portland paired Deandre Ayton with Williams, who came from Phoenix as part of the Damian Lillard trade.
According to Second Spectrum, the 26-year-old Williams has proven to be one of the league’s elite rim protectors and leads the NBA in field goal percentage allowed.
Williams missed the start of the 2022-23 season for the Celtics after undergoing offseason surgery on his left knee. He also tore the meniscus in his left knee in March 2022.
Williams had his best NBA season in 2021-22, being selected as a second-team All-NBA defensive player as the Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals. He started 61 games, averaging 10.0 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.