Boston Celtics big man Robert Williams III will make his season debut on Friday against the Orlando Magic, sources told The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Williams was ruled out in the early portion of the 2022-23 season after taking a left knee surgery back in September to “remove loose bodies and address swelling.” Notably in March, he also underwent a partial left knee meniscectomy as he suffered from torn meniscus, which greatly reduced his availability and full activity in the last postseason for Boston.
Williams was the main defensive anchor of the Celtics’ emergence in the previous campaign. With him, the club allowed a tight 0.84 points per half-court play with him and was a terrifying presence down low with his 6.8 blocks percentage.
The center registered 10.0 points, 9.6 boards, 2.0 dimes, 2.2 blocks in an efficient 73.6 percent shooting last season.
He will make a return to the league’s best 22-7 Cs who had a tremendous job of holding their own without his defense.
