Getty Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics looks on.
It’s going to be a while before the Boston Celtics see Robert Williams make his debut in the 2022-23 season. After opting for arthroscopic surgery on his knee, Williams is expected to be out eight-to-12 weeks. As Williams inches closer to his return to the court, more updates are sure to come. Interim Head Coach Joe Mazzulla provided one on Williams after talking to Celtics media on October 4.
Mazzulla confirmed that Williams was present during the team’s film session, was getting treatment, and shot free throws. On top of that, Mazzulla said that Williams was in a good place mentally.
“He’s in a great mind frame,” Mazzulla said about Williams. “As guys are getting better on the court, he knows the treatment room is his basketball court right now. So he’s doing a great job of getting treatment and kind of building towards that.”
As Williams recovers from surgery, nothing’s been set as far as who will take his place in the starting lineup until he gets back. Derrick White took his place as one of the team’s starters when the Celtics played their first preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets, but they may very well change it up again as the preseason progresses.
Celtics Insider Says Williams Plans to be ‘100 Percent’
Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston revealed that, while talking to Williams himself, Williams revealed what his plans are following his surgery.
“The thing I was left with (while talking to Williams) was he said, ‘We’re going to get it right this time and make sure that when I get back out there, (I’m) 100 percent.’ And so, I think as much as it’s hard to stomach the longer timeframe than what we initially heard, I think both Rob and the team understand that if they’re going to do anything this season, they need him healthy, and they need him back to his springy self.”
Forsberg then made it clear how much a healthy Williams benefits the Celtics.
“If they can get Robert Williams back to what he was, that’s going to be a really good thing for this team.”
“If they can get Robert Williams back to what he was, that’s going to be a really good thing for this team”
@ChrisForsberg_ weighs in on the timeline for Robert Williams’ return
Mfiondu Kabengele Praises Williams and Al Horford
After putting up quite the show during the Celtics’ first preseason game, Kabengele praised Robert Williams III and Al Horford for their influence on him as a player.
“I can ask (Horford) any question, smart questions, dumb questions, he’ll answer it – he’s been really helpful since I’ve been here,” Kabengele said. “Most of the questions I ask him are about pick-and-roll coverages, sometimes I have a hard time gauging where I should be at, playing cat-and-mouse with the ball-handler, and figuring out how I should guard it. Al gives me good tips on how I should angle (coverage) properly, especially with different personnel and stuff.
“Rob’s been good because he’s been out because he watches practices while he does his rehab. He might give me a little comment here and there on what I can work on. So, Rob and Al have both been really helpful,”
The Celtics are Kabengele’s third NBA team, as he previously played with the Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers before agreeing to join the team on a two-way deal. READ MORE.