Trail Blazers C Robert Williams III to undergo season-ending knee surgery, per report

Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III will undergo surgery on his right knee that will keep him out for the remainder of the season, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday.

The 26-year-old will reportedly have the procedure early next week. He is expected to recover for the start of the 2024-25 season.

Williams injured his kneecap during a 112-100 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. He and his doctors were initially working to determine whether the bone and ligament damage caused by the injury could be repaired in a cleanup procedure with a shorter recovery time, according to the Athletic's Shams Charania.

Williams tore the meniscus in his left knee in March 2022, which also required surgery. He required an additional arthroscopic procedure that offseason, which briefly sidelined him for the start of the 2022-23 campaign for the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics selected Williams with the 27th pick of the 2018 NBA Draft out of Texas A&M. This will be his fourth time in six NBA seasons playing less than 35 games

Over his career, he has averaged 7.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 0.7 steals in 20.5 minutes per game while shooting 72.9% from the field. He was an NBA All-Defensive Team selection in 2022.

Williams, Malcom Brogdon and two first-round draft picks arrived in Portland via the trade that sent Jrue Holiday to the Celtics this offseason. Portland previously acquired Holiday from the Milwaukee Bucks in the three-team Damian Lillard trade, a deal that also brought center Deandre Ayton to Portland from the Phoenix Suns.

Ayton has been starting at center for the Blazers, while Williams was utilized in the rotation. In six games with Portland, Williams averaged 6.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.2 steals in 19.5 minutes.