Boston Celtics: Key figurehead teases Robert Williams’ return

The Boston Celtics have been the NBA’s best team so far in the young 2022-23 season. They’re off to a 19-5 start after downing the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday evening 103-92. The Cs were without starting point guard Marcus Smart for the matchup at Barclays, but their depth prevailed and helped them take home the W.

Boston is no stranger to dealing with injuries. The team lost newly signed forward Danillo Gallinari to an ACL tear over the summer and has been without ascending center Robert Williams III while he recovers from left knee surgery. Williams first injured his knee last April, when he tore his meniscus in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was able to make a speedy return to the team, joining them in Game 3 of the first round. Williams played sporadically throughout Boston’s NBA Finals run and never quite looked like the dominant force fans had watched during the regular season.

‘The Timelord’ averaged a solid 10 points and just under 10 rebounds over the course of the 2021-22 campaign. Those numbers took a dip in the playoffs when he put up just under eight points and grabbed about six rebounds per game. The knee clearly wasn’t at 100% but the Texas A&M alumni wanted to be out there for the C’s.

Fast forward to late September, when news broke of Williams undergoing a second procedure on that knee. The timetable for the Timelord’s return was reported to be anywhere from 8-12 weeks after the surgery. Once this Thursday rolls around, it will mark 11 weeks since Rob’s procedure. The time has come for the Timelord to return to the Boston Celtics, or at least it’s right around the corner.

When will Robert Williams III be back for the Boston Celtics?

A few weeks back, A. Sherrod Blakely hinted at an early return on CLNS’s Garden Report post game show, saying:

"“Robert Williams will be back sooner than later.”"

Blakely went further into detail in his “Full Court Press Newsletter,” explaining that Robert Williams was smiling ear-to-ear when asked about returning. ‘The Timelord’ told Blakely that he’s working on “checking boxes” of things he needs to do to get back on the floor. Sherrod detailed Williams’ giddiness during the interview, writing:

"“But there’s no mistaking the excitement that he’s feeling now, well aware that he’ll be back on the floor sooner rather than later.”"

Before Sunday’s game in Brooklyn, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla added fuel to fire, hinting that the NBA All-Defensive Second Teamer could be returning to the lineup very soon. He said that Williams is “pretty close to returning.”

Mazzulla explained that Timelord had participated in a five-on-five scrimmage earlier that day and had also done so earlier in the week.

"“It’s just a matter of getting him back conditioning-wise and making sure he’s comfortable and ready to go.”"

The already-improving Celtics’ much-improved 2022-23 defense would benefit greatly from the return of the Timelord. He would also provided the team with more flexibility, allowing them to rest aging big man Al Horford without feeling undersized down low. Horford has been sitting back-to-backs all year.