Trail Blazers' Robert Williams III to Undergo Potential Season-Ending Knee Surgery

Blazers' center facing challenging decision between season-ending procedure or 2-3 month recovery following right knee injury, further sidelining a player already plagued by a history of knee issues.

• Robert Williams III, the Trail Blazers center, is expected to undergo right knee surgery following an injury sustained in a game against the Grizzlies. He may be sidelined for an extended period, with a potential season-ending surgery on the cards.
• The surgery is to fix bone and ligament damage in his right kneecap, however, a more minimal 'clean-up' surgery that could see him return to the court after 2-3 months of recovery is also being considered.
• This is yet another setback for Williams, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, particularly on his knees. He only played 35 regular season games for Boston last season and has faced three knee surgeries in consecutive seasons.
• Despite injury struggles, Williams has proved himself as a valuable player with high defensive prowess, leading the NBA in field goal percentage allowed as the closest defender among players to defend 1,000 shots, per Second Spectrum.
• His latest injury could affect the Trail Blazers' plans for Williams as they embarked on a rebuilding phase after the trade of Damian Lillard. Previously, it was expected that several contenders might bid for Williams ahead of the February trade deadline. That may change given the uncertainty around his return.

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