Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee this week, taking him four to six weeks to recover, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.
The procedure, expected to take place Thursday, will take place six months after Williams had knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
The latest proceeding is described as a “cleanup” and is expected to allow Williams to return to full strength early in the regular season, sources said.
Williams, who turns 25 in October, returned to the NBA Finals for the Celtics, playing in the playoffs with discomfort that resulted in him missing seven games.
Averaging 10.0 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks, Williams was the anchor for a Celtics team that led the league in defensive efficiency. Williams held opponents to 38.2% as the closest defender, the lowest among players defending 500 shots, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Williams was also second in blocked shots per game, only behind Jaren Jackson Jr. from Memphis, and shot 73.6% last season, the second-best among players who attempted 300 shots, according to ESPN Stats & Info.