The 23-year old big man is coming off his best year as a pro in year three, as he earned the starting center spot while averaging 8.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 blocks (tied for sixth in the NBA) in less than 20 minutes (18.9) per contest.
Boston Celtics center Robert Williams has agreed on a four-year, $54M contract extension, his agent @KB_radbury of @Rep1Sports tells ESPN. Williams’ deal puts his salary in top half of league’s centers despite only 13 career starts. pic.twitter.com/gUQHzLWcCJ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 20, 2021
Unfortunately, Williams did miss 20 games with an assortment of aliments included a turf-toe injury that kept him from making much of an impact during Boston's playoff series loss in the first round to the Brooklyn Nets following Game 1, where he finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and nine blocks -- a Celtics postseason record -- in less than 23 minutes of action. He would only play six minutes in Game 3, then was sidelined for Games 4 and 5.
The deal not only is an investment in the Celtics young center, but it also locks in Williams alongside the core of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and now Marcus Smart for the next few years as the future of the franchise.
While the risk of Williams' health presents itself as the big "if'" and the elephant in the room, the Celtics can still reap the benefits of a center who should continue to show more discipline on defense and growth on offense as there go-to-guy in the middle going forward.
Joel Pavón
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