Getting on the road to recovery
Williams has already started rehab process
The Celtics’ medical team has told Rob Williams that, based on the initial success of his surgery on Thursday, he has every reason to expect a return to action in four to six weeks — or roughly around the start of the second round of playoffs in early May.
And Williams, who showed up for a Saturday morning presser holding a basketball as if it was his best friend, has gladly bought into that prognosis. It’s such a better feeling than what the Celtics center experienced after returning to the bench during last
Sunday’s win over Minnesota with what turned out to be a torn meniscus in his left knee.
“I was hurt. I was so hurt. Because I knew something wasn’t right. I could tell it was something that was gonna stop me from playing,” said Williams. “So I really didn’t even want to find out what it was at one point. Like, at one point, I was sitting on a bench, like the end of the third (quarter), and I knew something was wrong but I was so scared to even stand up. But, thankfully, this out the way and we on to rehab now.
“I think it happened when I was guarding Taurean
Prince and he kind of stopped for a jump shot and I contested,” he said. “I think that’s when it happened, but I’m not really sure. When it happened, I think we were on a little run or whatever and Coach actually took us out and I was about to ask him to take me out anyways because like every step I took, you know what I’m saying, it was getting worse and worse.”
Williams started his rehabilitation a day after surgery. He was on the sideline icing his knee when Ime Udoka and Grant Williams staged a fake April Fool’s day fight — much to the gullibility of all present.
“Uh yeah, I thought they were fighting. I was surprised no one was stepping in the middle,” he said. “I couldn’t move because I was icing my knee at the time, so
I was like somebody has to separate them.”
And just like that Williams has been sucked into rehab, with the knowledge that he can rejoin this team if it lasts long enough in the playoffs.
“I mean, nah, (bleep), not on my part,” he said with a laugh of whether he’s concerned about making it back on time. “I mean, obviously, there’s nothing that can compare to playing in an NBA game or obviously the playoffs, but just gotta get out there. Like riding a bike again. Get out there, get my wind under me and I feel like I should be good, obviously, with the help of my teammates picking me up. For sure.”
And now for a multi-step rehabilitation process.
“Right now just a lot of non-movement stuff, strengthening everything around the tear or that muscle,” he said. “And as time progresses there’s a lot of boxes you have to check obviously. You have to walk fine before you can run. You have to run in a straight line before you can make angles or cuts. Lot of different boxes you have to check, but feel like we’re on the right path.
“As far as me feeling better physically, I just mean as far as obviously I don’t feel as bad as I did when it first happened,” said Williams. “And I was just surprised at the relief I had right after surgery. Just being able to move way better on my own. So I’m proud of that.”
He’s also proud of one of the greatest signs of his progress since his rookie season — an improved, more disciplined ability to recover from injuries.
“This is not my first injury that I’ve been through with the Celtics organization, and I can just honestly wholeheartedly say, every time I got to enter their care, the expertise, them zoning in on my rehab has been great and it helped me come back numerous times,” he said. “So I’ve got all the faith in the world in those guys.
“They told me that it was a good surgery. Everything went as well as we wanted it, as well as it could go, and their observation is that I can be back in that time frame,” he said. “Just gotta take our time, make sure it’s the right plan, make sure I’m healthy. This organization obviously cares about me long-term more than anything. So just making sure it’s the right plan and I’m ready to go.”