Brad Stevens reacts to extension for center Robert Williams III
A busy summer for first-year Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens rolled on with the inking of center Robert Williams III to a four-year, $54 million extension last Friday.
And Stevens seems beyond thrilled with that landing spot for the sides.
“Rob has worked hard to turn himself into a very impactful player, and his talent and selfless play give him an even higher upside to reach going forward,” Stevens said in a statement confirming the extension. “Rob has embraced being a Celtic from day one. He is a great teammate and is completely committed to getting better.
“We’re excited that he will continue to do so here in Boston.”
In action for a career-high 52 games last season, Williams III finished with career-high averages in points (8.0), rebounds (6.9), assists (1.8), blocked shots (1.8), and minutes (18.9) per game. The Louisiana product even made Celtic history with an Apr. 2 effort against the Rockets, with 20 points on a perfect 9-of-9 shooting, which made him the first player in franchise history to produce at least 20 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists while shooting 100 percent from the field.
But Williams III wasn’t done etching his name into the history books, as he hammered away nine blocks in Boston’s Game 1 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. It was the first time in franchise history that a Celtic recorded nine blocks in a single playoff game.
A first-round of the Celtics back in 2018, Williams III will likely begin the year as Boston’s starting center following the offseason trade of Tristan Thompson, and with Al Horford and Enes Kanter back in the mix for Boston.
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Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.
