Robert Williams has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons in the NBA.

Robert Williams could miss significant time due to his knee injury. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Former Celtics big man Robert Williams has been bitten by the injury bug again.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPNthe current Trail Blazers center will require right knee surgery and is expected to be sidelined for an extended period of time after suffering an injury during Portland’s loss to Marcus Smart and the Grizzlies on Sunday night.

The Shams Charania of athletics added Monday night that Williams will face a possible season-ending surgical procedure to repair bone and ligament damage in his right kneecap. Williams could also opt for ‘clearance surgery’, which would leave him on the shelf for two to three months.

Williams — who was traded from Boston to Portland on Oct. 1 in a blockbuster deal involving Jrue Holiday — is an impact player who can hit both shots and lobs when he’s on the court.

But the biggest hurdle for Williams was getting on the court, with the 6-foot-1 big man playing just 60 or more games in his first five seasons in the NBA.

That lone season came in 2021-22, when Williams’ breakout campaign coincided with Boston reaching the NBA Finals. Williams earned Second-Team All-NBA defensive honors that year, averaging 10 points, nine rebounds and two blocks per game.

But Williams suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee in March 2022, which required surgery. And even though he returned that year in time for the playoffs, additional complications with that knee prompted Williams to go under the knife again just before the start of training camp in September 2022.

Williams ultimately played just 35 games with the Celtics during his final season in Boston, averaging just 23.5 minutes per night.

So far this season, Williams is averaging 6.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game with his new team in Portland.