Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III and wing Shaedon Sharpe will both be sidelined for weeks due to injuries sustained during training camp. Williams, who had surgery on his right knee last November and missed most of the 2023-24 season, strained his left hamstring early in camp and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Sharpe, who appeared in 32 games last season before having surgery for a core muscle injury, suffered a small posterior labral tear in his left shoulder and is expected to be out for four to six weeks.
Coach Chauncey Billups expressed optimism about Williams’ status, noting that the injury is unrelated to his previous knee surgery. Billups praised Williams’ dedication to his return-to-play program and said he has been pleased with how the player has approached therapy. However, Billups acknowledged that pushing too hard after a long absence can lead to injuries like hamstring strains.
Williams spoke at media day about his recovery process and expressed readiness to get back on the court. General manager Joe Cronin also provided updates on Williams’ progress leading up to training camp. Despite this setback, it appears that Williams’ current injury is relatively minor compared to previous surgeries.
When healthy, Williams is known for being one of the league’s best rim protectors and lob threats. With him out of action temporarily, players like Donovan Clingan and Duop Reath will have more opportunities on the court. The team already has Deandre Ayton as their starting center with additional frontcourt depth.
As for Sharpe, he was drafted seventh overall in 2022 alongside Scoot Henderson as part of the franchise’s future backcourt duo. While he recovers from his shoulder injury, guard Dalano Banton may see increased playing time.
The Trail Blazers are set to play their first preseason game against the Los Angeles Clippers on October 11th before opening their regular season against the Golden State Warriors on October 23rd.
