With the 27th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics selected Robert Williams from Texas A&M University. Weeks after he was drafted, it was discovered that Williams has a lingering artery condition in both of his legs as reported by Fred Katz of MassLive.

Despite all of this, one MassLive source described the condition as “not too serious.” The exact condition that Williams has been dealing with is called Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) which is said to be most common in athletes, per John Hopkins Medicine.

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The popliteal artery is the dominant source of blood supply to the leg below the knee. Due to an abnormal course of the popliteal artery and the calf muscle group, the artery can be compressed and reduce blood flow. The consequence of reduced flow from calf contraction is immediate and leads to cramping and calf pain during exercise.  As a secondary effect, in the long term, repetitive trauma to the artery in its abnormal course can physically damage the arterial wall and cause a progressive narrowing known as a stenosis. In the most severe cases, permanent damage to the muscles and nerves of the leg is possible.

NBA teams, including the Celtics, knew of Williams' existing condition which he has played with for years, even during his stint at Texas A&M, according to another MassLive source. The Celtics, just like the L.A. Clippers, have reportedly completed physical examinations on Williams and his legs during the pre-draft period. Boston will continue to monitor Williams as they prepare for the 2018-19 season.