Starting for the first time all season on Friday evening, Robert Williams seized the opportunity by stuffing the stat sheet in the Boston Celtics’ win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The Celtics center tallied just seven points (3-of-5 shooting), but grabbed nine rebounds and dished out a career-best six assists to along with a whopping five blocks and two steals. “Time Lord” posted a +19 in 27 minutes, second on the team to Marcus Smart (+20).

It was the seventh time this season that Williams, the shot-blocking specialist, swatted four or more shots—a particularly impressive mark given his lack of substantial playing time early on this year. Williams will likely see consistent court action after the Celtics traded Daniel Theis to the Chicago Bulls. The third-year big man received the starting nod with Tristan Thompson sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols.

Williams has been Boston’s best center all year, and in his lone start, he demonstrated why the struggling Celtics cannot justify sending him back to the second unit. Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said that Thompson, the usual starting center, will remain out of the lineup for the next few contests.

With Thompson out, Williams will receive all the playing time he can handle. He has topped 26 minutes just three times this season—but all of those instances came over the last 10 days.

Stevens did not commit to a starter once Thompson returns, however Williams has outperformed the veteran center all year. Thompson has underwhelmed in 40 games with the Celtics in 2020-21. Amid increasing scrutiny, Stevens can’t mess up this easy decision. The Celtics (22-23) are arguably the NBA’s most disappointing team, but for one night they were able to show their potential—and it came with Williams manning the middle.

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The Celtics are reportedly interested in free agent center Andre Drummond, the two-time All-Star who was bought out by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers were unable to find a trade partner for Drummond, who hits the open market after being waived.

Drummond is a prominent force on the glass, having finished as the NBA’s leader in rebounds four times in his career. The Celtics met with Drummond on Friday, leading to speculation that the big man could eventually sign with the club.

While the Celtics could use reinforcements in the middle, they cannot afford to limit Williams’ playing time as he hits his stride. Williams is shining in his first opportunity to play big minutes. Decreasing Williams’ minutes in favor of Drummond, who could be a rental player, would be a major miscalculation.

Even if Drummond—who has been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets in free agent rumors—were to join the Celtics, he should not be named the starting center. Williams has earned that spot, especially after serving a pivotal role in snapping the Bucks’ eight-game win streak.

With an all-around strong showing against an elite club, Williams proved why he needs to be featured alongside the starters from here on out. That should remain the case regardless of who the Celtics can snag off the free-agent market.