The Part of Robert Williams' Healing Process That's Ahead of Schedule

Robert Williams' torn meniscus injury was both a physical and emotional bummer. The knee will heal up fine in 4-6 weeks. Emotionally, he's ready to go, right now!

The fact that Robert Williams III is in a relatively upbeat mood following surgery to repair a torn meniscus injury in his left knee, is a good sign.

But the bigger takeaway from Williams' first interview since suffering the injury, was the reference he made to where he is at mentally when I asked him about his emotions upon learning the severity of his injury.

"I didn't know what was wrong during the game, but I knew something had happened that was going to stop me from playing," he said. "Next day I found out I had torn it. But honestly, I'm in a great place mentally, feeling way better."

And the importance of where Williams is from a mental health standpoint is vital to his return to playing at the level he was before his torn meniscus injury to his left knee against Minnesota on March 27.

The impact of mental health on the state and play of athletes has become a major point of discussion in sports lately.

Ben Simmons demanded a trade from Philadelphia in part because of the mental struggles he was grappling with, struggles he felt would not improve if he remained with the Sixers.

He was traded to Brooklyn in February and addressed his mental health concerns right away.

"For me, it was just making sure I was mentally...right to get out there and play again," Simmons said at his introductory press conference as a member of the Brooklyn Nets. "That's something I have been dealing with...earlier than that (playoff) series or even that season I was dealing with. It's something I continue to deal with and I'm getting there, getting to the right place to get back on the floor. I've had some dark times over these last six months. I'm happy to be in this situation with this team and this organization"

Four years ago, the National Basketball Player's Association (NBPA) started a mental health and wellness program geared toward providing players with increased access to mental health professionals.

And the NBA has increased its focus and attention to mental health as well, going so far as to make it part of the league's Rookie Transition Program.

But it's not just NBA players seeking the best course of action when it comes to navigating the unpredictable waters of mental health.

In tennis, we have seen this play out with Naomi Osaka whose struggles at times with her own mental health have impacted her play and to a lesser extent, her passion for the sport she loves dearly.

Closer to the NBA family, Cleveland's Kevin Love was among the first to openly discuss the challenges he has had with his own mental health.

Other NBA players such as Chicago's DeMar DeRozan have talked about the hurdles they have endured in balancing their needs when it comes to their own mental health.

A big part of dealing with mental health for athletes, is simply acknowledging that it is an issue that needs to be addressed.

The NBA has made a conscious effort at increasing opportunities for players to have their mental health needs met, something that more and more athletes are becoming comfortable with doing.

For years, there was a negative stigma attached to athletes who spoke or even alluded to the challenges they face from a mental health standpoint, with such conversations often attached with weakness.

But as we've seen, true strength when it comes to mental health manifests itself in the form of recognizing the need for improvement and being brave enough to ask for it.

There's no telling as to whether Williams has reached out to the NBA or the Players Association for mental health assistance. But the fact that he acknowledges it as part of his return-to-play process, bodes well for him and others who might be dealing with injuries that have the potential to take both a physical and mental toll on them.