Philadelphia 76ers: 15 greatest NBA Draft steals in franchise history

Lou Williams has developed into the NBA’s best sixth man and an NBA All-Star caliber piece, almost cracking the mid-season showcase with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019. He got his start, however, in Philadelphia, spending his first seven seasons with the Sixers.

While Williams didn’t reach his peak in Philadelphia, he managed to become an integral piece to the second unit — not dissimilar to the roles he’s become known for in other cities. He also stepped up in the Sixers’ magical 2012 playoff run, where the eighth-seeded Sixers pushed the Boston Celtics to seven games in the conference semifinals.

Few players embody the pure scorer label more than Williams, though he has expanded his skill set beyond that. He’s a smooth, dynamic ball handler, boasting a gorgeous in-between game and pull-up range out to the 3-point line.

His ability to provide a scoring boost off the bench has transformed him into one of the generation’s most productive bench pieces. He doesn’t start because it’s not his place. He’s at his best in the second unit, offering teams a facelift when the starters sit and closing games strong.

Williams would leave the Sixers after the 2012 season, avoiding the oncoming Process and gradually increasing his role in other cities. But adding someone of Williams’ ilk at 45 — a high-level NBA scorer and elite sixth man — is worthy of the ‘draft steal’ label.