Former Sixer Lou Williams Bids Farewell: A Look Back at a Stellar NBA Career
Former Philadelphia 76er Lou Williams has officially announced his retirement after 17 seasons in the NBA.
The three-time Sixth Man of the Year was drafted by the 76ers in the second round (45th pick) of the 2005 NBA Draft. Williams spent seven seasons with the team, averaging 11.3 points to go along with 3.4 assists per game. He played sparingly over the course of his first two years but became a major contributor starting in 2007. Playing alongside the likes of Allen Iverson, Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, Jrue Holiday, and Thaddeus Young, Williams was a part of four playoff teams in Philadelphia including the 2011-2012 team which came one game from making the Eastern Conference Finals. He finished his tenure with 5,158 points and 373 three-pointers made, the latter of which puts him at tenth in Sixers history. His best year with the team came in the 2011-2012 campaign where he averaged 14.9 points per game while shooting 40% from the field. Following his then-career-best campaign, Williams left the Sixers and signed with the Atlanta Hawks.
Williams looks back fondly on his stint with the Sixers.
He credits Philadelphia with helping him mature as a player and a person. In an interview from last year on the Draymond Green Podcast, Williams said “I’m glad it played out like it did. I had tough skin because of the city that I played in. When you leave Philadelphia and they love you, that’s like a job well done, because everybody doesn’t get out like that”. Williams went on to have productive stints with the Hawks, Raptors, Lakers, Rockets, and Clippers over the next 11 years.
His best years outside of Philadelphia came with the Clippers where he won two Sixth Man of the Year Awards. Despite only starting 31 (out of 261) games for Los Angeles (Clippers), he averaged 19.1 points per game and was a major part of the team’s success. The Clippers were without a star for the first several years of his tenure and Williams helped shape the team’s culture, becoming a fan favorite in the process.
Lou Will finished his career with an impressive 15,593 points.
His 1,457 three-pointers rank him just outside the top 50 all-time, a significant accomplishment for a sixth man. Throughout 17 seasons, he cemented himself as one of the best role players in NBA history, as his three Sixth Man of the Year Awards tied him with Jamal Crawford for the most all-time. He left a mark in each city he played in and is respected throughout the league by his former teammates and coaches. One of these teammates, Paul George, has even advocated for Williams to be considered for the Hall of Fame, citing his numerous accolades and contributions in a bench role.
As he hangs up his jersey, Lou Williams leaves behind a legacy of excellence and professionalism throughout his illustrious career in the NBA.
