Lou Williams

Louis Tyrone Williams (born October 27, 1986) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected out of high school by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 45th overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft. Williams spent seven seasons with Philadelphia before signing with the Atlanta Hawks in 2012, playing two seasons there before being traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2014. He was then named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2015, 2018, and 2019. In March 2019, he became the NBA's career leader in points off the bench.

For the singer, see Lew Williams. For other people with a similar name, see Louis Williams (disambiguation).

Lou Williams
Williams with the 76ers in 2010
No. 23 – Los Angeles Clippers
PositionShooting guard / Point guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1986-10-27) October 27, 1986
Memphis, Tennessee
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High schoolSouth Gwinnett (Snellville, Georgia)
NBA draft2005 / Round: 2 / Pick: 45th overall
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers
Playing career2005–present
Career history
2005–2012Philadelphia 76ers
2006→Fort Worth Flyers
2012–2014Atlanta Hawks
2014–2015Toronto Raptors
2015–2017Los Angeles Lakers
2017Houston Rockets
2017–presentLos Angeles Clippers
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

High school career

Williams was born in Memphis, Tennessee.[1] Williams played at Snellville's South Gwinnett High School under Roger Fleetwood, where he was a four-time All-State selection and was named Georgia's "Mr. Basketball" as a junior and senior. As a junior, Williams led South Gwinnett to the 5A Georgia State Championship. At the end of his senior year, Williams was named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year and a McDonald's All-American as well as a first-team Parade All-American. Lou Williams also participated in the Nike Hoop Summit and Jordan Brand Classic.

Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Williams was listed as the No. 3 shooting guard and the No. 7 player in the nation in 2005.[2]

Williams, and high school teammate Mike Mercer, committed to play at the University of Georgia,[3] for then-coach Dennis Felton, but Williams ended up declaring for the 2005 NBA draft instead.[4] Williams finished his career as the second all-time leading scorer in Georgia high school basketball history.

Professional career

Philadelphia 76ers (2005–2012)

After disappointing workout performances, Williams fell to the second round of the draft and was eventually picked 45th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers. Williams played sparingly as a rookie, averaging 1.9 points and .3 assists over 30 games.

The next season, Williams was sent to play for the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA Development League on November 28, 2006.[5] After a good showing in the D-League,[6] and trade rumors surrounding 76ers' starting point guard Allen Iverson,[7] Williams was recalled back to the 76ers' roster on December 5.

During the 2007–08 season, Williams averaged 11.3 ppg, 3.2 apg and 2.0 rpg. At the end of that season, Williams became a restricted free agent and signed a five-year deal worth $25 million to remain with Philadelphia.[8]

In game 4 of the first round of the 2011 Eastern Conference Playoffs, Williams hit a go-ahead three-pointer to give the 76ers a win against the Miami Heat, 86–82.[9] However, the Sixers ended up losing the series in five games.[10]

For the 2011–12 season, Williams led the 76ers in scoring with 14.9 points per game, despite not starting a single game.[11] He was the runner-up finisher for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.[11]

Atlanta Hawks (2012–2014)

On July 12, 2012, Williams signed with the Atlanta Hawks.[12] On January 18, 2013, against the Brooklyn Nets, Williams landed awkwardly on his right knee and had to leave the game on a wheelchair. It was later revealed that he tore his ACL and would miss the rest of the season.

Williams missed the first few games of the 2013–14 season while recovering from his knee injury. He made his debut on November 20, 2013, scoring 6 points off the bench. On December 14, 2013, Williams scored a season high of 27 points. He finished the season with averages of 10.4 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 rebounds.

Toronto Raptors (2014–2015)

On June 30, 2014, Williams was traded, along with the draft rights to Lucas Nogueira, to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for John Salmons and 2015 second round pick.[13] On November 22, 2014, he scored a then career-high 36 points in the Raptors' 110-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.[14] On April 20, 2015, Williams was named the 2015 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, becoming the first member of the Toronto Raptors to ever win the award.[15][16]

Los Angeles Lakers (2015–2017)

On July 9, 2015, Williams signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.[17][18] He made his debut for the Lakers in the season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 28, 2015, scoring 21 points off the bench in a 112–111 loss.[19] On January 3, 2016, he scored a then season-high 30 points in a 97–77 win over the Phoenix Suns.[20] Five days later, he scored 23 of his then career-high 44 points in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' 117–113 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.[21]

On December 3, 2016, Williams scored a season-high 40 points off the bench in a 103–100 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Williams's 40 points were the most ever scored by an opponent's reserve against Memphis, and he became the first player to score 40 off the bench since Jordan Crawford in April 2014.[22] Two days later, he had 38 points, six rebounds and seven assists in a 107–101 loss to the Utah Jazz, putting together the first back-to-back 30-point games of his 12-year NBA career. He also became the first Lakers player to score at least 38 points in successive games since Kobe Bryant in March 2013.[23] Over four games between December 3 and 9, Williams scored 137 points—the biggest four-game scoring performance by a reserve since the NBA began keeping track of starts in 1970.[24]

Houston Rockets (2017)

On February 23, 2017, Williams was traded to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Corey Brewer and a 2017 first-round draft pick.[25] He made his debut for the Rockets that night, scoring 27 points with seven three-pointers off the bench in a 129–99 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.[26] On March 15, 2017, he scored 30 points in a 139–100 win over the Lakers.[27]

Los Angeles Clippers (2017–present)

On June 28, 2017, the Los Angeles Clippers acquired Williams, Patrick Beverley, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, Darrun Hilliard, DeAndre Liggins, Kyle Wiltjer, and a 2018 first-round pick from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Chris Paul.[28] On November 27, 2017, Williams scored a season-high 42 points in a 120–115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.[29] On December 9, 2017, he hit a go-ahead pull-up 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining, lifting the Clippers to a 113–112 victory over the Washington Wizards. He finished with 35 points to lead a dominant bench effort for the Clippers.[30] On December 31, 2017, he scored 40 points off the bench in a 106–98 win over the Charlotte Hornets.[31] Williams was subsequently named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, December 25 through Sunday, December 31.[32] On January 10, 2018, he scored 27 of his career-high 50 points in the third quarter of the Clippers' 125–106 win over the Golden State Warriors. He shot 16 for 27 with a career-best eight 3-pointers and made all 10 of his free throws.[33] It was the highest scoring effort by any Clipper in a single game since Charles Smith tied a franchise record with 52 points in December 1990.[34] Williams was subsequently named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, January 8 through Sunday, January 14.[34] On January 20, 2018, he recorded 31 points, a franchise-record 10 steals, and seven assists in a 125–113 loss to the Utah Jazz. He became the first player in league history to reach 30 points, 10 steals, and seven assists in a game since steals became a recorded stat.[35] On January 26, 2018, he had 40 points and matched his season high with 10 assists in the Clippers' 109–100 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.[36] On February 7, 2018, he signed a multi-year contract extension with the Clippers.[37] On February 23, 2018, he had 35 points in 33 minutes, including a 23-point second quarter, in a 128–117 win over the Phoenix Suns.[38] Williams averaged career highs in points (22.6), assists (5.3), and minutes (32.8) during the 2017–18 season. His bench scoring led the NBA in his 13th season.[39] He was subsequently named NBA Sixth Man of the Year for the second time in his career.[40]

On November 2, 2018, Williams scored 23 of his game-high 28 points in the second half of the Clippers' 120–95 win over the Orlando Magic.[41] The Clippers started the season with a 17–9 record before Williams suffered a right hamstring injury.[42] In the four games he missed, the Clippers endured a four-game losing streak.[43] In his return to action on December 20, Williams scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter of the Clippers' 125–121 win over the Dallas Mavericks.[43] On December 28, he had a season-high 36 points in a 118–107 win over the Lakers.[44] On January 25, 2019, he recorded his first career triple-double with 31 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds in a 106–101 win over the Chicago Bulls, joining Detlef Schrempf (in 1993) as the only other player in NBA history with a 30-point triple double off the bench.[45] Williams' first triple-double occurred in his 904th career game—only Zach Randolph at 974 games logged his first later in his career.[46] On February 2, he scored 39 points and helped the Clippers rally from a 25-point deficit to beat the Detroit Pistons 111–101.[47] On February 11, he scored a season-high 45 points off the bench in a 130–120 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.[48] On February 13, he recorded 30 points and 10 assists in 22 minutes in a 134–107 win over the Suns, becoming the first player in NBA history with at least 30 points and 10 assists in fewer than 23 minutes.[49] On March 8, he scored 40 points in a 118–110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, thus passing Jamal Crawford for second in NBA career points off the bench.[50] It was also the 28th game of his career with 30 or more off the bench, breaking Ricky Pierce's record of 27.[49] On March 11, he became the NBA's career leader in points off the bench with 34 points in a 140–115 win over the Boston Celtics, thus surpassing Dell Curry (11,147).[51] On March 17, he scored 25 points and hit a 28-foot 3-pointer from the top of the key at the buzzer to give the Clippers a 119–116 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.[52]

On April 15, 2019, Williams had 36 points and 11 assists to help the Clippers overcome a 31-point deficit—the biggest comeback in NBA playoff history—and tie the first-round series at 1–1 against the Warriors with a 135–131 win.[53][54] He became only the second bench player in NBA history with a 30-point, 10-assist performance in the playoffs.[55] In Game 5 of the series, he had 33 points and 10 assists in a 129–121 win.[56] The Clippers went on to lose Game 6 to bow out of the playoffs. At the NBA's end-of-season awards night, Williams was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year, joining Jamal Crawford as the only three-time winners of the award.[57]

After violating the rules of the NBA Bubble, Williams was required to sit out the first two seeding games of the 2019–20 season to fulfill his quarantine requirements.[58]

Personal life

Williams is the son of the late Willie Louis Williams and Janice Faulkner. He has two brothers, Taurus Stinnett and Willie Louis Williams II, and one sister, Shaun Haynes.[59] Williams has three children. He is a close friend of Bow Wow and was seen socializing with him at his house on an episode of MTV Cribs.[60]

Williams has recorded several rap tracks and was featured on Meek Mill's single "I Want It All."[61]

He runs an annual summer camp at South Gwinnett High School, his alma mater, for children ages 10–16. "This camp means a lot to me because I can give back to a community that has done so much for me," Williams said.

In December 2011, Williams claimed his NBA recognition saved him from an armed robbery attempt in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Manayunk. A gunman allegedly tried to rob Williams but stopped and said he was a fan of the player. After Williams and the gunman reached an understanding, Williams bought him food from McDonald's.[62]

In 2014, it was revealed that Williams was dating both Ashley Henderson and Rece Mitchell at the same time.[63] As of 2018, his relationship with Henderson had ended.[64]

He is the subject of a song by Canadian rapper Drake called "6 Man" on Drake's mixtape If You're Reading This It's Too Late. Drake referenced Williams' role as a sixth man for the Raptors, as well as his alleged two girlfriends. The song was released on February 12, 2015, the same season Williams won the Sixth Man of the Year Award. The song was played during Williams' trophy presentation during the Raptors playoff game against the Washington Wizards, and he is featured in the song's music video: a promotion for OVO's Raptors themed Spring 2015 Apparel.[65]

NBA career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2005–06 Philadelphia 3004.8.442.222.615.6.3.2.01.9
2006–07 Philadelphia 61011.3.441.324.6961.11.8.4.04.3
2007–08 Philadelphia 80023.3.424.359.7832.13.21.0.211.5
2008–09 Philadelphia 81023.7.398.286.7902.03.01.0.212.8
2009–10 Philadelphia 643829.9.470.340.8242.94.21.3.214.0
2010–11 Philadelphia 75023.3.406.348.8232.03.4.6.213.7
2011–12 Philadelphia 64026.3.407.362.8122.43.5.8.314.9
2012–13 Atlanta 39928.7.422.367.8682.13.61.1.314.1
2013–14 Atlanta 60724.1.400.342.8492.13.5.8.110.4
2014–15 Toronto 80025.2.404.340.8611.92.11.1.115.5
2015–16 L.A. Lakers 673528.5.408.344.8302.52.5.9.315.3
2016–17 L.A. Lakers 58124.2.444.386.8842.33.21.1.218.6
2016–17 Houston 23025.7.385.315.8673.02.4.7.414.9
2017–18 L.A. Clippers 791932.8.435.359.8802.55.31.1.222.6
2018–19 L.A. Clippers 75126.6.425.361.8763.05.4.8.120.0
Career 93611024.6.421.349.8392.23.3.9.214.2

Playoffs
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2008 Philadelphia 6022.5.400.222.7332.02.01.0.012.0
2009 Philadelphia 6024.8.412.375.6672.52.8.5.29.7
2011 Philadelphia 5026.0.327.300.7371.63.01.0.010.8
2012 Philadelphia 13027.5.352.167.7882.13.01.0.011.5
2014 Atlanta 7019.0.380.313.9382.31.11.0.18.3
2015 Toronto 4025.5.314.190.8331.81.31.5.012.8
2017 Houston 11024.7.424.308.8972.71.3.6.112.5
2019 L.A. Clippers 6029.3.433.333.8292.87.7.8.221.7
Career 58025.1.385.262.8052.32.7.9.112.2
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References
  1. About Us – The Lou Williams Foundation
  2. Louis Williams – Yahoo! Sports
  3. "Jack, prep star Williams to announce draft plans". ESPN.com. May 4, 2005.
  4. "Naismith prep POY Williams declares for draft". ESPN.com. May 5, 2005.
  5. Hollis, John & Haddocks, Robert (2006): Louis Williams demoted by 76ers, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 11/28/06
  6. "Game-by-game NBADL statistics". Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
  7. Jasner, Phil (2006): A.I. will soon be history, Philadelphia Daily News 12/09/06
  8. "Restricted free agent Williams re-signs with 76ers". ESPN.com. August 4, 2008.
  9. "Heat vs. 76ers - Game Recap - April 24, 2011 - ESPN". ESPN.com.
  10. "76ers vs. Heat - Game Recap - April 27, 2011 - ESPN". ESPN.com.
  11. "Thunder's Harden wins Sixth Man of the Year". ESPN.com. May 10, 2012.
  12. "HAWKS SIGN FREE AGENT GUARD LOU WILLIAMS TO A CONTRACT". NBA.com. July 12, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  13. "Raptors Acquire Williams, Nogueira From Atlanta". Toronto Raptors.
  14. "Williams, Raptors beat struggling Cavs, 110-93".
  15. "Raptors' Lou Williams wins 2014-15 Kia NBA Sixth Man Award". NBA.com. April 20, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  16. Devine, Dan (April 20, 2015). "Raptors' Lou Williams wins 2014-15 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award". Yahoo.com. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  17. "Lakers Sign Lou Williams". NBA.com. July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  18. ESPN news services (July 6, 2015). "Sources: Lakers reach deal with Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams". espn.go.com. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  19. "Wolves edge Lakers 112-111 in first game since Flip's death". NBA.com. October 28, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  20. "Williams scores 30, Lakers beat Suns 97-77 without Kobe". NBA.com. January 3, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  21. "Westbrook, Thunder hold off Lakers 117-113 despite Lou's 44". NBA.com. January 8, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  22. "Daniels scores career-best 31 to lead Grizzlies past Lakers". ESPN.com. December 3, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  23. "Jazz hold off Lakers' rally to win without Snyder, 107-101". ESPN.com. December 5, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  24. "Eric Bledsoe scores 30, Suns hold off Lakers 119-115". ESPN.com. December 9, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  25. "Rockets Acquire Lou Williams". NBA.com. February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  26. "Rockets rout Pelicans, 129-99, in Cousins' New Orleans debut". ESPN.com. February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  27. "Williams, Harden send Rockets to 139-100 win over Lakers". ESPN.com. March 15, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  28. "Press Release: L.A. Clippers Acquire Seven Players and Draft Pick, Including Beverley, Dekker, Harrell and Williams". NBA.com. June 28, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  29. "Clippers hang on to beat Lakers 120-115 for 3rd win in row". ESPN.com. November 27, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  30. "Williams' 3-pointer gives Clippers 113-112 win over Wizards". ESPN.com. December 9, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  31. "Lou Williams scores 40 points, Clippers hold off Hornets". ESPN.com. December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  32. "Press Release: Lou Williams Named Western Conference Player of the Week". NBA.com. January 2, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  33. "Lou Williams scores career-high 50, Clippers beat Warriors". ESPN.com. January 10, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  34. "Press Release: Lou Williams Named Western Conference Player of the Week". NBA.com. January 15, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  35. "Mitchell gets 23, Jazz end Clippers' streak with 125-113 win". ESPN.com. January 20, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  36. "Williams has 40 points,10 assists, Clippers beat Grizzlies". ESPN.com. January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  37. "Press Release: L.A. Clippers Sign Lou Williams to Contract Extension". NBA.com. February 7, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  38. "Williams, Clippers rout sinking Suns 128-117". ESPN.com. February 23, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  39. "Hart's 30 lead Lakers past Clippers 115-100 to end season". ESPN.com. April 11, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  40. Winfield, Kristian (June 25, 2018). "Lou Williams wins NBA Sixth Man of the Year". sbnation.com. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  41. "Williams scores 28 as Clippers rout Magic 120-95". ESPN.com. November 2, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  42. Youngmisuk, Ohm (December 11, 2018). "Hamstring injury could sideline Lou Williams a couple weeks". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  43. "Clippers snap 4-game losing streak by holding off Mavericks". ESPN.com. December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  44. "Lou's 36 send Clips past Lakers 118-107 in 1st clash of year". ESPN.com. December 28, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  45. "Williams' 1st triple-double leads Clippers past Bulls". ESPN.com. January 25, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  46. "Clippers cruise past Kings 122-108 for 3rd straight win". ESPN.com. January 27, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  47. "Clippers rally from 25 down, beat Pistons 111-101". ESPN.com. February 2, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  48. "Healthy Rose, Teague lead Timberwolves past Clippers 130-120". ESPN.com. February 11, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  49. "Williams scores 30, Clippers send Suns to 15th straight loss". ESPN.com. February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019. It was also the 27th game of his 13-year career in which he has scored 30 or more off the bench, tying Ricky Pierce.
  50. "Williams, Gallinari lead Clippers past Thunder 118-110". ESPN.com. March 8, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  51. "Clippers' Williams becomes NBA bench points leader in win". ESPN.com. March 11, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  52. "Williams' 3-pointer lifts Clippers to 119-116 win over Nets". ESPN.com. March 17, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  53. "Clippers vs. Warriors - Game Summary - April 15, 2019 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  54. Guinhawa, Angelo (April 16, 2019). "BREAKING: Clippers Stun Warriors With Biggest Comeback In NBA Playoff History". ClutchPoints. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  55. ESPN (April 15, 2019). "Sweet Lou!". Twitter. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  56. "Lou Williams, Clippers force Game 6 against champ Warriors". ESPN.com. April 24, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  57. "Lou Williams Wins The 2018-19 NBA KIA Sixth Man Of The Year Award". NBA.com. June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  58. Powell, Shaun. "Clippers' Lou Williams in 10-day quarantine after returning to Orlando". NBA.com.
  59. "Louis Williams Stats, Video, Bio, Profile".
  60. Video on YouTube
  61. "New Video: Meek Mill x Lou Williams "I Want It All"". Rap Radar.
  62. "76ers' Williams says he won over armed robber". ESPN.com. December 27, 2011.
  63. "Raptors Guard Lou Williams Allegedly Has Two Girlfriends, J.R. Smith Is Very Impressed". Complex.
  64. "Lou Williams Talks About Breaking Up With 1 of His 2 Girlfriends". Complex.
  65. "Lou Williams Stars in Video For Drake's OVO Raptors-Inspired Spring Line". Complex.
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