Lou Williams has decided to call it a day.
The 36-year-old guard announced his retirement from the NBA on Father’s Day, 18 June 2023, ending a remarkable 17-year career that saw him play for six different teams and win three Sixth Man of the Year awards.
From Philly to Atlanta: A Journey of Six Teams
Williams was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2005, straight out of high school. He spent his first seven seasons in Philly, where he developed into a prolific scorer and playmaker off the bench.
He averaged 13.3 points and 3.4 assists per game as a Sixer, and finished second in the Sixth Man of the Year voting in 2012.
After leaving the 76ers, Williams bounced around the league, playing for the Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Clippers.
He found his niche as a sixth man, providing instant offense and leadership for his teams.
Williams won his first Sixth Man of the Year award with the Raptors in 2015, and then repeated the feat twice with the Clippers in 2018 and 2019.
He is the only player in NBA history to win the award three times.
A Record-Breaking Sixth Man
Williams holds several records as a sixth man, including the most points scored off the bench in a single game (52), the most career points scored off the bench (15,004), and the most games with at least 30 points off the bench (38).
He is also one of only four players to score at least 10,000 points with no starts in their career.
A Final Run with the Hawks
Williams returned to his hometown of Atlanta in 2021, where he played his final season with the Hawks.
He helped them reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2015, averaging 10 points and 3.4 assists per game in the playoffs.
He said he was at peace with the possibility of retirement, but he also showed that he can still play at a high level.
Lou Williams Retirement video
Williams made his retirement announcement on Instagram, with a video of his daughter reading a note congratulating him on his basketball career.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CtobGKbsWuO/?hl=en
He thanked his family, friends, fans, coaches, teammates, and opponents for their support and respect over the years.
Williams also expressed his gratitude to God for blessing him with his talent and passion.
A True Legend of the Game
Williams leaves behind a legacy as one of the best sixth men ever to play the game.
He will be remembered for his clutch performances, his crafty moves, his fearless attitude, and his love for the game.
He is a true legend of the NBA.
Lou Williams Career Highlights
Here are some of the best highlights of Lou Williams’ career.
- Third-team Parade All-American (2004)
- Mr. Georgia Basketball (2005)
- Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2005)
- 3× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2015, 2018, 2019)
- NBA’s all-time leading bench scorer (15,004 points)
Lou Williams Daughters
Williams has three daughters: Jada, Zoey and Syx.
They are all featured in his retirement video where they express their love and admiration for their father.
Williams has often shared photos and videos of his daughters on social media, showing how much he enjoys spending time with them.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUNQHnnr9qt/
The Impact of Lou Williams Retirement
Lou Williams’ retirement marks the end of an era for the NBA and the sixth man role.
Williams was one of the most influential and respected players in the league, especially among his peers.
He inspired many young players to embrace coming off the bench and making an impact.
He also set a high standard for what it means to be a sixth man, not only in terms of scoring but also in terms of leadership, professionalism, and passion.
His retirement leaves a void in the NBA that will be hard to fill.
The Future of Lou Williams
Lou Williams has not revealed what he plans to do next after retiring as a player.
However, he has hinted that he might stay involved in basketball or other activities that he enjoys.
He has expressed interest in coaching or mentoring young players, especially in his hometown of Atlanta.
He has also shown his love for music and rap, collaborating with artists like Meek Mill and Drake.
Williams has also been involved in philanthropy and community service, supporting causes like education, health care, and social justice.
Whatever he decides to do next, Lou Williams will surely continue to make an impact on and off the court.
Lou Williams Stats
To appreciate Lou Williams’ career even more, let’s take a look at some of his stats.
Here is a table that shows his regular season averages per game for each team he played for:
| Team | Seasons | Games | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHI | 7 | 455 | 19.3 | 11.3 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 |
| ATL | 3 | 138 | 27.2 | 11.6 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 |
| TOR | 1 | 80 | 25.2 | 15.5 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.1 |
| LAL | 2 | 137 | 24.6 | 18.6 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.2 |
| HOU | 0.5 | 23 | 25.7 | 14.9 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 |
| LAC | 4 | 245 | 28.7 | 20.6 | 2.9 | 5.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 |
As you can see, Williams improved his scoring and playmaking as he moved from team to team, reaching his peak with the Clippers, where he averaged over 20 points and five assists per game for four seasons.
