It is rare for a “Sixth Man” to become so well known among NBA fans — even Kawhi Leonard and Paul George would agree with that statement. Yet, Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams has made a name for himself throughout his career. Heck, the man was even name-dropped by rappers Drake and Meek Mill.
Still, the man known simply as “Lou Will” knows when to take a back seat.
In an appearance on Showtime's “All the Smoke” with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Lou Williams stated that he immediately sat down with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to empower them to take the leading role for the Clippers, despite the fact that Williams had led the team in scoring for the last two seasons:
Lou Williams on his role with Kawhi Leonard/Paul George- "We had a conversation with them like, 'Listen, we're not confused about who we are. Yeah, I was the leading scorer the past 2 years, but I know who y'all are. Now I'm gonna go back in my place and still star in my place.’” pic.twitter.com/6JuLeg5vYc
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) November 21, 2019
While one might expect the arrival of Leonard and George to have an impact on Williams' ability to score, the outcome has been totally different through the first 15 games of the year.
Lou Williams is averaging close to a career-high 22.5 points while running personal bests in assists (5.7) and rebounds (3.7). Moreover, Williams is averaging over 17 shots per night, the highest average of his career.
That is not to say that Leonard and George have not been able to get theirs. Kawhi is averaging close to 26 points in 10 games, and George is averaging over 28 points through his first four contests.
Wednesday night marked the first time that all three players shared the floor. Williams led the Clippers with 27 points, including a go-ahead three-pointer in the final minute. George added 25 points, while Leonard added 17 points after a tough shooting night.
The Clippers could be scary once these three have time to gel, especially given that they still defeated the Boston Celtics despite 23 turnovers. Nevertheless, Williams understands his role going forward.
Follow Us
Subscribe