The NBA has released the list of finalists for the Sixth Man of the Year award, including L.A. Clippers spitfire guard Lou Williams. For Clippers guard Patrick Beverley, it should be a no-brainer that the recognition should go to his teammate.

While his pick may come with at least a tinge of bias, Patrick Beverley picking Lou Williams to take home the award is not a surprise at all. Had it not for Williams, the Clippers probably would have finished the 2017-18 season wallowing in the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

With the Clippers playing in its first season after the Chris Paul era, and dealing Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons in the middle of the campaign, the team was not supposed to be a contender for a postseason spot. But with Williams leading the way and playing like borderline All-Star, the Clippers finished with a winning 42-40 record – just five games behind of the last playoffs spot in the West.

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Williams led the Clippers last season in points with 22.6 points, though, he only started 19 games for the team. He also averaged 5.3 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 79 games.

Furthermore, Williams was second on the team in win shares (9.4).

The other two finalists for the Sixth Man of the Year are Eric Gordon of the Houston Rockets and Fred VanVleet of the Toronto Raptors.

For his stellar play for the Clippers, Williams was awarded by the team with a three-year deal back in February worth $24 million.

Williams was traded to the Clippers by the Rockets last year along with Beverley, Sam Dekker, DeAndre Liggins, Darrun Hillard II, Kyle Wiltjer, a future pick, and cash for Chris Paul.