Lou Williams, three-time Sixth Man winner, retires at 36


It’s been quite a ride for Lou Williams.

It’s been fairly a journey for Lou Williams.
Photograph: AP

Former three-time Sixth Man of the Yr award winner Lou Williams has formally introduced his retirement from the NBA. Williams will go down as probably the greatest function gamers in NBA historical past and presumably the best sixth man of all time. Alongside together with his accolades, Williams additionally made it cool, and acceptable to return off the bench.

Whereas Jamal Crawford might need one thing to say about the very best sixth man of all time, as he’s the one different three-time award winner, Williams isn’t shy about staking his declare as G.O.A.T. sixth man. Williams can also be the main bench scorer in NBA historical past, together with these three sixth-man awards.

Candy Lou was like a magician on the courtroom when it got here to bringing power and getting buckets off the bench. Everyone tosses that phrase round like flapjacks, however Williams really was a bucket. He was a scoring specialist and will go off at a second’s discover.

Williams was additionally bestowed one of many sweetest nicknames late in his profession, which stemmed from time spent in some of the notorious strip golf equipment within the South. Throughout the Orlando bubble, Williams was allowed to make a fast detour to attend a funeral in Atlanta and ended up at Magic Metropolis afterward for rooster wings and leisure. From there, the story actually took on a lifetime of its personal.

Whereas Williams wasn’t precisely happy with the fallout, he took benefit by trademarking the title “Lemon Pepper Lou” after it was first uttered on stay broadcast by former FS1 Undisputed co-host Shannon Sharpe. Since then, Williams has been often known as Lemon Pepper Lou in NBA circles.

So, what’s Williams’ legacy within the affiliation? He was an incredible scorer and second-unit chief with dynamic expertise offensively. For near 20 years, Williams was a bucket off the bench for any group he represented. Candy Lou was amongst the final highschool gamers that jumped on to the NBA, remaining within the league. Williams performed for six franchises (ATL twice) in 17 NBA campaigns, final suiting up for the Hawks in the course of the 2021-22 season.