Lou Hangs ‘Em Up after 17 years of professional experience
Three-time Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams has announced his retirement from the NBA after a successful 17-season career. The announcement came via a YouTube video narrated by his daughter, Jada, on Sunday.
After 17 years of his NBA career, Lou Williams has announced that he is retiring from basketball. Williams is a three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner and the NBA’s all-time leading bench scorer.
– Shams Charania June 18, 2023
Best sixth man ever?
Williams, 36, left the league as the all-time leading scorer off the bench, having played for several teams including the Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and most recently the Atlanta Hawks during the 2021-22 season. Of the 1,123 regular season games, Williams came off the bench in 1,001 of them and scored a total of 13,396 points in those games. His career point total is 15,593, which ranks him 131st in NBA history.
Nicknamed “6 Man” and “Underground GOAT,” Williams has made a huge impact as a major player in his role. He was known for his scoring ability and contributions off the bench, earning the respect and admiration of both fans and peers. He was named Sixth Man of the Year three times, joining Jamal Crawford as the only other player to achieve the feat.
The culmination of a great career
Williams’ career has been eventful, marked by personal milestones and memorable moments. He gained recognition in Drake’s song “6 Man,” which helped him earn the 6th Man Award in 2015 while playing for the Toronto Raptors. He also trademarked the nickname “Lemon Pepper Lou” after a viral incident during his time in the NBA bubble, where he was photographed at a strip club. This incident led to the creation of the “Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ” stand at the Magic City strip club.
In his retirement video, set to Kendrick Lamar’s “Count Me Out,” Williams reflects on his journey, highlighting the challenges he faced and the dreams he achieved. Narrating his daughter, Jada, acknowledges the many titles he acquired throughout his career and emphasizes his role as mentor, mentor, friend, son, brother, and father.
Williams Eldada and Coach
Williams, who has two daughters named Jada and Zoe, as well as a son named Syx, expressed his gratitude to his family as he shared his retirement video on Instagram. Over the years, Williams has been open about his difficult upbringing and the transformative power of basketball in his life. He has expressed his desire to give back and inspire the next generation, including coaching his daughter’s team at Al Ain University.
“For 17 years, you’ve moved to your own beat in this game. And now it’s time to say goodbye. But you still fulfilled your legacy in us. You gave it everything you could give. You left nothing else to change,” Jada added in the retirement announcement.
As Williams winds down his career, he leaves a lasting legacy as one of the best bench players in NBA history and a respected figure in the basketball community.