Clippers’ Legend Lou Williams Announces Retirement • 213hoops.com

Lou Williams, the Underground GOAT, announced his retirement earlier today – Father’s Day – via a pretty sweet video narrated by his eldest daughter.

Lou had an incredible 17-year NBA career after being selected as the 45th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft straight out of high school. He holds the record for most points scored off the bench in NBA history as well as most career games off the bench. His storied career started in Philadelphia before going to Atlanta, Toronto, Los Angeles (for the Lakers), Houston, back to Los Angeles (for the Clippers), and finally back to Atlanta. His veteran mentor as a youngster was the legendary Allen Iverson, and in his last few seasons in the NBA he mentored both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Trae Young.

However, while Lou had great seasons elsewhere, his three best years came from 2018 to 2020 while wearing a Clippers jersey. He deservedly won Sixth Man of the Year in 2018 and 2019, and had some of the biggest games in Clippers’ history. I could post a dozen games, but for now bask in the highlights of his 33 point, 10 assist game against the Warriors in the 2019 playoffs to stave off elimination, his 50-point game in the regular season against the Warriors, his game-winner against the Nets, his 36 points and 11 assists against the Warriors in Game 2 of those same playoffs in the greatest comeback in NBA postseason history.

Across his 3.5 seasons wearing a Clippers’ jersey, Lou Williams averaged 19.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and, underratedly, 5.1 assists on a fairly efficient 55.6 True Shooting. He, along with Pat Beverley and Montrezl Harrell, bridged the gap from Lob City to 213, and did so with aplomb and panache. While Lou was out of the NBA just 1.5 years after the Clippers traded him away, he outperformed his replacement, Rajon Rondo, by a vast margin in the 2021 Playoffs, and the Clippers have missed his (and Beverly’s) leadership since their departures.

I could go on and on about Sweet Lou, one of the best players to don a Clippers’ jersey, one of the most entertaining, and certainly one of the coolest. However, I’ll close by wishing Lou Williams the best of luck in his post-playing career and retirement. Long live the Underground GOAT.