Clippers guard and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams, 33, tells Stadium’s Shams Charania in an exclusive video sitdown that he considered retirement in the summer of 2017. After being traded from the Lakers to the Rockets to the Clippers within the span of a few months, Williams felt like his NBA days were numbered.
“I was done,” Williams said. “[I was on] three teams in six months. You know, you kind of look around and you’ve got to be realistic with yourself… When guys [are] getting bounced around, you know, eventually it’s going to stop bouncing and you’re going to be sitting around waiting for a phone call.” Williams would go on to win the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in each of his two seasons with the Clippers, and is a frontrunner thus far this year.
Thus far, Williams boasts averages 19.9 PPG, 6.3 APG and 3.2 RPG for the Clippers. He is shooting 36.8% from beyond the three-point line and 83.8% from the free-throw line.
Williams credits Clippers head coach Doc Rivers with reassuring him that he was valued in Los Angeles. “I had a conversation with Doc. He was like, ‘I don’t know what these other teams are thinking, but we need you, and you can get comfortable, [you’re going to] be here.'”
There’s more out of Los Angeles:
- Former Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson tells Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke that the 24-4 Lakers, who have retained just six players from the 2018/19 season, “would not be in the position [they’re] in without me.” Johnson infamously quit the position on television ahead of the Lakers’ final regular season game. “This was my strategy, this is what I thought we’d be in three years,” he tells Plaschke. “I knew we were on the right track. Everybody wanted to do it their way, but I’m good with who I am. … I think people respect what I’ve done for the team.”
- The Clippers‘ forthcoming Inglewood arena has been given the fast-track green-light by California governor Gavin Newsom on December 13, according to Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times. California’s Joint Legislative Budget Committee has 30 days from the date of the Newsom certification to approve the signing.
- During a First Take interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Lakers All-Star power forward Anthony Davis was careful to note that his team’s hot start has not altered his noncommittal stance on his impending 2020 free agency. “We’ll see what happens at the end of the season,” Davis told Smith. “I’m trying to stay in the moment and worry about [free agency] when the season’s over.”
I’m not sure which bit of news is more exciting – Anthony Davis being noncommittal on staying a Laker, or Magic taking credit for the Laker’s record, despite being largely absent during his short tenure in the front office.
If I’m Pelinka, I’m appalled that Magic is still taking credit for things he didn’t do, and at least a little worried that I traded the team’s future for a year of A.D.
Theres no point im AD saying definitive now. Besides where he gonna go, the Knicks?
AD can go wherever he wants. LA would be forced to facilitate a sign-and-trade, especially if Davis announced he didn’t want to sign long term with the Lakers.
I really don’t think he’ll be leaving, but the fact that he’s on one of the best teams EVER and he’s still not committed? That’s unsettling.
Best team’s ever. Hmmmm? I appreciate all your other points.
Look at the net rating for the Lakers so far this season – they’re off to an historic start.
…and I say this as someone who would laugh hysterically if they crashed and burned this season (and I kind of expected it, honestly, considering all the personalities involved).
LeBron and Davis are historically good together, at least so far.
Nah, I think AD has seen how players in their walk year get in needless scrapes over comments they make about staying or leaving. No reason to trouble the waters. He’s having a memorable season on the Lakers. He’ll have no shortage of suitors. But it seems likely he would stay, unless the Lakers’ FO or ownership starts doing stupid and embarrassing things again.
At least if AD was in NY he’d no longer be in LBJ’s shadow.
Being in, or casting mutual shadows with LBJ……obviously a horrible thing.
Every upcoming FA says that they will decide when the time comes. Meanwhile their agent is negotiating for their future.
Except for upcoming FA who think the Earth is flat. Those announce with fanfare they will resign and then do just the opposite (which, for some reason, fans seem not to appreciate). It’s always smarter to remain noncommittal as lots of things can happen within a season.
Eh. No leverage is lost if Davis says he wants to be a Laker forever. He’s a max player and everyone knows it.
He may decide that being non-committal gets him more exposure – and he may be right – but it could bite him too. He made NO trade him to the Lakers, and then he won’t commit? Wouldn’t be received well in one of the nations’ larger media markets.
I think he’s being received just fine
This is true. Some players will say they would love to stay to get the best offer.
There’s about five reasons why AD will stay though, plus, teams are aiming for Giannis instead.
Giannis isn’t available until 2021, though. AD will be the prize FA in summer 2020. Odds are, he stays with the Lakers. But he’ll want to talk to a few other teams.
I’d say AD is 99.9% resigning a max contract with the Lakers. He just doesn’t want to be Kyrie and look like a punk if something drastic happens out of left field. I get it.
That number will fall dramatically as LA’s winning % drops.
All the way down to 99.8%.
AD will sign with the lakers long term. Also there will be another star to pair with him and Lebron!!!!
Go Lakers
Lakers Fan For Life!!!
Lol Magic thinks clearing the books and waiting for a superstar like AD to sign with your team due to your geographical advantage is actual “strategy”. Hey mom, I can be an NBA GM too!
May there come a day when I don’t have to read about this clown anymore. He needs to stay out of the league.
That damn Magic is a genius! He knew when they took Ball 2nd overall they’d be 24-4 in Dec., 2019, with Ball playing for New Orleans.
Everybody else is clearly playing checkers.
I guess. lol
Love your humble quote magic! I’m hoping for more later! Thank you.