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Lou Williams News & Rumors

Williams finishes second for Sixth Man of the Year
May 11
Courier-Post
 
"It wasn't close as 76ers guard Lou Williams finished a distant second in the voting for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year. Oklahoma City's James Harden won with 115 first-place votes. Williams had three. The only other player to receive a first-place vote was Bulls forward Taj Gibson. Still, Williams had a noteworthy season coming off the bench for the Sixers. He became the first player in the NBA to lead his team in scoring without starting a single game since Dell Curry did it in 1993-94 for the former Charlotte Hornets. Williams averaged 14.9 points per game this season."
Lou deciphers Bulls' D; Iguodala strains Achilles
May 2
CSN Philly
 
"It wasn't as if Lou Williams had a bull's eye on the back of his jersey, but he may as well have. As soon as he stepped onto the floor during the first half of Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-seven playoff series at the United Center, it seemed as if Williams had two Bulls in his pocket. In Game 1 it was Derrick Rose and Luol Deng hawking him wherever he went. If by chance Williams ever caught the ball on the perimeter, the Bulls would jump on him with two players to make sure he couldn't get a shot. As a result, Williams shot just 1 for 6 in the Game 1 loss."
Williams hasn't decided about opting out
April 22
CSN Philly
 
"Lou Williams has become instant offense off the bench for the Sixers. The seventh-year guard leads the Sixers in scoring with 14.9 points per game in a reserve role. The Sixers have relied on Williams' off-the-bench scoring, but the former-second round pick may not be back next season. According to a report from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Williams will opt out of his contract at season's end to become an unrestricted free agent. Williams addressed his future on Saturday night and said his mind isn't made up yet. "I have thought about it slightly," Williams said. "I really haven't had a chance to reflect on the road ahead not at this point.""
Nearing contract decision, Williams happy with Sixers
March 27
CSN Philly
 
"If Lou Williams wants to terminate his contract with the Sixers after the season, he can. If he chooses not to use his early termination option, he would be in line to make just over $5 million with the Sixers next season. Williams will have suitors this summer if he uses his ETO, but money isn't everything. The sixth-man has carved a nice niche for himself with the Sixers and there is no guarantee that in a new city he would be a late-game offensive focal point as he is to Doug Collins' team. Williams discussed his contract situation Sunday."
Turner, Williams power Sixers over Knicks
March 12
CSN Philly
 
"A quick glance at the postgame stat sheet tells just exactly how much Sixers' coach Doug Collins wanted Sunday afternoon's matchup against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The minutes grew for some players and the rotations got shorter. Often, Collins will play nine or 10 of his 12 active players with more than enough minutes to go around. Not on Sunday, though. Instead, with a rare two days off between games, Collins primarily went with just seven players and made sure that he had the matchups he wanted. No, this time there was no messing around."
Lou Williams becoming a game-closer
February 8
CSN Philly
 columnist Marc Zumoff
"Lou Williams, at least in part, is starting to answer one of the serious questions of 76ers fans — who would be the man with the ball at the end of a close game? Monday night, against a guy Lou no doubt watched while growing up in Snellville, Georgia, Lou was large for the Sixers. His team-high 24 points included 12 of the Sixers final 14 points over a 3:48 span in a thrilling 95-90 victory over Kobe Bryant and his flagging Los Angeles Lakers. This is not new for Williams. He did, in fact, hit the game-clinching three-pointer last year in the Sixers only first round playoff win against Miami on Easter Sunday at Wells Fargo Center. As coach Doug Collins related after Monday night's"
Williams snubbed from All-Star ballot
January 5
CSN Philly
 
"Of all the All-Star games in the major sports, a trip to the NBA midseason classic is easily the most prestigious. To begin, it's only 12 guys per side and 24 players in all. With 30 teams, it's impossible to have every team represented like it is with baseball. In fact, LeBron James didn't make the All-Star team as a rookie and Dwight Howard didn't make it his first two years in the league. In other words, an All-Star berth is no layup."
Focused Williams thriving in new role
January 4
CSN Philly
 
"Lou Williams is the second longest tenured Sixer behind Andre Iguodala. Now in his seventh season wearing Sixers across his chest, Williams has become an integral piece to Doug Collins' puzzle. And everybody knows his role. "He's playing with a lot of confidence," Andre Iguodala said. "Coach has given him instructions to go out there and let it go. That's a pretty good job to have, especially for a guy like him. I was talking to a few people and they said who do you think is going to have a big year and I said Lou. He is really going to score the ball at a high level. He scores the ball easily, its been that way his whole life because he has a knack for scoring.""
Sixers' Williams approached by gunman
December 27
CSN Philly
 
"Christmas is supposed to be a time filled with peace, love and joy. For Sixers guard Lou Williams, this past Saturday was anything but as he was approached by a gunman. Williams was driving through Manayunk on Christmas Eve. When he came to a stop a man approached his driver's side window and knocked on it, pointing a gun at him. Williams said stayed calm and amazingly was able to diffuse the situation. "He did all the talking and we came up with a solution," Williams said. That answer was to buy the man a meal at McDonald's. Williams said the man did recognize him and that he also commended Williams for doing a lot to help his community."
Sixers' Holiday, Williams sit with injuries
December 23
CSN Philly
 
"Doug Collins has his priorities straight heading into this 66-game season over the course of 123 days. Being healthy for games is more important than having players partake in practice. The first example of this came Thursday afternoon when the Sixers announced that Jrue Holiday did not participate in contact drills because of a strained left Achilles' tendon, the same injury that sidelined him Dec. 11 when the team was scrimmaging at Saint Joseph's University. Lou Williams joined Holiday and only took part in shooting and teaching drills because he was bothered by a strained hamstring."
Eager Lou Williams first to arrive at Sixers' facilities
December 2
CSN Philly
 
"Lou Williams was all too willing to sign a waiver sheet when he returned to the Sixers' practice facility for the first time since NBA players were locked out on July 1. He was the first of the Sixers to return and heading into his seventh season, he is as eager as ever. "I am just excited to be back in a structured situation where I can play basketball," Williams said. "If you guys could have been flies on the wall when we were having conversations with each other. Guys ready to be back to work, guys wanting to be back together just to see where we were with the growth and the time we have had together is an amazing thing. "I think every one's confidence is at an all-time high. I think"
Williams leads Philly ballers over D.C.
October 16
CSN Philly
 
"Before Saturday night's "Chocolate City vs. City of Brotherly Love" exhibition in Washington D.C., a hype man clad in a green jump suit took control of the microphone. "This is a beat Philly weekend!" he bellowed a day before the Eagles and Redskins face off at FedEx Field. Three hours later, his prediction was already foiled. Less than a month after Team Philly topped Team Melo's glorified squad of superstars at the Palestra, Hakim Warrick's boys upset Kevin Durant, John Wall and the D.C. stars at Coolidge High School, 172-169."
Sixers counting on Williams
April 18
Philly.com
 
"Lou Williams and Doug Collins were lounging on the pricey sideline seats of AmericanAirlines Arena. The 76ers' off-day practice in Miami had just ended and Collins walked over to join his combination guard, the player he has said is "the voice" of this team. You could have imagined any number of conversation topics between player and coach: How was Lou's hamstring feeling? Should they approach Monday's game any differently in terms of minutes played or plays designed for Williams? Is he seeing anything specific out on the floor? But what were they actually talking about? Collins paraphrased: "I said, 'Lou, how'd you think today went, our preparation, our film session?' I said, 'Is there"
Iguodala, Williams preparing, expecting to play for Sixers in opener
April 15
Philly.com
 
"At this moment, the Sixers are still calling it a game-time decision as to whether Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams will be available for tomorrow's Eastern Conference playoff opener against the Miami Heat. As far as the individuals involved are concerned, both have come to the same conclusion. "That's the plan," said Iguodala, who has tendinitis in his right knee and sat out the last two games to rest for the playoffs. "We want to try and get it right. "This is the part of the season where you just have to play through the pain, no matter what. It can't be an excuse. You have to make the best of the situation and try to help your team win." The Sixers spent most of yesterday watching film"
Sixers' Williams optimistic about playing in Game 1
April 14
Philly.com
 
"Guard Lou Williams is cautiously optimistic that he will be more than a spectator Saturday when the 76ers begin their opening-round playoff series against the Miami Heat. Williams sat out Wednesday's regular-season finale at the Wells Fargo Center against the Detroit Pistons, the fifth straight game he has missed with a right hamstring strain. The Sixers lost three of the previous four games without Williams, who was averaging 13.7 points as a major spark off the bench. "I feel good and had a really good day of rehab," Williams said before the game. "We had an intense day of competition, one-on-one, full-court drills, contact, and we really felt good." Williams said he was optimistic about"
Lou Williams done for season, Antonio Daniels set to join team
April 5
Philly.com
 
"Point guard Antonio Daniels, who has played 12 years in the NBA and spent this season with the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League, was getting ready to board a plane yesterday afternoon in Dallas on his way to Boston to join his the Sixers. He will sign a 10-day contract tonight and be at the team's shootaround Tuesday morning. He said he is ready to play right away if the team needs him and coach Doug Collins pretty much assured that. "He's a very experienced guard," said Collins. "If you're going to bring somebody in, we didn't want to bring in a younger player. We've got enough youth on our team. We wanted to bring someone in who could pick things up quickly and give us some"
Sixers' Williams out with hamstring injury
April 4
Philly.com
 
"One of the key ingredients who enabled the 76ers to clinch a playoff spot this season might not be around for quite a while. Sub guard Lou Williams, a strong candidate for Sixth Man of the Year honors along with teammate Thaddeus Young, strained his right hamstring during Saturday night's overtime loss in Milwaukee. An MRI was taken yesterday and the team announced that Williams will be out for the foreseeable future. That is particularly concerning because the Sixers (40-37) have just five games remaining. Williams is fourth on the team in scoring at 13.7 points per game in 23.3 minutes and is second in three-pointers made with 88. The team said that it will monitor Williams' injury on a"
76ers plan to sign veteran Antonio Daniels
April 4
Philly.com
 
"The 76ers intend to sign veteran guard Antonio Daniels to a 10-day contract, a league source confirmed late Sunday night. Daniels, 36, is playing for the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League. The Sixers hope to have Daniels at practice as early as Monday and sign him as soon as possible, preferably in time to play against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night. Much of the impetus for the signing came from the injury to guard Lou Williams, who strained his right hamstring during the third quarter of Saturday night's overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Williams underwent an MRI exam on Sunday, and the Sixers said that no timetable had been set for his return. Daniels is a 6-foot-4"
Sixers, Williams both go down
April 3
Philly.com
 
"This game could have easily been a 76ers victory. Early on, Milwaukee looked somewhat disinterested; during the first half, the Sixers built a double-digit lead. Even after a soggy third quarter, the Sixers still had multiple possessions at game's end, any of which could have won the game. None did. The Bucks and Sixers alternated misses during the final couple of minutes of regulation. In overtime, the Bucks finally broke the offenseless stalemate with some explosive scoring by point guard Brandon Jennings, who until that point hadn't made a field goal. The Bucks won in overtime, 93-87. For the Sixers, Saturday's loss felt a little like a bucket of cold water after Friday night's"
Williams returns for Sixers, Iguodala still out
December 30
Philly.com
 
"On Wednesday night against the Phoenix Suns, the 76ers returned Lou Williams to the lineup but were still without Andre Iguodala. Williams, who missed the previous two games to witness the birth of his daughter, took a private plane from Philadelphia on Wednesday morning and landed in Phoenix hours before the start of the game. Iguodala, who did not participate in the morning shoot-around, remained on the inactive list for the second straight game, suffering from right Achilles tendinitis. "Still have some soreness," Iguodala explained. "Just something that flared up again and I haven't been able to play comfortably." Iguodala missed a handful of games earlier in the season and said the"
Williams is building rep as a scorer
November 14
Philly.com
 
"The 76ers count on Lou Williams for scoring. His role is simple - putting points on the board - and he has been so effective that he's become a focal point of opposing teams' scouting reports. Entering Saturday night's game against the San Antonio Spurs, Williams was averaging 14.8 points in 23.2 minutes a game. Those numbers include his previous two games, in which he was hindered by a left-shoulder injury suffered in the second half of Wednesday night's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Williams scored only six points against the Thunder, and only two points two nights later against the Dallas Mavericks. Still, in averaging less than half a game of playing time, Williams is the team's"
Sixers' Williams is set to make return
April 3
Philly.com
 
"Lou Williams is back. The 76ers guard will play in Saturday's 1 p.m. game against the Toronto Raptors at the Wachovia Center. Williams practiced with the team Friday at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He had missed six games with lower-back pain. "Today in practice, I was pain free," Williams said following Friday's practice. "I felt like I was back to normal. So, yeah, I think tomorrow is a go." The five-year veteran said he had felt good the last few days. He even worked out Thursday while his teammates had the day off. Even with Williams out there Friday, the Sixers (26-49) had just nine players participate in practice. "We tried to get [assistant coach and former"
Sixers Notes: A mini-resurgence for Sixers' Williams
February 27
Philly.com
 
"In the two games before last night's against the Los Angeles Lakers, 76ers guard Lou Williams averaged 22.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. Williams played more than 40 minutes in each game, shooting 14 for 25 from the field - 7 for 13 from three-point distance - and 10 for 12 from the free-throw line. The two games were the best back-to-back effort by Williams since he suffered a broken jaw Nov. 24. Why the difference? "It's the actual minutes," Williams said. "I've played probably 40 minutes those last two games on the trip, and I'm comfortable with the minutes." In the previous two games, the Sixers were without guards Allen Iverson (personal reasons) and Willie Green"
Jordan: Sixers' Williams just needs to be himself
February 27
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"All 76ers coach Eddie Jordan wants from guard Lou Williams is for him to be Lou Williams. Williams has found it easier to be himself lately, due to the extended minutes he's been getting on the court. The coach primarily wants Williams to be a scorer, a guy who can break down people off the dribble, beat people down the floor on the fastbreak and make open jump shots. Williams is convinced he's been that player all season, although he was demoted from the starting lineup a little more than a month ago and saw his minutes, and numbers, dwindle. But now with Willie Green nursing a sore shoulder and Allen Iverson away from the team to tend to family matters, Williams is eating up the minutes"
Speights returns; Williams is close
December 17
Philly.com
 
"In a month filled with mostly bad news, yesterday the 76ers got some much-needed relief: Center Marreese Speights returned to the court, and point guard Lou Williams looks poised to do the same. Last night against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Wachovia Center, Speights played in a game for the first time in just over a month. Earlier in the day, Williams, who has been out for three weeks, had the wires removed from his broken jaw. Speights had not played since suffering a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee in a Nov. 14 game against Chicago. He was expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks, but he returned in fewer than five. Before he was hurt, Speights was averaging"
Williams: 'My spirits are high'
December 8
Philly.com
 
"Two weeks ago, Lou Williams was playing the best basketball of his NBA career.Now, Williams' jaw is wired shut and he can eat only through a straw.It's a tough twist for Williams, the 76ers point guard whose broken jaw opened the door for the return of former star Allen Iverson.Williams is expected to be sidelined for another seven weeks.Last night at the Wachovia Center, 90 minutes before Iverson made his debut against the Denver Nuggets, Williams talked about his injury and about having Iverson back."The worst part is not being able to eat," said Williams, who was averaging 17.4 points a game when he was hurt Nov. 24. "I'm losing weight, but other than that I'm doing fine. My spirits are"
76ers' Williams out for eight weeks after jaw surgery
November 27
Philly.com
 
"76ers point guard Lou Williams underwent surgery yesterday morning to have his jaw wired. Williams will miss eight weeks. Early in the first quarter of Tuesday night's loss to the Washington Wizards, Williams suffered the injury in a collision with Washington forward Antawn Jamison. In that game, he played 39 minutes and scored 26 points. "I was spitting out blood every time-out, but I thought it was my tooth, so I didn't think it was as serious as it was," said Williams, who is averaging 17.4 points and 5.1 assists per game. "I just continued to play, and there wasn't a lot of pain involved because I was playing on adrenaline, obviously. But I knew something was wrong, just not to this"
76ers' Lou Williams out for eight weeks
November 26
Philly.com
 
"Looks like trouble for the 76ers. The team released this statement a short time ago: "Philadelphia 76ers guard Lou Williams was examined this morning [Thursday] by team physician Dr. Jack McPhilemy of Main Line Health and oral surgeon Alfred Wolanin. Williams underwent surgery this morning [Thursday], during which time he had his upper and lower jaws wired together. Williams will meet with a nutritionist in the coming days to review a liquid diet designed to assist him in maintaining his weight."
Williams sidelined by broken jaw
November 26
Philly.com
 
"76ers point guard Lou Williams was sidelined for last night's game against the Celtics after an X-ray revealed a fractured jaw.Williams was hurt Tuesday when he took an elbow during a 108-107 loss to the Washington Wizards, the Sixers said. The 23-year-old guard played 39 minutes, scored 26 points and showed no signs of injury - during or after the game.Although Williams did not suit up last night, the Sixers had not set an official timetable for his return. He missed only his fourth game since the 2006-07 season.In place of Williams, Sixers coach Eddie Jordan started rookie Jrue Holiday.For the season, Williams was averaging 17.4 points and 5.1 assists per game.The Sixers said they would"
Lou Williams' 31 points not enough for 76ers
November 21
Wilmington News Journal
 
"Lou Williams had the best night of his NBA career, scoring 31 points, getting six steals, at one point making nine shots in a row. And yet, the 76ers point guard was mad at himself for careless mistakes, like the behind-the-back pass on a fast break that was intercepted late in the fourth quarter and led to a Memphis Grizzlies basket at the other end. "Those are plays we've got to have," Williams said. "I'll take the brunt of it on my shoulders." Williams, however, was not alone as the Sixers were badly outplayed and outrebounded in a 102-97 loss Friday night. It was so bad that Sixers coach Eddie Jordan began his postgame press conference by saying: "One team rallied around each other and"