Veteran Lou Williams isn’t ready to say goodbye to basketball just yet. According to Williams’ agent Wallace Prather, the 35-year-old intends to play in the 2022-23 NBA season and perhaps beyond.
“(Williams) is not pursuing retirement, and I’ll be proactive in talking to teams during free agency,” Prather told The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Williams spent the past season with the Atlanta Hawks. He played in 56 games, averaging 6.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.9 points per game. These were his lowest numbers since his sophomore season.
Despite struggles in 2021-22, Williams should have a market as a veteran-minimum player. While being a defensive liability, he is still only two seasons removed from averaging 18.2 points and 5.6 assists per game for the LA Clippers. It isn’t hard to see him being a valuable bench player for a younger team looking for some veteran experience.
Entering the league in 2005 as a second-round pick, Lou Williams suited up for six different franchises during his 17 seasons as a pro. He is considered among the best bench players in the history of the NBA, winning one NBA Sixth Man of the Year award as a member of the Toronto Raptors and two more with the LA Clippers. His career stats include 13.9 points, 2.2 boards, and 3.4 assists per game.
