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Ranking the five best players on the LA Clippers roster

By Garrett Chorpenning

TORONTO, ON - JUNE 17: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors holds the MVP trophy during the Toronto Raptors Victory Parade on June 17, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. The Toronto Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors 4-2 to win the 2019 NBA Finals. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 17: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors holds the MVP trophy during the Toronto Raptors Victory Parade on June 17, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. The Toronto Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors 4-2 to win the 2019 NBA Finals. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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SANTA MONICA, CA – JUNE 24: Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers speaks with the media during a press conference after the 2019 NBA Awards Show at the Barker Hangar on June 24, 2019 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Will Navarro/NBAE via Getty Images)
SANTA MONICA, CA – JUNE 24: Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers speaks with the media during a press conference after the 2019 NBA Awards Show at the Barker Hangar on June 24, 2019 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Will Navarro/NBAE via Getty Images) /

No. 3: Lou Williams

2018-2019 statistics: 20.0 PTS, 3.0 REB, 5.4 AST

Lou Williams just wrapped up his 14th NBA season, and at age 32, he’s aging like a fine wine. And now that he’s won his third Sixth Man of the Year award, two of which have come in the past two seasons, it’s become clear that he’s the very best reserve in the league.

Williams has always been a scorer, but with the Clippers, he’s become so much more than that. With elite bench players like Montrezl Harrell and JaMychal Green at his disposal, Williams has averaged career-high marks in assists in back-to-back seasons — despite playing more than seven minutes less per game in 2018-2019 compared to the previous season.

Williams heads a group that doesn’t let opposing teams get comfortable. The Clippers trailed by 20+ points in numerous games this season, and several times he was part of the unit that helped bring LA back into it.

LA trailed by as many as 25 against the Detroit Pistons in early February. Williams scored a then-season-high 39 points (26 of which came in the second half) to give the Clippers a 10-point victory.

He had 31 points and six assists against the Charlotte Hornets a few days later, who fell to the Clippers after going up by 20 late in the third quarter.

There was also, of course, LA’s 31-point comeback against the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. Unsurprisingly, Williams went for 36 points and 11 assists in 32 minutes of action.

What makes Williams even more important to the 2019-2020 team is his ability to carry the load — on nights when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are missing shots or aren’t active, Williams is more than capable of getting the work done for LA.

He’s Lou Williams. He’s the underground GOAT, in his own words. He’s quiet, he’s lethal, and he knows exactly what he needs to do to win. Leonard and George are going to seriously appreciate having him on the team — almost as much as the fans do.

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