NBA: Top 5 6th Man of the Year Candidates for the 2015-2016 Season
By Jordan Yant
Mar 22, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Lou Williams (23) dribbles past New York Knicks guard Landston Galloway (2) in the third quarter at Air Canada Centre. Raptors won 106 – 89. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
2. Lou Williams
2014-2015 Stats: 15.5 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 40%FG, 34% 3PT, 19.9 PER
Lou Williams seems like he is the perennial contender every year in this category. He has one skill-set and he utilizes that to the best of his ability. The guy can just falt out score the basketball.
His move to LA does not change that. There are concerns for his shot attempts because he plays on a guard heavy team (Kobe Bryant, D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Nick Young), but he will find ways to get points.
The Lakers do not figure to be a great team this year, so he could benefit from being a good player on a bad team syndrome and maintain his stellar averages off of the bench. It is just hard to bet against a guy who has made a living of scoring as a reserve.
There are still questions about Kobe’s health and Nick Young is never the answer to any question, so Williams will give the Lakers a viable guard option in case something goes wrong. Plus, winning the award back-to-back is no easy feat.
It is not unprecedented however, as both Kevin McHale and Detlef Schrempf have done it, but it’s been 23 years since it last happened. Williams would be an unlikely candidate to be the third person in league history to take home that hardware in consecutive seasons.
That is why he does not find himself at spot number one on this list.
Next: No.1