NBA: The 10 Most Underrated Players Of 2016-17
By Evan Dyal
Lou Williams, Los Angeles Lakers (Super 6th Man)
Lou Williams is still getting buckets off the bench in year 12 of his career. This year though he has taken his game to new heights. Averaging a career high 18.3 points and shooting a career high 37 percent from three. While his three-point percentage has improved, he is still the master of the mid range game, and the pick and roll.
Williams excels at drawing a defender in and then darting the opposite way of the screen with a nasty cross over. He can then get into the lane where has a great floater, and a money pull up jumper. If the help defender steps up too soon, he will simply scurry around him and finish at the basket. His long arms help him draw fouls at an extremely high rate. Whatever defense you throw at Williams he has a counter. Williams has done this for years, but this year he has been better than ever, which is pretty remarkable considering it’s his 12th season.
Lou is comfortable playing with or without the ball, and at times carries the Lakers offense by himself. He is extremely efficient by mixing up threes, free throws and in rhythm mid range jumpers. The bad shots that used to haunt him are long gone, and you are seeing the results. His 23.41 PER is 21st in the league, and 3rd for players who come off the bench. Lou deserves sixth man of the year this year.