Clippers’ Lou Williams making a compelling NBA all-star case

Is Lou Williams an all-star? There's a good case to be made.

Over 14 seasons, Lou Williams has carved out a well-earned reputation as one of the premier gunners in the NBA.

The 2015 Sixth Man of the Year while a member of the Toronto Raptors, Williams, 31, has mainly plied his trade off the bench, starting just 104 of his 827 games— including 14 this season— by far the best of his career.

On his fourth team in as many years, Williams is the Los Angeles Clippers‘ leading scorer, averaging 23.3 points per game for a team fighting for a playoff spot. He’s emerged alongside Blake Griffin as a go-to player and focal point of the Clips offence. Hell, Chris Paul for one thinks it’s time L.A. runs its entire offence through him.

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Take a step back and it’s a stunning turnaround for a player viewed mainly as a hired gun and spot scorer. Williams has averaged just over 13 points in his career and has only reached 18 points per game once— with the Lakers two seasons ago— yet is now a top-15 scorer in the NBA.

With the all-star reserves being named on Tuesday, Williams has become one of the most heavily debated candidates. He’s been great this season. But an all-star? There’s a legitimate case to be made.

Before their placed in context, Williams’ scoring numbers alone are on par with others who have a steady shot at making the team. His 23.3 ppg is tied with Kristaps Porzingis and right on part with the likes of Brad Beal, LaMarcus Aldridge, Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Jimmy Butler.

He’s already had his share of signature moments, like a 42-point outburst in a close victory over the Lakers, or this game-winner back in December against the Wizards.

And then of course there was his career night two weeks ago on the road against Golden State. Williams dropped 50 points in a 19-point blowout win over the Warriors and had the full repertoire on display.

He’s also peaking at the right time.

In January, Williams is averaging 29 points, six assists, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 40 per cent from deep. The Clippers are 7-4 in that span and 12-5 since he returned from a brief ankle injury that forced him out of the lineup for a game in December.

Big stats alone don’t necessarily warrant all-star inclusion, which only bolsters Williams’ chances. His hot shooting hand is the biggest reason why the Clippers, who were near the bottom of the West standings after a nine-game losing streak earlier this season, are suddenly back in the playoff hunt.

Los Angeles is now half a game out of a playoff spot, despite missing key players to injury, including Griffin for 16 games, Austin Rivers for 14, Milos Teodosic for 13, Danilo Gallinari for 27, and DeAndre Jordan for the last five.

Of course, in today’s star-studded NBA, Williams inclusion will mean a snub for someone else. For many, the final West all-star spot comes down to LouWill or Portland’s Damian Lillard, seventh in the league in scoring and a snub himself the past two seasons. And, in fairness, I’d give Lillard the nod over Williams in that scenario.

It doesn’t change the fact that Williams is playing like an all-star. There’s no debate about that. Whether or not he’ll ultimately get that recognition? We’ll see.

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