2016-17 NBA Awards Season: Top 10 Sixth Man Of The Year Candidates

Dec 17, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon (10) points the the bench after making a three pointer in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Rockets won 111-109 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 2, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lou Williams (23) warms up before the start of their game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Lakers 113-80. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Lou Williams

As highly anticipated as it was at the time of the trade, Lou Williams’ time with the Houston Rockets probably hurt his case more than anything else, since he was probably the Sixth Man of the Year frontrunner until being demoted to seventh man duty in Clutch City.

His first 58 games with the Los Angeles Lakers placed him at the forefront of the conversation, with the 12-year veteran averaging a career-high 18.6 points and 3.2 assists per game. He also shot 44.4 percent from the field and a career-high 38.5 percent from three-point range.

Even on a losing team, Lou Will’s numbers off the bench in L.A. had him right up there with Eric Gordon at the top of the Sixth Man of the Year debate. Unfortunately, when the two joined forces in Houston, Gordon won out, with Williams’ numbers dropping to 14.9 points and 2.4 assists per game on disappointing .386/.318/.867 shooting splits.

Being the seventh man on the third-best team in the NBA is nothing to be ashamed of, but even Lou Will’s red-hot season with the Lakers was not enough to bump him to the top of the list after an underwhelming 23 games in Houston.