Los Angeles Clippers: 2017-18 player grades for Lou Williams

Former Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams turned in arguably his best season with the Clippers this year. How did it impact the team?

With the departure of Chris Paul and the subsequent Blake Griffin trade during the middle of the year, the 2017-18 Los Angeles Clippers found themselves in something of a transition period.

Devoid of an unquestioned No. 1 option, head coach Doc Rivers leaned more toward a more egalitarian system in lieu of running the offense through one player. This showed itself in the box score, as 11 players — including the departed Griffin — averaged at least 7.2 field goal attempts per game.

A team-centric style can sometimes make it harder for players to stand out from their teammates. Well, players not named Lou Williams. The journeyman guard, who came over from the Houston Rockets as part of the Paul trade last offseason, quickly adapted to his new surroundings and turned in one of his best seasons as a professional, ultimately earning him a three-year extension.

Williams has earned the reputation as one of the best bench scorers in the NBA, with the hardware to back it up. Like other former Sixth Man of the Year winners, Williams provided the Clippers with instant offense and an ability to create his own shot — something the team needed with Paul and Griffin gone.

But what was his actual impact on the team’s performance? Let’s take a look back on his 2017-18 season.