Latest news with #LouWilliams
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former Laker criticizes Anthony Edwards after Minnesota's playoff loss
After the Minnesota Timberwolves got past the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs in five games, some started to believe they could make a magical run deep into the postseason. The team pushed aside the Golden State Warriors, who were without Stephen Curry for most of the second round, and reached the Western Conference finals for the second year in a row. But once there, they fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games, and it wasn't even that close. Advertisement Some are criticizing budding superstar Anthony Edwards for not playing up to his standards on a consistent basis. After his Timberwolves were eliminated, Edwards didn't express any real pain and even said that the situation is "exciting" because of how young he is. The implication he gave is that he will get plenty more chances to reach the NBA Finals and win a world championship. But nothing is guaranteed, no matter how great or young one is. That's the message former Lakers guard Lou Williams had for Edwards during an appearance on "Run it Back." "I love the attitude but Ant just slightly missed the mark," Williams said. "I've been to the Eastern Conference Finals once in 17 years. That is something you don't want to take for granted. Those opportunities come few and in between." Edwards has put up some monster games in the playoffs over the last two years. But as supremely gifted as he is, he's a little too inconsistent at this point in his career. He still has room for improvement as far as being consistently effective, as well as overcoming some defensive strategies. Advertisement While the Timberwolves are a good team, they aren't exactly a juggernaut. The Lakers and Golden State Warriors could be championship-caliber again next season, and a team such as the Houston Rockets, which finished second in the West, could end up landing Kevin Durant this summer. No one can safely predict right now when Edwards will be playing for a spot in the NBA Finals again. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Former Laker criticizes Anthony Edwards after Minnesota's playoff loss
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Sixers draft history: Lou Williams taken with the No. 45 pick in 2005
Sixers draft history: Lou Williams taken with the No. 45 pick in 2005 With the NBA draft right around the corner, now is the time to look at some past drafts and see what the Philadelphia 76ers have done in their history. The Sixers have selected some big-time players in the past who have become an important part of the fabric of the franchise's history. This series continues with the 2005 NBA draft. The Sixers did not have a selection until Round 2 and with the 45th pick of the draft, they selected a spunky guard out of South Gwinnett High School in Georgia in the form of Lou Williams. His rookie season wasn't anything special as he played only 30 games, but he really came on in his third year in the league in the 2007-08 season. He played 81 games and averaged 11.5 points and 3.2 assists off the bench while helping Philadelphia make a surprise run to the playoffs before falling in six games to the Detroit Pistons. Williams helped the Sixers make the playoffs in 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012. In the 2011 playoffs, he drilled a game winner in Game 4 against the Miami Heat to help the Sixers avoid a sweep. In the 2012 offseason, Williams signed with the Atlanta Hawks in free agency. He played two seasons in Atlanta before being traded to the Toronto Raptors which led to his first 6th Man of the Year season. Overall, he spent 17 seasons in the league playing for the Sixers, Hawks, Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Clippers. He won three 6th Man of the Year awards (2014 with the Raptors and 2018 and 2019 with the Clippers).
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Buddy Hield was the addition, now he is the mission" - Lou Williams believes the Warriors have enough depth to make up for Curry's absence
The NBA playoffs are no place for experimentation, as one wrong move can shift the momentum and change the outcomes of a series. Yet with Stephen Curry sidelined due to a hamstring injury for multiple games, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr decided to use a bold approach, playing 14 players in the first half of Game 2. While many saw this as an act of desperation, Lou Williams viewed this as a calculated decision. According to the three-time Sixth Man of the Year, Kerr looked for someone who could handle intense playoff pressure to hand them more responsibility in high-stakes scenarios. Moreover, he feels it is time for Buddy Hield to step up and attain the spotlight that his talent warrants. Williams on the importance of Buddy Hield After the Warriors were blown out by 24 points in Game 2 without Curry, many feel that the situation will only worsen as the series heads to San Francisco for the next two games. Advertisement However, Lou believes Kerr sacrificed Game 2 strategically, not only to wave the white flag but to identify which players can be leaned on moving forward. Thus, he did not hesitate to use 14 players in a half, a scenario that had happened for the first time since 1998 in the playoffs. Speaking on the "Run It Back" show, Williams also highlighted how it is time for Hield to take a more serious role. Like how he took over the offensive reins for the team in Game 7 against the Rockets, he needs to take more accountability and responsibility to lead them to victory. "Honestly, I think Golden State keeps this thing interesting. What Steve Kerr is trying to figure out by playing so many guys, he's trying to figure out who I can lean on, who can I trust, with Steph Curry being out. Now in the next game, I expect that lineup to be sharpened up a little bit, like an eight to nine-man rotation where he can figure out - this guy or that guy - can help me," Williams said. "With Steph Curry out, Jimmy, Draymond back in the lineup still… Buddy Hield - there's a difference between an addition and being the mission. Buddy was the addition, now he is the mission. He's gonna make his adjustments with the way he's being guarded," the retired guard added. Advertisement Related: "Their egos are huge, and I don't bow down to people like that" - Pippen says he'll never be able to forgive Jordan and Jackson Hield needs to support Butler Though highly capable, Jimmy Butler has only had one 35-point game in the 2024-25 regular season. Expecting him to drop 40 on command isn't realistic. Instead, the six-time All-Star can make his presence felt with a well-rounded performance, perhaps a 20-point triple-double, and focus on neutralizing threats like Julius Randle or Jaden McDaniels on defense. That's where Hield's scoring punch becomes even more vital. Kerr has long built his reputation as a high-IQ coach unafraid to make bold, calculated moves — even when they spark initial skepticism. One key storyline to watch is how he distributes minutes to Jonathan Kuminga and Kevon Looney, who could play pivotal roles down the stretch. Advertisement Moreover, given how well the Championship coach has led this young team this far in the campaign, do not rule him out just yet, as Lou surely believes he is about to pull another rabbit out of a hat. Related: "Sometimes you get them right" - Warriors owner Joe Lacob admits he had concerns regarding acquiring Jimmy Butler
Associated Press
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
NBA Sixth Man Award Winners
NBA Sixth Man Award Winners 2025 — Payton Pritchard, Boston 2024 — Naz Reid, Minnesota 2023 — Malcolm Brogdon, Boston 2022 — Tyler Herro, Miami 2021 — Jordan Clarkson, Utah 2020 — Montrel Harrell, L.A. Clippers 2019 — Lou Williams, L.A. Clippers 2018 — Lou Williams, L.A. Clippers 2017 — Eric Gordon, Houston 2016 — Jamal Crawford, L.A. Clippers 2015 — Lou Williams, Toronto 2014 — Jamal Crawford, L.A. Clippers 2013 — J.R. Smith, New York 2012 — James Harden, Oklahoma City 2011 — Lamar Odom, L.A. Lakers 2010 — Jamal Crawford, Atlanta 2009 — Jason Terry, Dallas 2008 — Manu Ginobili, San Antonio 2007 — Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix 2006 — Mike Miller, Memphis 2005 — Ben Gordon, Chicago 2004 — Antawn Jamison, Dallas 2003 — Bobby Jackson, Sacramento 2002 — Corliss Williamson, Detroit 2001 — Aaron McKie, Philadelphia 2000 — Rodney Rogers, Phoenix 1999 — Darrell Armstrong, Orlando 1998 — Danny Manning, Phoenix 1997 — John Starks, New York 1996 — Toni Kukoc, Chicago 1995 — Anthony Mason, New York 1994 — Dell Curry, Charlotte 1993 — Clifford Robinson, Portland 1992 — Detlef Schrempf, Indiana 1991 — Detlef Schrempf, Indiana 1990 — Ricky Pierce, Milwaukee 1989 — Eddie Johnson, Phoenix 1988 — Roy Tarpley, Dallas 1987 — Ricky Pierce, Milwaukee 1986 — Bill Walton, Boston 1985 — Kevin McHale, Boston 1984 — Kevin McHale, Boston 1983 — Bobby Jones, Philadelphia
Forbes
02-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Intuit Celebrates Financial Literacy Month With Saweetie, Lou Williams
Intuit Dome was alive with energy as hundreds of students from the LA school district gathered for the launch of this year's Hour of Finance Challenge by Intuit For Education, kicking off Financial Literacy Month on April 1. It is part of the company's nationwide Financial Literacy Forum series which began during Super Bowl Week in New Orleans last February, with previous stops in San Francisco and Washington D.C. This time, it was hosted in partnership with the L.A. Clippers. The event started around 9:30 AM with students filing in, eager to take part in the day's activities. Dave Zasada, Intuit's V.P. for Education and Corporate Responsibility gave a few remarks on the importance of financial literacy and how the Hour of Finance challenge and Intuit's interactive games and simulations can help introduce core personal finance concepts to young people in a fun and engaging way. And engage they did. There was a trivia game that introduced the theme of financial education. Then, Saweetie performed, to the excitement of the participants. A highlight of the event was the influencer panel with Saweetie and former L.A. Clipper Lou Williams. Their appearance was part of Intuit's strategy to connect with young people through familiar voices. The panel was a candid conversation about money, success, and the financial lessons they've learned along the way. The students were particularly engaged during the Q&A, with one student asking Lou Williams about his biggest financial regret. 'I bought a bunch of cars—14 or 15 at one point,' Lou admitted, much to the laughter of the crowd. Saweetie shared lessons from her own financial mistakes, advising students to avoid impulse buying. 'If you find something you love when shopping, just put it on hold and come back a week later. If you still want it after a week, then buy it,' she said. After the panel, there were break out sessions where students had the opportunity to dive into financial challenges like Prosperity Quest, a game that simulates money management in real-life scenarios. They also participated in a tax challenge, engaging with tools like TurboTax to complete mock tax returns. Many students seemed particularly drawn to these sessions, especially when they realized they were using the same tools that real people and businesses rely on every day. As I participated in the Prosperity Quest game myself, I was reminded of how powerful it can be to gamify education. Not only was it fun, but it was also a practical exercise in managing finances—something that many students will be doing in just a few years. Whether it was using Credit Karma to manage credit scores or QuickBooks for bookkeeping, the event provided real-world applications for the financial tools they were learning about. What stood out most to me was how the event effectively kept the students engaged. The inclusion of celebrities like Saweetie and Lou Williams, both of whom shared relatable financial stories, kept the students' attention and made the lessons feel more personal. It was evident that these students—many from minority backgrounds—could see themselves in the stories of these successful individuals, making the advice and tools all the more relevant. Intuit's commitment to making financial literacy education accessible, fun, and useful was clear throughout the event. By connecting the dots between real-life financial tools and gamifying the learning process, they created an experience that was both educational and enjoyable. As I walked away from the Intuit Dome, I couldn't help but think that these students—armed with knowledge and the right tools—are now better prepared to make smarter financial decisions in their futures.
