Lakers News: Former LA Reserve Believes Sixth Man Award Should Be Named After Him

One of the all-time greats in that role!

Benchwarmers are usually frowned upon as a role in the NBA as they aren't in the starting lineup and aren't the first names you see on the court by nature. 

Some rotation pieces that don't start games can still have a profound impact, including recently retired sixth man Lou Williams who believes that through his play he championed a new attitude toward the role, enough to name the award after his own name sake. 

"That would be an honor. If not me, Jamal [Crawford]. If not Jamal, Manu [Ginóbili]. I think we're three guys that championed that. We made it a lifestyle. We made it something that younger guys coming into the league, if they're not going to be superstars, not going to be All-Stars, they still have a position to make their mark on the game. That would be a huge honor. So I'm not fighting. I'm not saying, 'No, it shouldn't be named after me,' I would definitely love that. But if not me, definitely Jamal. If not Jamal, definitely Manu."

via Timothy Rapp, Bleacher Report

Williams bounced around the league over the course of his career, but always excited with some flashy buckets whenever he was on the floor as a starter or a bench piece. 

From Los Angeles for both the Clippers and Lakers, Atlanta, Toronto, Houston or Philly, Williams and the role of sixth man are almost synonymous at this point. 

A three time winner of the Sixth Man of the Year award in the 2010s, Williams, Jamal Crawford and Manu Ginobili all revolutionized what it meant to be a bench piece. 

All packing a serious punch, any of these names would be worthy of the honor to eventually be the name sake for the award, but our pick goes to Sweet Lou. 

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