Lou Williams honestly believes he is the greatest 6th Man in the history of the NBA: 'I always give myself the edge for that'

Lou Williams has long been synonymous with instant offense off the bench. For nearly two decades, the veteran guard made a career of turning games around when it mattered most — often with little warning.

Whether it was the fourth quarter of a close playoff battle or a midseason road game, the sixth man had the uncanny ability to swing momentum his team's way. However, the former player's impact is more than stats or starting minutes. In his eyes, it's about legacy.

The bench king

Few players in NBA history have carved out a role as distinct and impactful as Williams. Over 17 seasons, the guard embraced his sixth-man duties and elevated the role to an art form. He was the spark, the closer, and, at times, the savior of his team.

The former guard won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award three times, tying with Jamal Crawford for the most in league history. Reflecting on his role in shaping the sixth-man narrative, he has always maintained a competitive edge when discussing his place in sixth-man history.

"I've always considered myself the guy when it comes to the Sixth Man of the Year conversations," Williams said. "Because as great as Jamal did it, he did a lot of [expletive] great. When he started, he was great. When he came off the bench, he was great; he was great in a lot of different areas, and he got an opportunity to show that in front of the world. I was able to show it as a sixth man a lot in my time, and so for that, I always give myself the edge for that."

In the 2017-2018 season, while with the Los Angeles Clippers, the sixth man averaged an impressive 22.6 points and 5.3 assists per game as a bench player. On January 10, 2018, in a game against the Golden State Warriors, he erupted for a career-high 50 points, cementing his reputation as one of the league's most lethal bench players.