Lou Williams vs. Eric Gordon: Sixth Man of the Year Race

The Sixth Man of the Year award has never been given to a member of the Houston Rockets. With Lou Williams and Eric Gordon on the roster this year, that is likely to change.

That isn’t to say that no current Rockets have ever won the 6MOY award. Both James Harden and Lou Williams have a trophy, but they won with different teams. Will this be the year for a current Rockets player take it home? In most opinions, Houston now has the top two candidates for 6MOY in Lou Williams and Eric Gordon. Which one, if either, will take home the award?

Eric Gordon

Eric Gordon has been great for the Rockets all year, and his stats show it. He is a versatile player who can score when needed. In addition to his stats, he has the benefit of playing with the Rockets all year long. That will probably matter in the eyes of some voters, whether it should or not.

PPG: 17.0 / APG: 2.7 / SPG: 0.6 / MPG: 30.4 / FG%: 41.2%

Lou Williams

The Rockets’ newest player has shined in his first appearances in Houston, posting some great stat lines. His numbers are even more impressive considering the number of minutes he plays, proving that he can consistently make a big impact off the bench.

PPG: 18.6 / APG: 3.1 / SPG: 1.1 / MPG: 24.3 / FG%: 44.3%

Statistically, the race between the two isn’t close. Williams is better in every category despite averaging six fewer minutes than Gordon. Although some of Lou’s stats were definitely padded by the Lakers’ lack of other scoring options, they’re nothing to sneeze at.

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The 30-year-old has already won the award once when he was in Toronto, and another win would make him just the fifth player in NBA history to win the award twice.

What if Lou Williams were to start? Sure, Patrick Beverley is posting some good numbers, but Williams could be even better. He is more of a true shooting guard than Bev, after all.

At the end of the day, it comes down to coach Mike D’Antoni; he seems to like the rotation as is, so it’s likely that both Williams and Gordon remain on the bench, making them both solid 6MOY candidates.

In my eyes, Lou Williams is one of the best players to come off the bench in recent memory. He has a chance to prove that now as a part of one of the best second units in the league. Whatever the case, I predict that Lou Williams takes home his second Sixth Man of the Year Award.

Next: 3-on-3: How Will Lou Affect Houston’s Playoff Chances?

This season, it’s not unrealistic to think that the Rockets could boast the MVP, the Coach of the Year, the Sixth Man of the Year, and the Executive of the Year. Whether or not Lou Williams takes the 6MOY award, it’s been an unusually successful year in Houston.