Beyond his extraordinary scoring ability, Lou Williams was often celebrated for his authenticity. His laid-back demeanor and distinctive Memphis drawl made him a fan favorite throughout his career.
But it wasn’t just his on-court skills that made him stand out; it was also his off-court actions.
Advertisement
One particular instance that showcased Williams’ genuine character happened back on Christmas Eve in 2011. Still playing with the Philadelphia 76ers at that time, the very same team that took a chance on him in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft, he found himself face-to-face with a robber at a red light. Instead of panicking or trying to fight back, Williams did something unexpected: he bought the robber a meal.
An averted robbery
Williams had just come from his barber and was cruising through Manayunk, a neighborhood in the northwestern section of Philadelphia, when a man with a gun tapped his window and declared a robbery. Curiously, instead of panicking, Lou did something that many will consider stupid, given the circumstances: he rolled his window down.
Advertisement
After the robber recognized who he was trying to stick up, he mellowed down a little, which allowed Williams to speak to him and offer to buy him a meal instead. The man immediately agreed and headed straight to the McDonald’s nearby.
“The only crazy thing I did is that when he ran to the McDonald’s,” Williams disclosed. “I didn’t drive away, and I don’t know why. I guess I wanted to keep my word, so I walked to the register with him and ordered the food. But hell no, I didn’t sit down and eat with him.”
The robber was hungry
Williams earned a reputation for being the people’s champion throughout his extensive 17-year career, one where he won a record three Sixth Man of the Year trophies. While he will never be mentioned in the same sentence as the Stephen Currys and Damian Lillards of the world, he is your favorite hooper’s favorite hooper, earning him street cred unlike any other.
Advertisement
It was this very same street cred that kept him out of danger during that incident that could have turned badly if it were any other pro athlete.
“He was like, ‘I’ve just got out of jail, and the only thing I got is a bus ticket, bruh! I’m out here starving,'” Williams said in a separate interview. “I said, ‘There’s a McDonald’s right there… I’ll buy you whatever you need. I gave him my word.”Â
“So I tell my security, ‘Yo, come to the McDonald’s right now,'” he continued. “He order a gang of s—t, by the way, three cheeseburgers, racking up for the week.”
Advertisement
Being an NBA player who could relate to the masses is a unicorn these days. With the AAU circuit pampering talented players the moment they show tangible signs of basketball skill, it’s not unusual to hear about young athletes getting caught up in the trappings of fame and fortune before they even enter college.
But Williams, who declared for the NBA Draft out of high school and played only four minutes a game during his rookie campaign, had a different journey, which gave him a different perspective, and allowed him to treat the thief with empathy rather than anger or retaliation.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.