Basketball

NBA player treats armed robber to McDonald’s

During a chance encounter on Christmas Eve, 76ers guard Lou Williams spread unlikely goodwill in the City of Brotherly Love.

Christmas may be the time of giving, but usually not at gunpoint. This year, Philadelphia 76ers point guard Lou Williams went from taking shots on the court to dodging them in the real world. After the team was given Christmas Eve off, Williams was driving his car through a neighborhood in northwest Philadelphia. When he stopped, a man walked up with a gun in his hand and knocked on the driver side window, reports the Philadelphia Daily News.

The gunman recognized Williams, and instead of holding him up, he applauded the outreach work Williams had done in the neighborhood. "He's a Lou Williams fan so he didn't rob me," Williams told the News. The 25-year-old sponsors the Louis Williams Foundation, a youth program which hosts a summer basketball camp and an AAU team, among other sports and mentoring activities. Such programs are often thought to curb the very kind of violent crime which Williams was confronted with on Christmas Eve, but perhaps not so directly.  

"There's crime everywhere,” Williams said. “I was debating whether to pull off or help the guy. The gun was already out. He did all the talking and we came up with a solution before I could really say much. I treated him to McDonald's."

The good deed must have bumped Williams a few slots higher on Santa’s Christmas list. Two days later, he led the 76ers in scoring with 25 points in their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers. His holiday cheer wasn’t enough in the end, and the 76ers lost 107-103. Apparently, Santa can’t do everything.

By mail.com Editor Will Cade

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