For the first time in Toronto Raptors history a player has won an NBA individual award that was not the Rookie of the Year award.

Lou Williams was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year for the 2014-2015 season on Monday afternoon. The 6-2 scoring guard was acquired in the summer from the Atlanta Hawks along with big man Lucas Nogueria. Going to the Hawks were John Salmons partially guaranteed contract and a second round pick. Salmons was later waived by the Hawks.

Prior to the trade with Atlanta, the Raptors were close to an agreement to acquire Tayshaun Prince and the 2014 22nd overall pick from Memphis in-exchange for Salmons, according to ESPN. The deal fell through after Tyler Ennis and Gary Harris were both selected before the Grizzlies pick.

Williams’ Sixth Man award joins Damon Stoudamire and Vince Carter as the only players to win individual player awards with the Raptors. Stoudamire and Carter won Rookie of the Year in the 1995-96 and ’98-’99 seasons, respectively. Bryan Colangelo won Executive of the Year in 2004-05 and Sam Mitchell was named Head Coach of the Year in 06-07, as the only non-player awards won by Raptors.

When the Raptors acquired Williams in late-June it was a low-risk, high-reward situation. Williams is on his final year of a contract and had not played to his best since he had surgery on his right knee in February of 2013. With Williams struggling to find his game he slowly began to lose his rotation spot with the Hawks, leading up to the trade.

The 10-year veteran has had a terrific bounce back year with the Raptors as the team’s third top scorer, behind DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.  Williams has averaged a career-high 15.5-points per game with career-highs in field goals attempted per game (11.6), third-point field goals attempted per game (5.6) and free throws attempted per game (4.9).

With the Raptors, Williams has received the opportunity to be the best scorer he can be. Head Coach Dwane Casey has allowed Williams to run isolations for himself allowing guard to score at will. Lowry told Williams prior to the season that he needs to average double-digits.

Receiving 78 of the 130 first-place votes, Williams beat out (in-order) Isiah Thomas, Jamaal Crawford, Andre Igoudala, Tristan Thomspon, Nikola Mirotic, Marresse Speights, Corey Brewer and Manu Ginobili for the award. Williams received a total of 502 votes compared to Thomas, who received 324.

Williams is set to be a free-agent come July, and is in good position to break the bank. At the age of 28, the guard is looking for a team, “where the fans appreciate you, your team is serious about winning and create something special,” Williams told ESPN in March.

When asked about re-signing in Toronto, Williams said he had already tried to get an extension. Though, talks never got started Williams is enjoying his time in Toronto. “It’s perfect for my personality. I’ve always been the underdog, I’ve always been overlooked. I’ve always been the guy where it was like we’ll see what he does and then we’ll check on Lou. That’s been my career.”

Williams and the Raptors are in a first-round series versus the Washing Wizards. They lost game one, and look to bounce back Tuesday at 8pm in the second game.

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