Atlanta Hawks star sixth man, Lou Williams, will be out for this season after suffering a season-ending right knee injury during a 94-89 loss to the Nets on Friday night.

The Atlanta Hawks announced on Twitter Saturday that Williams will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACl:

Lou Williams is out for the season with a torn ACL.Here’s the full report:on.nba.com/YfIcT4 #ATLHawks

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 19, 2013

Atlanta Hawks guard, Lou Williams tore his ACL friday night. He will miss the remainder of the season.

Williams, a longtime Philadelphia 76er, signed a three-year, 15.7 million dollar contract this off-season with the Hawks to provide leadership and scoring off the bench.

“We are extremely disappointed for Lou and our thoughts and support will be with him during his recovery,” said President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Danny Ferry. “He has been a complete professional in every sense of the word and know that approach, along with his work ethic, will serve him well in his rehabilitation.”

The injury occurred at the 7:12 mark in the second quarter.  After stealing the ball from Nets forward Mirza Teletovic, Williams was in transition driving to the basket when his knee buckled.  According to an Atlanta Journal-Consitution reporter, Williams screamed out several times as he continued off the court.  After laying down in the entryway to the arena to be attended to by Hawks trainers, Williams was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair.

“You hate to see it happen,” Hawk Coach Larry Drew said. “You wish for a fast and speedy recovery but we have to conduct business as usual and we have to move on. We have to get somebody in that locker room that is going to have to step up. Any time one of your soldiers is down somebody else has to pick it up. I have confidence that that will happen.”

Williams had been averaging 14.1 points and 3.6 assists per game.  He is shooting a career-best .367 from three point range.

“I just pray for him,” Jeff Teague said. “Hopefully it’s a speedy recovery. It is tough losing a guy like that coming off the bench and getting points in bunches. He’s just a good guy all around, a good player, a good friend, someone I enjoy playing with.”

The MRI exam, conducted by Dr. Michael Bernot at Peachtree Orthpedics, revealed that a torn anterior cruciate ligament.  Following surgery there will be a better timetable for when Williams will return.

The Hawks will have a tough task replacing one of the better scoring sixth men in basketball.  Without Lou, the Hawks will likely look to rookie John Jenkins in hopes of filling the void.

Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for Sweet Lou.