Bill Willoughby facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 20, 1957 Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| High school | Dwight Morrow (Englewood, New Jersey) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA Draft | 1975 / Round: 2 / Pick: 19th overall |
| Selected by the Atlanta Hawks | |
| Pro career | 1975–1984 |
| Career history | |
| 1975–1977 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1977–1978 | Buffalo Braves |
| 1979–1980 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1980–1982 | Houston Rockets |
| 1982–1983 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1983–1984 | New Jersey Nets |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career statistics | |
| Points | 2,930 (6.0 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,891 (3.9 rpg) |
| Assists | 413 (0.8 apg) |
William Wesley Willoughby (born May 20, 1957) is an American former professional basketball player. He was born in Englewood, New Jersey. After finishing high school, he was chosen by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1975 NBA draft. He was the 19th player picked overall. Bill decided to go straight to the professional league instead of playing college. When he started playing in the 1975–76 NBA season, he was one of the youngest players ever in the NBA.
Playing Career Highlights
Bill Willoughby was known for being very athletic. He could jump incredibly high, with a 47-inch (about 119 cm) vertical leap! In high school, he played as a center. But in the professional league, he played as a forward. He was sometimes called "Poodle" or "Son of Flubber."
Bill played for six different NBA teams over eight years. On February 4, 1981, he scored his highest points in a single game, getting 21 points against Dallas. He also became famous in the 1981 NBA playoffs. He was one of the few players to ever block Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's famous "skyhook" shot.
Willoughby and his team, the Houston Rockets, made it to the 1981 NBA Finals that year. He played an important part in Game 2, scoring 14 points. The Rockets won that game 92–90. However, they lost the series in six games. Bill's professional playing career ended in 1984 with the New Jersey Nets. He was 26 years old at the time.
Life After Basketball
Even though Bill skipped college to play in the NBA, he later decided to get his degree. In 2001, when he was 44, he earned a degree in communications from Fairleigh Dickinson University. The NBA helped pay for all his college studies.
Now, Bill Willoughby works as a special advisor for the NBA. He helps high school basketball players who are thinking about going straight to the NBA. He gives them advice about their choices. Bill currently lives in Hackensack, New Jersey.
See also
In Spanish: Bill Willoughby para niños
- List of oldest and youngest NBA players
