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 a former professional basketball player from the United States. He was born in Englewood, New Jersey. After finishing high school, he decided to go straight to the NBA. The Atlanta Hawks picked him in the 1975 NBA draft. He was the 19th player chosen overall. When he started playing in the 1975–76 NBA season, he was one of the youngest players ever to play in an NBA game.
Playing Career in the NBA
Bill Willoughby was a very athletic player. He could jump incredibly high, about 47 inches! In high school, he played as a center. But when he joined the pros, he played as a forward. He played for six different NBA teams over eight years. This means he moved around a lot during his career.
One of his most famous moments happened on February 4, 1981. He scored his career-high of 21 points in a game against Dallas. Later that season, in the 1981 NBA playoffs, Bill did something amazing. He blocked Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's famous "skyhook" shot. This was a very difficult shot to block. Bill 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. Even though the Rockets lost the series, it was a big achievement. His professional basketball career ended in 1984 with the New Jersey Nets. He was 26 years old.
Life After Basketball
Bill Willoughby later said he wished he had gone to college right after high school. But he did go to college later in life! In 2001, at age 44, he earned a degree in communications from Fairleigh Dickinson University. The NBA helped pay for all his college studies.
Now, Bill works as a special advisor for the NBA. He helps high school basketball players. He talks to them about whether they should go to college or try to play professionally right away. He shares his own experiences to help them make good choices. Bill Willoughby lives in Hackensack, New Jersey.
See also
- List of oldest and youngest NBA players
