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Atlanta Hawks: 25 Best Players To Play For The Hawks

By Phil Watson

May 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; General view of t-shirts on the seats prior to game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; General view of t-shirts on the seats prior to game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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CHICAGO - 1989: Kevin Willis #42 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots over Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls during a NBA game at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois in 1989. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
CHICAGO – 1989: Kevin Willis #42 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots over Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls during a NBA game at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois in 1989. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) /

player. 125. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 11th overall pick from Michigan State, 1984 NBA Draft; Free agent, Sept. 22, 2004.. PF-C. 1984-88, 1989-94; 2004-05. Kevin Willis. 22

Kevin Willis was not expected to be a star after a senior year at Michigan State during which he averaged 11 points and nearly eight rebounds per game.

But the Atlanta Hawks liked what they saw of the power forward and took him with the 11th overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft.

ATL_22_WILLIS
ATL_22_WILLIS /

What they got was a stalwart who manned the 4 for more than a decade, earning an All-Star bid in 1992 and an All-NBA nod in 1991-92, coming back well from missing the entire 1988-89 season because of a knee injury.

Willis was second in the NBA in rebounding in 1991-92, third in 1993-94 and fifth in 1992-93.

In November 1994, he was traded with a first-round pick in 1996 to the Miami Heat in exchange for Steve Smith, Grant Long and a second-round selection in 1996.

Almost 10 years later, in September 2004, Willis was back in with the Hawks, signing as a free agent. His contract expired and he was unsigned in the summer of 2005.

In 11 seasons in Atlanta, Willis averaged 14.1 points and 9.7 rebounds in 30.0 minutes per game, shooting .503/.237/.695.

In February 1996, he was traded to the Golden State Warriors before being released in July 1996. In August of that year, he signed with the Houston Rockets.

Willis was traded to the Toronto Raptors in June 1998 and was dealt to the Denver Nuggets in January 2001.

In October 2001, he was traded first to the Milwaukee Bucks and later the same day back to the Rockets.

Willis signed with the San Antonio Spurs in August 2002 and was on a championship team in 2003.

After leaving the Hawks the second time, Willis was idle until joining the Dallas Mavericks, first on a 10-day contract and later for the remainder of the season, in April 2007.

He retired in July 2007 at the age of 44 and is sixth in NBA history with 1,424 games, 40th with 38,362 minutes played and 23rd with 11,901 rebounds.

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