Kori Ellis
10-09-2004, 07:20 PM
Willis relishes being back in Atlanta
By KAREN ROSEN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/09/04
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/hawks/1004/10willis.html?UrAuth=aNaNUOcN]UbTTUWUXUUUZTYU\UWU_UVUZU`U`UcTYWYWZV
Kevin Willis has the work ethic, the physique and the focus — if not the hair — that he had when he first joined the Hawks in 1984.
And after playing half of his 42 years in the NBA, he's not ready for any shelf except the bookshelf.
"I think that I'll write a book on this," Willis said. "It's been a heckuva ride. It's had its ups and its downs, but when all the smoke clears, it's been a tremendous blessing."
He even has a title in mind: "The Ageless Wonder."
"I'm definitely going to look forward to talking to him and learning about how he's done it," said Josh Childress, a 21-year-old rookie.
Willis acknowledges that genetics contributes to his longevity, plus his "three favorite meals — chicken, pasta and fish" and running stadium steps at Georgia Tech's Grant Field in the offseason.
"I know I'm 42, but I don't go on the court saying, 'Well, I'm 42 years old,' " he said. "I go on the court like I can still play. I can still run up and down the court, and I can still get some things done.'
Now the 7-footer is back where it all began as an imposing presence on the Hawks roster, as well as the most familiar face on a team full of new ones.
"He's a freak of nature," said Dominique Wilkins, his former teammate and a Hawks vice president who made the initial suggestions to go after Willis. "I mean, to see his body, to see the great shape he's in, it just goes to show what hard work does for you when you believe in yourself and you work as hard as he does.
"I think having Kevin here is going to bring a lot of positive attitude within our team — and we haven't had that in a very long time."
Willis hopes to bookend his career in a Hawks uniform — the No. 42 now matching his age.
"Right now I honestly feel like I could play two more years after this one," he said. "It just has to be the right situation. Things in life need to line up correctly and my body has to continue to hold up."
Signing with Atlanta meant reuniting with his family, which has lived in Roswell the past four years. He can now see son Kevin, 17, play basketball for St. Francis High and watch daughter Jadis, 2 1/2, at the playground.
After playing the past two seasons with the San Antonio Spurs — his seventh NBA team — he signed for one year with the Hawks at the veterans' minimum of $1.1 million.
Always known as an enforcer during games, Willis, who describes himself as a "no-nonsense type guy," serves a dual role of setting an example for younger players.
"I still think Kevin can play 10-15 minutes [a game] and I know he'll probably tell me he can play more than that," said Hawks coach Mike Woodson, who is four years Willis's senior and doesn't hesitate to give him a breather if he needs one during practice. "He's an old head, but he's a good old head. He brings some stability to this team. I was very adamant about getting Kevin Willis in here not because he played for Atlanta years ago, but because he's a good kid and he knows how to work. And he knows how to help me with players on and off the court."
After Willis was drafted out of Michigan State in 1984, he was the only rookie in the NBA to appear in all 82 games. He still holds Atlanta Hawks franchise records for offensive and defensive rebounds, although Bob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks had more total rebounds in the days before statisticians split up the categories.
Willis was traded to Miami in 1994 after two games of his 11th season with the Hawks.
"At that time, in my thinking, it was a bad thing to do because I was so accustomed to the way things were in Atlanta, living here, my teammates," he said. "But God had a better plan. So I followed that plan and it led me to my 21st season, so it was a blessing in disguise."
Willis has adapted to the changes in the game over the past two decades, but that doesn't mean he likes them.
"The focus isn't totally basketball any more," he said. "It's so globalized now. You've got the guys coming in now with the big shoe contracts and the big endorsements and record deals and the jewelry, the tattoos. Whereas, back in the day, none of that was important. It was just about going out and playing basketball, having great love for the game and competing and trying to win championships."
Willis still has fond memories of his previous stint with the Hawks, especially the 1984-86 squads which included Wilkins, Tree Rollins, Randy Wittman and Doc Rivers. "Those two teams and those guys on that team were just incredible guys," Willis said, "lifelong friendships, never to be forgotten."
Now Wilkins wears a business suit and sits in the front office — where Willis hopes to someday wind up. They sometimes joke around after practices. "He's a little bigger than me," Wilkins said, "So I've got to watch how I pull my rank."
By KAREN ROSEN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/09/04
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/hawks/1004/10willis.html?UrAuth=aNaNUOcN]UbTTUWUXUUUZTYU\UWU_UVUZU`U`UcTYWYWZV
Kevin Willis has the work ethic, the physique and the focus — if not the hair — that he had when he first joined the Hawks in 1984.
And after playing half of his 42 years in the NBA, he's not ready for any shelf except the bookshelf.
"I think that I'll write a book on this," Willis said. "It's been a heckuva ride. It's had its ups and its downs, but when all the smoke clears, it's been a tremendous blessing."
He even has a title in mind: "The Ageless Wonder."
"I'm definitely going to look forward to talking to him and learning about how he's done it," said Josh Childress, a 21-year-old rookie.
Willis acknowledges that genetics contributes to his longevity, plus his "three favorite meals — chicken, pasta and fish" and running stadium steps at Georgia Tech's Grant Field in the offseason.
"I know I'm 42, but I don't go on the court saying, 'Well, I'm 42 years old,' " he said. "I go on the court like I can still play. I can still run up and down the court, and I can still get some things done.'
Now the 7-footer is back where it all began as an imposing presence on the Hawks roster, as well as the most familiar face on a team full of new ones.
"He's a freak of nature," said Dominique Wilkins, his former teammate and a Hawks vice president who made the initial suggestions to go after Willis. "I mean, to see his body, to see the great shape he's in, it just goes to show what hard work does for you when you believe in yourself and you work as hard as he does.
"I think having Kevin here is going to bring a lot of positive attitude within our team — and we haven't had that in a very long time."
Willis hopes to bookend his career in a Hawks uniform — the No. 42 now matching his age.
"Right now I honestly feel like I could play two more years after this one," he said. "It just has to be the right situation. Things in life need to line up correctly and my body has to continue to hold up."
Signing with Atlanta meant reuniting with his family, which has lived in Roswell the past four years. He can now see son Kevin, 17, play basketball for St. Francis High and watch daughter Jadis, 2 1/2, at the playground.
After playing the past two seasons with the San Antonio Spurs — his seventh NBA team — he signed for one year with the Hawks at the veterans' minimum of $1.1 million.
Always known as an enforcer during games, Willis, who describes himself as a "no-nonsense type guy," serves a dual role of setting an example for younger players.
"I still think Kevin can play 10-15 minutes [a game] and I know he'll probably tell me he can play more than that," said Hawks coach Mike Woodson, who is four years Willis's senior and doesn't hesitate to give him a breather if he needs one during practice. "He's an old head, but he's a good old head. He brings some stability to this team. I was very adamant about getting Kevin Willis in here not because he played for Atlanta years ago, but because he's a good kid and he knows how to work. And he knows how to help me with players on and off the court."
After Willis was drafted out of Michigan State in 1984, he was the only rookie in the NBA to appear in all 82 games. He still holds Atlanta Hawks franchise records for offensive and defensive rebounds, although Bob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks had more total rebounds in the days before statisticians split up the categories.
Willis was traded to Miami in 1994 after two games of his 11th season with the Hawks.
"At that time, in my thinking, it was a bad thing to do because I was so accustomed to the way things were in Atlanta, living here, my teammates," he said. "But God had a better plan. So I followed that plan and it led me to my 21st season, so it was a blessing in disguise."
Willis has adapted to the changes in the game over the past two decades, but that doesn't mean he likes them.
"The focus isn't totally basketball any more," he said. "It's so globalized now. You've got the guys coming in now with the big shoe contracts and the big endorsements and record deals and the jewelry, the tattoos. Whereas, back in the day, none of that was important. It was just about going out and playing basketball, having great love for the game and competing and trying to win championships."
Willis still has fond memories of his previous stint with the Hawks, especially the 1984-86 squads which included Wilkins, Tree Rollins, Randy Wittman and Doc Rivers. "Those two teams and those guys on that team were just incredible guys," Willis said, "lifelong friendships, never to be forgotten."
Now Wilkins wears a business suit and sits in the front office — where Willis hopes to someday wind up. They sometimes joke around after practices. "He's a little bigger than me," Wilkins said, "So I've got to watch how I pull my rank."