Top 20 former Michigan State Spartans to play in the NBA
By Riley Nisbet
7. Kevin Willis
Kevin Willis played three years at Michigan State before being drafted 11th overall in the 1984 draft by the Atlanta Hawks.
Willis had an expansive NBA career, playing 20 seasons between the years 1984 and 2007, while missing only two seasons due to a knee injury in 88-89 and a brief retirement in 05-06, before officially retiring at age 44 the following season.
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Willis’ longevity and endurance is an impressive feat in itself, especially considering his seven-foot frame. In such a long career, however, Willis’s career stat lines don’t reflect the quality of player he was in his prime.
In his first 14 seasons, Willis averaged 15.2 points per game (slightly above his career average of 12.1) and averaged a double-double (points and rebounding) in seven of those seasons.
In 1991-92, Willis made his only All-Star appearance as a member of the Atlanta Hawks, and at the end of that same season he was selected to the All-NBA Third Team.
In 2002-03, Willis won his only NBA championship as a member of the San Antonio Spurs; however, he only contributed 4.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game that season on 11.8 minutes.