Kevin Willis - Definition and Overview

Kevin Willis (born September 6 1962 in Los Angeles, California) is a 7-foot basketball center in the NBA and is currently the oldest active player in the league at 42 years of age.

Willis was drafted in 1984 out of Michigan State University by the Atlanta Hawks. Kevin played with the Hawks for 10 seasons from 1985 to 1995. Willis had a great career with the Hawks, teaming with Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb, and Doc Rivers to lead the Hawks to many playoffs as well as providing a fierce rebounding presence in the post. Near the end of his stint with the Hawks, he and Dominique were both made team captains. Kevin was traded to the Miami Heat in 1995. Since then he became a veteran journeyman, playing with the likes of the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs. It was with the Spurs that, following a long, winding road, he finally won an NBA Championship ring in 2003. Willis provided another veteran presence and locker-room leader to a young Spurs team centered around Emanuel Ginobili and Tony Parker, as well as superstars Tim Duncan and David Robinson, giving Robinson a decent backup at center. At the beginning of the 2004-2005 season, Willis returned to the team that drafted him, the Atlanta Hawks, where it is hoped he can provide a winning experience to a young team led by Josh Childress, Al Harrington, and Antoine Walker.