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Bill Willoughby (born May 20, 1957 in Englewood, New Jersey) is a former American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) between 1975 and 1984 at the small forward position for the Atlanta Hawks, Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and New Jersey Nets, among others.
After his time at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, Willoughby was selected straight out of school by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round of the NBA draft in 1975 with the 19th pick without having attended college. He was one of the first players to take the step straight from high school into a professional NBA team. He made his league debut on October 23, 1975 at the age of 18 years and 156 days, making him one of the youngest NBA players of his time.[1][2]
During his eight years in the NBA, Willoughby played in a total of 488 regular-season games and averaged 6.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game over the course of his career. His strongest statistical phase came in the 1981-82 season with the Houston Rockets, when he scored 7.8 points per game and hit over 50 percent of his field throws.
A notable moment in his career was a block against legendary center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1981 during the playoffs, when Willoughby stopped the signature “skyhook” at the height of his throw – a rare move against one of the most dominant scorers in NBA history.[3]
| Saison | Team | games | min./game | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–76 | Atlanta Hawks | 64 | 10,9 | 3,3 | 2,1 | 0,3 |
| 1976–77 | Atlanta Hawks | 81 | 18,6 | 7,0 | 4,6 | 0,9 |
| 1977–78 | Buffalo Braves | 82 | 22,4 | 8,8 | 5,2 | 1,1 |
| 1978–79 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 75 | 17,3 | 6,0 | 4,3 | 0,8 |
| 1979–80 | Houston Rockets | 77 | 18,2 | 6,3 | 4,4 | 0,8 |
| 1980–81 | Houston Rockets | 49 | 17,9 | 6,4 | 4,0 | 0,7 |
| 1981–82 | Houston Rockets | 79 | 21,4 | 7,8 | 4,8 | 1,0 |
| 1982–83 | San Antonio Spurs | 42 | 16,0 | 5,7 | 3,3 | 0,7 |
| 1983–84 | New Jersey Nets | 38 | 13,5 | 4,0 | 2,5 | 0,5 |
| Career | 588 | — | 6,0 | 3,9 | 0,8 | |
| Saison | Team | games | min./game | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Atlanta Hawks | 11 | 13,6 | 4,3 | 3,3 | 0,5 |
| 1977 | Atlanta Hawks | 11 | 18,1 | 5,5 | 4,1 | 0,7 |
| 1978 | Buffalo Braves | 6 | 19,8 | 6,7 | 5,0 | 0,8 |
| 1980 | Houston Rockets | 4 | 16,5 | 5,0 | 3,5 | 0,5 |
| 1981 | Houston Rockets | 5 | 17,4 | 5,8 | 4,2 | 0,6 |
| Career | 37 | — | 5,4 | 3,9 | 0,6 | |
Willoughby was valued for his athleticism and versatility on the court. Despite his limited professional career, his jump straight out of high school contributed to the discussion about allowing young players into the NBA and marked an early step in a development that would later be continued by players like Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant.[4]
After his playing career ended in 1984, Willoughby initially pursued other paths and later continued academically. He received a degree in communications from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2001, with the NBA covering his tuition costs, and subsequently became active as a speaker and advisor to young basketball talent, particularly with regard to career planning and education.[5]
- ↑ Bill Willoughby. In: Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
- ↑ Chris Broussard: Why Pros Spent 20 Years Shunning High Schoolers. In: The New York Times. 16. November 2003, accessed on December 29, 2025.
- ↑ Hackensack Police: Former Englewood Basketball Star Fights With Officers. In: Daily Voice Hackensack. March 4, 2016, accessed on December 29, 2025.
- ↑ Chris Broussard: Why Pros Spent 20 Years Shunning High Schoolers. In: The New York Times. 16. November 2003, accessed on December 29, 2025.
- ↑ Darryl Jacobs: “Where Are They Now?” June 2024 Feature: Bill Willoughby. In: NJ Urban News. 25 June 2024, accessed on December 29, 2025.
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