Willis to return with Mavs? Link to "Old Jokes" And heres the article... Kevin Willis: Works Out With Mavs - 3/30/2007 4:09:35 AM Update: Willis reportedly worked out with the Mavericks for an hour on Thursday and will be brought back for a second workout on Friday, the Dallas Morning News reports. Mavericks Coach Avery Johnson placed Willis' chance of taking the Mavs' available roster spot at "50-50" while Mavericks President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson called Willis "the best candidate available." Recommendation: If Willis does make the Mavs, he would become the oldest active player in NBA history at age 44. He would be a backup at best, and wouldn't warrant much fantasy consideration. ---He's already been interviewed on Galloway on the ESPN radio up here...
Gee, what a life. Pick up a couple hundred thou for flying around the country for 3 months, free meals and all free travel, free health club membership, and then watch about 14 NBA playoff games courtside for nothing. Not to mention, free backstage passes to the whole thing. I said only 20 games cuz I'm holding out hope they get knocked out in the 2nd round.
All right KW! Oddly, Willis is my dad's favorite basketball player and we always joke about his clumsy arms. Good to see he is still around, although he might be playing for our nemesis Dallas.
Actually, here's the article... from our old buddy, Sefko. Willis may find a way with Mavs 11:51 PM CDT on Thursday, March 29, 2007 By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News esefko@dallasnews.com When he "retired" after the 2004-05 NBA season, Kevin Willis never filed the formal papers with the league. He figured there was a chance his departure might not be permanent. "My brother kept saying it was over," Willis said Thursday after a workout with the Mavericks. "But I kept telling him something might happen." Mavericks/NBA Something finally has – Willis may become a Maverick soon. Willis will go through the second of two workouts with the Mavericks today to determine if the club wants to sign him as a third center for the playoffs. Willis worked out for more than an hour Thursday and emerged with a good sweat and positive feeling about the chances of a 44-year-old being able to contribute to a championship team. "I haven't played," Willis said, "but if I get a couple pints of oxygen, I'll be all right." Actually, the 7-footer was one of the fittest players in the NBA for his two-decade career. He was a key reserve on San Antonio's championship team in 2003 and envisions a similar role with the Mavericks if he signs. "Very similar," he said. "I just don't anticipate playing as much as I did in San Antonio. But a lot of things that I brought to that locker room and that team, I expect to do here, if I'm here." If Willis signs with the Mavs, he will become the oldest active player in NBA history at 44. Robert Parish ended his career at 43. Avery Johnson watched the workout Thursday, which was conducted mostly by Popeye Jones. Johnson said there is a good chance Willis will be a Maverick in the next few days. Kevin Willis (right) and the Spurs ousted Steve Nash and the Mavs in the 2002-03 Western Conference finals. LOUIS DELUCA / DMN Kevin Willis and the Spurs ousted Steve Nash and Dallas in the 2002-03 Western Conference finals. "I'd say it's 50-50, but he had a really good workout," Johnson said. "We'll see what happens." President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson added: "Right now, he's the best candidate available. He's obviously in great shape, although it would take him some time to get in basketball shape." Willis has spent the last year and a half relaxing at his home in Atlanta and running his clothing business, Willis & Walker, which deals in high-end sports clothes, mostly denim. He sells a lot of jeans to big and tall shops, and many NBA players wear his gear. A chance meeting with Mark Cuban in Las Vegas at All-Star weekend was the genesis of Willis getting an audition with the Mavericks. "I ran into Mark at All-Star weekend and had a few words," Willis said. "The next thing I know, I get a call from Rolando [Blackman], and it kind of went from there. I started doing some shooting and running just in case I got a call. And here I am." Willis' conditioning is not in question. It will be the Mavericks' call as to whether they believe he can be used for three to five minutes in an emergency situation if they get matched up against a big center in the playoffs like Yao Ming. "I just got to get my timing back, get a few practices under my belt and get used to banging bodies again and get the conditioning up to about 110 percent, because these guys are on a mission," Willis said. "They're taking it extremely serious, and I'm taking it serious. I don't want to come in and be any kind of distraction. I just want to come in and enhance. Whatever I got to do to enhance it and make it better, I'm here to do that." Willis was a superior locker-room presence during his NBA career, particularly in San Antonio, where he played for then-Spurs assistant coach Joe Prunty, now an aide to Johnson. "It's in the real early stages right now," Willis said of the flirtation with the Mavs. "Avery and I played together in Denver, so he knows me, and I know him. I know what he expects if I do come."
Would this be the first time that that a player is older than the coach? This sounds like that april fools day prank we had a few years back with Ewing returning.
Willis' game was a little sub-par. But he always worked hard, was always in great shape and always had a great attitude.
Early in his career he was a good player but never developed into the 20/20 guy some predicted. What really irritates me about him was his play with the Rockets in the playoffs. He roughed up Shawn Kemp so badly that when Kemp took a shot at him during a game, the NBA didn't even suspend him for it. From then on, the refs watched Willis so closely he was completely ineffective and useless. He was the type of guy that Karl Malone was borderline scared of, and he could have been a key player in the WCFs that year. But his excessive punishment of Kemp in the 2nd round made him Enemy #1 from that point on.
Well at least the Mavs have us in the back of their minds if they need to go get someone other than the 2nd best center in the league to defend Yao.
Thats exactly what I was thinking. Dallas only needs Willis to defend Yao and Shaq if they meet in the finals again.
I guess people thought he was the next chamberlain I remember when kemp took a shot a willis, he threw the ball at the back of his head or something. about his effectiveness, he neutralized his defense in toughness with his blackholeishness. that's what always bothered me about him as a rocket. never seen a big man less willing to give it up.
Coming out of college he was compared to Moses Malone. I saw him play quite a bit. Try to imagine him in college at Michigan State. He had a great physique and could play very nasty. There were times when other teams had no chance to contain him. The flashes of physical domination and energy he sometimes demonstrated had pro scouting salivating. But in the NBA, he never developed to his potential, whatever it was. Kevin Willis was more concerned that every opposing player knew they better not mess with him. He was more concerned about working out and flashing his muscles. Off the court, to say he was really into clothes is a big understatement. I'm not surprised at all he's in the clothing business now.
