Atlanta Hawks: 15 Best Dunkers of All-Time

Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images /
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Kevin Willis, Atlanta Hawks
Photo by Chris Covatta/NBAE via Getty Images /

player. 125. . PF/C. (1984-94, 2004-05). Kevin Willis. 8

Kevin Willis made quite the name for himself with Atlanta. Willis spent his first 11 seasons in the NBA with Hawks. He took the rotation by storm with his one-handed and two-handed tomahawk dunks.

Much like Theo Ratliff, Willis was also a force on the glass for Atlanta. During the 1991-92 season, he led the team in rebounds per game with 15.5 per contest, second to only Detroit Pistons’ forward Dennis Rodman. Willis holds the sixth highest rebound per game average since the 1984-85 season with that feat. The 7-footer was something else.

Willis earned an All-Star nod for his performance during that year, also putting up 18.3 points and 2.1 assists per game. Opposing players certainly didn’t want to get in Willis’ way in the paint, or they’d pay the ultimate price. To go along with his double-double for the season, he also shot a career-high 80.4 percent from the free throw line. Not bad for a big guy.

Willis anchored quite the athletic group by the 1993-94 season. Dominique Wilkins, Stacey Augmon, Mookie Blaylock and Danny Manning along with Willis posted a record of 57-25. Willis was responsible for 10.2 of the team’s win share that year, tying with Blaylock. He averaged 19.1 points, 12.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, proving to be a force in the paint.

The team tied for the best record in the East Conference while boasting one of their best rosters to date. Unfortunately, they fell in the playoffs to the Indiana Pacers. Willis was traded to the Miami Heat two games into the 1994-95 season. He returned to the Hawks later in his career during the 2004-05, but wasn’t nearly as impactful of a player the second time around in Atlanta.