Kevin Willis spent over 21 years in the NBA as a power forward/center. During that time, this Christian athlete played on several different teams. The longest spurt was with the Atlanta Hawks, whom he played with from 1984-94 and 2004-2005. I had the privilege of talking to him about priorities and ways we can all learn how to “de-junk” our lives. In this exclusive interview, Kevin shares his personal mantra for “no nonsense” and keeping things in the right order.
LL: What do the words “de-junking your life” mean to you?
KW: You have to distance yourself from insincere people. In the line of professional sports, you realize people have different motives. Some look at your status and what they can get from you. You have to determine what’s real and what’s not. For over 21 years, I played in the NBA and met a lot of different people. Some have your best interest at heart and some just want to be part of the show.
Surround yourself with sincere people.
LL: It has been said that there is a lot of “junk” that comes with the lifestyle of being involved in professional sports. Would you agree?
KW: Yes. The bad can be a blessing in disguise though. You meet people and you think these relationships will develop into something positive but then they don’t. Financial decisions and personal issues can also distract you if you’re not focused.
