Dedric Willoughby

Dedric Demond Willoughby (May 27, 1974 – July 19, 2023) was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Dedric Willoughby

Personal information
Born	(1974-05-27)May 27, 1974 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	July 19, 2023(2023-07-19) (aged 49) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school	Archbishop Shaw (Marrero, Louisiana)
College	New Orleans (1992–1994) Iowa State (1995–1997)
NBA draft	1997: undrafted
Playing career	1997–2001
Position	Point guard
Number	9
Career history
1997–1998	Viola Reggio Calabria
1998–1999	Scaligera Basket Verona
1999–2000	Chicago Bulls
2000	Basket Livorno
2001	Sydney Kings
Career highlights
First-team All-Big 12 (1997)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

Playing career

Willoughby attended Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, Louisiana.^[1] He enrolled at the University of New Orleans and played college basketball for the New Orleans Privateers for two years. He transferred to Iowa State University to play for the Iowa State Cyclones for two years. His coach at both schools was Tim Floyd.^[2] During each of his two seasons at Iowa State, Willoughby was the runner-up for the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year Award. As a senior, he averaged 18.9 points per game and made 45% of his three-point field goal attempts.^[3]

After playing professionally in Italy, Willoughby made the roster of the Chicago Bulls for the 1999–2000 NBA season, and was reunited once again with coach Tim Floyd.^[4] He appeared in 25 games that season, registering one start, and averaged 7.6 points.^[5]

During the next season, Willoughby signed with the Sydney Kings of the Australian National Basketball League. However, he injured his knee in a practice,^[6] and was released shortly afterward, only having played in one game with the team.^[7]

Later life

Willoughby later became a coach with the All-Iowa Attack youth basketball program in Ames, Iowa.^[8]

Death

Willoughby died on July 19, 2023, at the age of 49. He suffered a heart attack during a pick-up game of basketball in Atlanta.^[9]

Career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

NBA

Source^[5]

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1999–00	Chicago	25	1	20.3	.341	.296	.765	2.0	2.6	.9	.1	7.6