On February 4, 1981, Willoughby scored a career high 21 points in a win against Dallas. After that season, Willoughby gained some fame in the 1981 NBA postseason by becoming one of the few players ever to block Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's "skyhook" at its apex. Willoughby and the Rockets later advanced to that year's 1981 NBA Finals, where he would play a key role in Houston's Game 2 92-90 win by scoring 14 points off the bench.
On February 4, 1981, Willoughby achieved a career high of 21 points against Dallas. After that season, Willoughby gained recognition for his block of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's "skyhook" during the 1981 NBA playoffs. Later in the year, Willoughby and the Rockets advanced to the 1981 NBA Finals where he played a significant role.