Grant Hill

Grant Hill

Hill with the Suns in 2007
Personal information
Born (1972-10-05) October 5, 1972
Dallas, Texas
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight 225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school South Lakes
(Reston, Virginia)
College Duke (1990–1994)
NBA draft 1994 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall
Selected by the Detroit Pistons
Playing career 1994–2013
Position Small forward
Number 33
Career history
1994–2000 Detroit Pistons
2000–2007 Orlando Magic
2007–2012 Phoenix Suns
2012–2013 Los Angeles Clippers
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 17,137 (16.7 ppg)
Rebounds 6,169 (6.0 rpg)
Assists 4,252 (4.1 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2014
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
1996 Atlanta National team
Pan American Games
1991 Havana National team
FIBA Americas U18 Championship
1990 Montevideo National team

Grant Henry Hill (born October 5, 1972) is an American retired basketball player and a sports show host on NBA TV's NBA Inside Stuff. Hill played for four teams in his professional career in the National Basketball Association (NBA); the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Clippers.

Hill's parents are retired NFL Pro Bowl running back Calvin Hill and Janet Hill. He and his father were Rookies of the Year in their respective sports; Hill in the NBA in 1995 (shared with Jason Kidd), and his father in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys in 1969.

While playing college basketball at Duke, he was the 1994 ACC Player of the Year, a two-time NCAA All-American, and a two-time NCAA champion. As a professional he was the 1995 NBA co-Rookie of the Year, and was a seven-time NBA All-Star, five-time All-NBA selection, and three-time winner of the NBA Sportsmanship Award.

Throughout his college career and early in his years with the Detroit Pistons, Hill was widely considered to be one of the best all-around players in the game, often leading his team in points, rebounds and assists. Touted as one of the best players in Duke history, many went as far as to say that he was one of the greatest collegiate basketball players in his era.[1] After his first six seasons with the Pistons, in which he averaged 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.3 assists, his next twelve seasons were mostly injury plagued, as he averaged just 13.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. On June 1, 2013, after 19 years in the league, Hill announced his retirement from the NBA.[2] Hill and Tony Ressler officially purchased the Atlanta Hawks on June 24, 2015 for an estimated $730 million[3] – $850 million.[4][5]

College

When the time came to choose a college, Hill's mother told the Fox Sports documentary Beyond the Glory, that she wanted him to attend Georgetown, while his father preferred the University of North Carolina. Hill decided to attend Duke University, playing four years with the Blue Devils, winning national titles in 1991 and 1992. Duke became the first Division I program to win consecutive titles since UCLA in 1973. Despite losing two of the biggest contributors on the Blue Devils, Christian Laettner (in 1992) and Bobby Hurley (who both went on to play in the NBA with Hill and Laettner later becoming teammates on the Detroit Pistons), Hill led Duke to the championship game once again in 1994, but lost to Arkansas Razorbacks. Hill won the Henry Iba Corinthian Award as the nation's top defensive player in 1993, and in 1994 he was the ACC Player of the Year. During his collegiate career, Hill became the first player in ACC history to collect more than 1,900 points, 700 rebounds, 400 assists, 200 steals and 100 blocked shots. As a result of his successful college career, he became the eighth player in Duke history to have his jersey number (33) retired. After his freshman season at Duke, Hill played on the bronze medal-winning U.S. team at the 1991 Pan American Games, held in Havana, Cuba.

Hill also is widely known for his role in a desperation play in an NCAA tournament regional final against Kentucky in 1992, which is considered by many to be one of the greatest college basketball games of all time. With Duke down 103–102 in overtime and 2.1 seconds remaining after Kentucky's Sean Woods hit a floater, an unguarded Hill heaved the in-bounds pass 75 feet across the court into the hands of Laettner, who dribbled once and spun before pulling up to make the game-winning jumper from just outside the free-throw line as time expired.

NBA career and Team USA (1994–2013)

Detroit Pistons (1994–2000)

Grant Hill was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the third pick in the NBA draft after graduating from Duke in 1994. In his first season, he averaged 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.77 steals per game, and became the first Pistons rookie since Isiah Thomas in 1981–82 to score 1000 points. Hill ended up sharing NBA Rookie of the Year Award honors with Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, becoming the first Piston since Dave Bing in 1966–67 to win the award. Hill also won the Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award. He was named to the all-NBA First Team in 1997, and all-NBA Second Teams in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. Hill also regularly played in the NBA All-Star Game, where he made history by being the first rookie to lead an NBA All-Star fan balloting in (1994–95) with 1,289,585 votes,[6] narrowly defeating Shaquille O'Neal. In addition, he became the first rookie in any of the four major professional sports leagues to lead all-star fan voting.

In his second season (1995–96), he once again led the All-Star fan balloting, this time edging Michael Jordan (Jordan's first All-Star game after returning since retiring in 1993). During the 1995–96 season, Hill showcased his all-round abilities by leading the NBA in triple-doubles (10). He also won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta as a member of the U.S. men's basketball team, where he had the team's fifth highest scoring average (9.7) and led the team in steals (18). In 1996–97 season, Hill averaged 21.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He became the first player since Larry Bird in 1989–90 to average 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in a season, an accomplishment that had not been duplicated until Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double in the 2016-17 NBA season. Once again, Hill led the league in triple-doubles, where his 13 triple-doubles represented 35 percent of the league's triple-double total that season. He was the league's Player of the Month for January and was also awarded NBA's IBM Award, given to the player with the biggest statistical contributions to his team. He finished third in MVP voting, behind Karl Malone and Michael Jordan.

Much like Scottie Pippen with the Bulls, Hill assumed the role of a "point forward" in Detroit, running the Pistons' offense. As a result, between the 1995–96 and 1998–99 NBA seasons, Hill was the league leader in assists per game among non-guards all four seasons. In the lockout-shortened 1999 season, as he led his team in points, rebounds and assists for the third time, Hill joined Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor as the only players in NBA history to lead their teams in scoring, rebounding and assists more than once. Hill and Chamberlain are the only two players in league history to lead their teams in points, rebounds and assists per game three times. Hill was selected to play in the 1998 FIBA World Championship, but in the end no NBA players played in this tournament due to the lockout.

In 1999–2000 season, Hill averaged 25.8 points while shooting 49% from the field, the season's third highest scoring average, behind MVP Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson. He averaged 6.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. However, despite Hill's individual accomplishments in Detroit, the Pistons never made it far in the playoffs, either losing in the first round (1996, 1997 and 1999), or missing the playoffs entirely in the 1994–95 and 1997–98 seasons. The 2000 playoffs would be no different. On April 15, 2000, 7 days before the start of the playoffs, Hill sprained his left ankle in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers. He continued to play until the first round playoff series against the Miami Heat, in which his injured ankle got worse and Hill was forced to leave halfway through game 2. Eventually, the Heat swept the Pistons 3–0. Hill was initially selected for the 2000 Olympics U.S. team, but could not play due to his ankle injury, which would prove to be a major liability for many years to come.

After the first six seasons of his career, before his ankle injury, Hill had a total of 9,393 points, 3,417 rebounds and 2,720 assists. Oscar Robertson, Bird, and LeBron James are the only three players in league history to eclipse these numbers after their first six seasons.

Orlando Magic (2000–2007)

As an unrestricted free agent, Hill had planned to sign with the Orlando Magic. On August 3, 2000, however, a sign and trade deal allowed Hill to receive a slightly more lucrative contract while Detroit received at least some compensation for losing him. The Pistons traded Hill to Orlando for Chucky Atkins and Ben Wallace. The Magic hoped he would team up with budding superstar, Tracy McGrady, who had been signed away from the Toronto Raptors at that time, to return Orlando among the NBA elite. But Hill was hampered by ankle injuries ever since his arrival in Orlando, playing in only four games in his first season with the Magic, 14 games in his second and 29 in his third. He was forced to sit out his entire fourth year with Orlando (2003–04). Meanwhile, the Pistons, who had defeated the Magic in the 2003 Playoffs, but ended up losing to the New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference Finals, won the championship the following year in 2004.

In March 2003, Hill underwent a major surgical procedure in which doctors re-fractured his ankle and realigned it with his leg bone. Five days after the surgery was performed, Hill developed a 104.5 °F (40.3 °C) fever and convulsions, and was rushed to a hospital. Doctors removed the splint around his ankle and discovered that Hill had contracted a potentially fatal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. He was hospitalized for a week and had to take intravenous antibiotics for six months.

The 2004–05 season saw a return to the "old" Grant Hill, who was so popular earlier in his career. Hill, though hampered by a bruised left shin that caused him to miss several games, started and played 67 games for the Magic, well over the combined amount of games he played for the Magic the previous four seasons. He was named the Eastern Conference player of the week for the week between November 15–21, 2004. Over the season, Hill averaged 19.7 points per game on a .509 field goal percentage. Fans voted him an All-Star starter again, and he led the Eastern Conference All-Star Team to a victory over the West. In addition, at the conclusion of the season, Hill was awarded the Joe Dumars Trophy presented to the NBA Sportsmanship Award Winner.

During the 2005–06 season Hill was once again injured frequently as nagging groin injuries kept him sidelined for much of the first half of the season, limiting him to 21 games. He got a sports hernia that was caused by an uneven pressure on Hill's feet while he was running, due to concerns that he could re-aggravate the injury on his left ankle if it got too much pressure. Hill underwent surgery for the hernia and stated that he would consider retirement if he had to get another surgery.

In the 2006–07 season Hill returned from injuries despite numerous rumors surrounding his retirement. Hill received ankle rotation therapy from specialists in Vancouver, BC during the off-season and stated that he had regained much motion in his left ankle. Hill returned to the Magic lineup, starting at the shooting guard position. Despite having problems with injuries to his left knee and a tendon in his left ankle, Hill managed to play 65 games, two short of the highest number of games he played over a single season as a member of the Magic. He finished the season with averages of 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. This season would see Hill return to the playoffs for the first time since 2000, his first playoff appearance with the Magic. The 8th seed Magic would meet Hill's old team, the Detroit Pistons, in the first round. The Pistons' vast playoff experience would prevail over the inexperienced Magic, who had not seen significant post-season action for some years, and despite having some close games, the series would end with a 4–0 Pistons sweep, leaving Hill undecided on whether to return for the 2007–08 season with the Magic, sign with another team, or retire.[7]

Phoenix Suns (2007–2012)

Hill became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2007. On July 5 Hill's agent, Lon Babby, said Hill intended to sign with the Phoenix Suns on July 11 (the first day free agents can officially sign contracts).[8] Hill earned $1.83 million for 2007–08 with a $1.97 million player option for the next year. Hill was named captain along with Steve Nash. Hill was given permission by Suns Ring of Honor member, Alvan Adams, to wear his familiar No. 33 with the Suns. Hill adapted well to the Suns' up-tempo style, averaging double figures in points as a key role player for Phoenix in the early months of the 2007–08 season. He played in the team's first 34 games before an emergency appendectomy on January 9, 2008, sidelined him for two weeks. Despite being bothered by multiple injuries throughout the season, Hill had his first 70-game season since leaving Detroit, averaging 13.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 2.9 apg in the process.

Playing for the Phoenix Suns in the 2008–2009 season, Hill appeared in all 82 games for the first time in his career and averaged 12.0 ppg, 4.90 rpg, and 2.3 apg, scoring 27 points and 10 rebounds in the Suns' season finale.

On July 10, 2009, the Associated Press reported that Hill decided to re-sign with the Phoenix Suns for a 2-year deal, despite an offer from the New York Knicks for the full mid-level exception and the Boston Celtics offering Hill the bi-annual exception.[9] The first year of the contract is believed to be worth around $3 million with the second year at Hill's option.

In 2010 the Phoenix Suns advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals, marking Hill's first playoff series victory, and making him the first NBA player in history to win his first playoff series after 15 years in the league. After sweeping the San Antonio Spurs 4–0, the Suns then moved to the Western Conference Finals to face the Los Angeles Lakers, but lost in six games (4-2).

In 2010, he was chosen as the tenth-smartest athlete in sports by Sporting News.[10][11] [11]

On June 8 Hill exercised his option for the 2010–11 season.[12] The Suns underwent two major roster changes in 2010–11. During the pre-season teammate Amar'e Stoudemire left for New York while Hedo Türkoğlu, Josh Childress and Hakim Warrick joined the Suns; within a year they also were traded for three other players. Hill became one of seven all-time NBA players to average 13 or more points at 38 years of age or older. On January 15, 2011, Hill passed the 16,000 career points milestone in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

On December 9, 2011, Hill decided to stay with the Phoenix Suns for one year, accepting a $6.5 million contract.[13] By the end of the 2011–12 season, Hill had reached 17,000 career points, ending the season 78th on the all-time NBA scoring list (82nd NBA/ABA), 79th in career assists (83rd), and 66th in career steals (71st).

Los Angeles Clippers (2012–2013)

After his contract with the Suns expired, Hill was pursued by multiple contenders, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. On July 18, 2012, Hill signed a contract with the Clippers.[14] Hill suffered a bruised bone in his right knee in the preseason which kept him out for three months. He then made his debut with the Clippers on January 12, 2013 against the Orlando Magic. During the 2012–13 season, he played only 29 games, averaging 3.2 ppg and 1.7 rpg in 15.1 mpg. The Clippers finished 56-26, fourth best in the Western Conference, and won the Pacific Division for the first time in franchise history. However, the Clippers fell to the Memphis Grizzlies in a six-game series in the first round.

Retirement (2013)

On June 1, 2013, Hill announced his retirement from professional basketball after 19 seasons in the NBA.[15] Hill would later join NBA TV to become an analyst.

Post-NBA career

On June 24, 2015, a deal was approved by the NBA Board of Governors to sell the Atlanta Hawks franchise to a group led by Tony Ressler, which included Hill, for $850 million.[16]

Sponsorships and paid endorsements

In television and film

Personal life

In Detroit, Michigan, he was introduced to Canadian singer Tamia by Anita Baker. Hill and Tamia married on July 24, 1999. Their daughter, Myla Grace Hill, was born on January 23, 2002. On August 9, 2007, Tamia gave birth to their second daughter, Lael Rose Hill.

In 2003, Hill contracted a life-threatening methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, from which it took him six months to recover.[27] He has since become an advocate for the awareness and prevention of MRSA and has appeared in public service announcements for Stop MRSA Now!, a non-profit organization.[28]

Grant Hill earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University with a double major in history and political science.[29]

Charitable activities

Other interests

NBA 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

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1994–95 Detroit 70 69 38.3 .477 .148 .732 6.4 5.0 1.8 .9 19.9
1995–96 Detroit 80 80 40.8 .462 .192 .751 9.8 6.9 1.3 .6 20.2
1996–97 Detroit 80 80 39.3 .496 .303 .711 9.0 7.3 1.8 .6 21.4
1997–98 Detroit 81 81 40.7 .452 .143 .740 7.7 6.8 1.8 .7 21.1
1998–99 Detroit 50 50 37.0 .479 .000 .752 7.1 6.0 1.6 .5 21.1
1999–00 Detroit 74 74 37.5 .489 .347 .795 6.6 5.2 1.4 .6 25.8
2000–01 Orlando 4 4 33.3 .442 1.000 .615 6.3 6.3 1.3 .5 13.8
2001–02 Orlando 14 14 36.6 .426 .000 .863 8.9 4.6 .6 .3 16.8
2002–03 Orlando 29 29 29.1 .492 .250 .819 7.1 4.2 1.0 .4 14.5
2004–05 Orlando 67 67 34.9 .509 .231 .821 4.7 3.3 1.4 .4 19.7
2005–06 Orlando 21 17 29.2 .490 .250 .765 3.8 2.3 1.1 .3 15.1
2006–07 Orlando 65 64 30.9 .518 .167 .765 3.6 2.1 .9 .4 14.4
2007–08 Phoenix 70 68 31.7 .503 .317 .867 5.0 2.9 .9 .8 13.1
2008–09 Phoenix 82 68 29.8 .523 .316 .808 4.9 2.3 1.1 .7 12.0
2009–10 Phoenix 81 81 30.0 .478 .438 .817 5.5 2.4 .7 .4 11.3
2010–11 Phoenix 80 80 30.1 .484 .395 .829 4.2 2.5 .8 .4 13.2
2011–12 Phoenix 49 46 28.1 .446 .264 .761 3.5 2.2 .8 .6 10.2
2012–13 L.A. Clippers 29 0 15.1 .388 .273 .583 1.7 .9 .4 .2 3.2
Career 1026 972 33.9 .483 .314 .769 6.0 4.1 1.2 .6 16.7
All-Star 6 6 22.2 .571 .500 .545 2.5 3.2 1.2 .2 10.5

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1996 Detroit 3 3 38.3 .564 .500 .857 7.3 3.7 1.0 .0 19.0
1997 Detroit 5 5 40.6 .437 .000 .718 6.8 5.4 .8 1.0 23.6
1999 Detroit 5 5 35.2 .457 .000 .813 7.2 7.4 2.0 .4 19.4
2000 Detroit 2 2 27.5 .375 .500 .900 5.5 4.5 .5 .0 11.0
2007 Orlando 4 4 35.8 .500 .000 .667 5.5 3.8 .5 .3 15.0
2008 Phoenix 3 2 22.7 .455 .000 1.000 5.3 1.0 .7 .3 3.7
2010 Phoenix 16 16 28.3 .480 .188 .868 5.8 2.3 .8 .6 9.6
2013 L.A. Clippers 1 0 20.0 .500 .000 .000 4.0 2.0 .0 .0 4.0
Career 39 37 31.6 .469 .238 .781 6.1 3.6 .9 .5 13.4

See also

References

  1. ↑ Brodess, Doug (October 24, 2011). "Duke Basketball: Top 10 Blue Devils of All Time". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  2. ↑ Grant Hill announces retirement
  3. ↑ Bloomberg: "NBA Governors Approve $730 Million Hawks Sale to Ressler’s Group" By Scott Soshnick and Zeke Faux June 24, 2015
  4. ↑ "Atlanta Hawks Sold to Ares' Ressler for $850 million, Group Includes Sara Blakely and Grant Hill". Atlanta Business Chronicle. April 24, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  5. ↑ Atlanta Hawks Selling for $850 Million. The Wall Street Journal. Ben Cohen. April 22, 2015. accessed February 9, 2016
  6. ↑ "Hill's record 1,289,585 votes will go down in all-star history. (Originated from Knight-Ridder Newspapers)". Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. January 26, 1995.
  7. ↑ Beset by injuries in career, Hill considers retirement, updated April 28, 2007
  8. ↑ Hill to sign with Phoenix after agreeing to two-year deal July 5, 2007
  9. ↑ Aldridge, David. "Loyalty to Suns keeps Hill in Phoenix", NBA.com, 10 July 2009.
  10. ↑ "SN names the 20 smartest athletes in sports". Sporting News. September 27, 2010. Archived from the original on May 23, 2013.
  11. 1 2 "SN names the 20 smartest athletes in sports – MLB". Sporting News. 2010-09-23. Archived from the original on 2013-05-23. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  12. ↑ Schwartz, Michael (2010-06-08). "Grant Hill swiftly exercises option, sends message about keeping team together". valleyofthesuns.com.
  13. ↑ Grant Hill staying with Phoenix Suns
  14. ↑ "CLIPPERS SIGN SEVEN-TIME ALL-STAR GRANT HILL". NBA.com. 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  15. ↑ Grant Hill retires from NBA basketball
  16. ↑ Grant Hill Among New Owners of Atlanta Hawks
  17. ↑ Sprite And It's Meaning - Video
  18. ↑ A Better Basketball Player?, AdvertisementAve.com
  19. ↑ "Tamia & Grant Hill in New AT&T Commercial". Chris Smith Management / 21 Entertainment Group. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  20. ↑ "The Fab Five: Hating Duke". ESPN. 2011-03-10. Archived from the original on 2011-03-16. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
  21. ↑ Reid, Jason (2011-03-13). "Jalen Rose's comments on race in ESPN documentary are misguided". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  22. ↑ Hill, Grant (2011-03-16). "Grant Hill's Response to Jalen Rose". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  23. ↑ Everson, Darren (2011-03-16). "Fab Five Member Responds to Hill". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
  24. ↑ "Hill Takes Issue In Fab Five Flap". MSNBC. 2011-03-16. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  25. ↑ "Hill Takes Issue In Fab Five Flap". Forbes. 2011-03-16. Archived from the original on 2011-04-06. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  26. ↑ Chip Patterson (February 3, 2015). "2015 Final Four: Bill Raftery, Grant Hill picked as game analysts". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
  27. ↑ Grant Hill at Stop MRSA Now!
  28. ↑ Stop MRSA Now!'s official website
  29. ↑ Eilerson, Nick (June 28, 2013). "Grant Hill pursues life beyond basketball Former South Lakes High star reflects back on roots in Reston". Fairfax Times.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 Giving Back to the Community at Hill's official website
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