Another Grant Hill Thread (Jinx Alert)

[Andrew]

All in all, it's been a pretty good year so far for Grant Hill. He's played in 62 of the Magic's 67 games - which if you're keeping count is more than double his previous high for games played in a Magic uniform, and 15 more than the total number of games he played in his first three years in Orlando - with averages of 19.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.3 apg and 1.4 spg, shooting 51% from the field and 80% from the free throw line; numbers that aren't quite up to his career averages but good numbers for a guy who's now #2 on his team.

He also appeared at the All-Star game. Perhaps there were other players more deserving in terms of their production, certainly guys who could have started ahead of him but it was great to see him there again, a makeup for his selection in 2001 and a fitting tribute to what he's overcome to be playing at a level most people probably didn't expect him to reach ever again. He's not Grant Hill as some of us remember him, but he's still a significant player in the league. And it seems he might be around a little longer too, since the five games he's missed have not been due to the original injury.

It would be great if the Magic could get into the playoffs, with Grant carrying the team in Francis' absence. But even if they fail to qualify for the postseason, I'd call this a successful comeback for Grant Hill so far. Now let's hope my powers of jinx haven't returned.

[Fresh8]

Grant Hill is a fighter. He is truly inspirational to many people if they know the whole of his history. This season is a true tribute to himself; no playoffs or not, it has undoubtedly been a very successful season for Grant and the Magic.

Even with the final part of his career, Hill will be a hall of famer. I would support him. He was brilliant in his early years and to come back from a career threatening injury and still average close to 20, 5, 3 and shoot so well from the floor as a second or maybe third option.... it is very hard to do that.

The only thing missing from his resume is a championship ring. I have no doubt that it will come eventually. Mr Nice Guy's legacy will live on for a while!

[Ataraxia]

one of the best comebacks in NBA History.

I personally thought Hill would struggle early on and end up having a role of leader of the bench..and would just clog in around 15 to 20 mins a night but hes the absolute opposite.

For a guy thats career look destined to be ended.....he has just made a marevellous return....his stats have dropped but his impact on the floor still remains. I think Grant is gonna make a great head coach in the NBA someday...he just has that Great Coach look on him...

He has about 3-4 years left in him if he stays healthy.

Some facts taken from NBA.com


* Full name is Grant Henry Hill
* Recognized for his tremendous community service by being awarded the 2001 Richard and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award
* He and his wife, Tamia, donated $1 million to Duke University and $50,000 to benefit Child Abuse Prevention
* Wife, Tamia, is a four-time Grammy-nominated recording artist
* Served as vice-chairman of the 1999 Special Olympics World Games, held in North Carolina
* Father was a running back with three NFL teams from 1969-74 and 1976-81, while his mother serves as a consultant in the Washington D.C. area
* Born in Dallas, Tex., is the only child of Calvin and Janet Hill
* Became the 8th player in Duke history to have his number (33) retired
* In 2000, named among 99 professional athletes as "Good Guys in Sports" by The Sporting News, recognizing athletes for outstanding character and exemplary civic responsibility
* Served as vice-chairman of the 1999 Special Olympics World Games, held in North Carolina
* Childhood idols included Arthur Ashe and the Magic's own Julius Erving

[Andrew]

Aside from any physical decline, his stats are down because he's no longer the primary ballhandler and Francis and Howard account for a lot of rebounds. In the last couple of games with Francis out of the lineup, he's been grabbing more boards though, and for the season his scoring his just below his career average. Assuming his health holds up, I'd agree that 3-5 years is a pretty good conservative estimate.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

That's assuming his previous injury won't come back to haunt him. Statistically speaking , it's very much possible that his ankle(or was it his knee ) won't be able to handle 3 - 5 years of NBA rigor. Though I hope he makes it until he's 37 or so, he is definitely an inspiration in the world of sports and beyond...

[Andrew]

Absolutely; that's why I said if his health holds up. But you're right, it's much easier said than done.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

The great about returning from this injury is that he does not seem to hold back because of fear of injury. That's what usully dooms great comeback attempts after a long period of rehabilitation. The confidence and the powerful steps are not there anymore, mainly because the player is facing the sometimes subliminal fear of reinjuring the same muscle, bone or whatever, so he intuitively holds back... Take Antonio McDyess for example.

Grant Hill even dunked home an alley oop pass in the ASG , if I'm not mistaken. Now there's a fearless, determined guy

[cyanide]

Grant Hill even dunked home an alley oop pass in the ASG , if I'm not mistaken. Now there's a fearless, determined guy

Yeah, that was great. I was really happy for him. Too bad he didn't play much, if not at all, in the second half.

[Fresh8]

He fights, as u guys said, a much tougher battle... against his brain. His physical stregnth is only rivalled to his mental strength. I bet when he wants to go up or run fast, his brain is telling him not to but he fightsa against it. That is what makes him so much more than what he could be...

[beau_boy04]

Wasn't Grant Hill destined to become the next Michael Jordan?

- He could've been the 3rd rookie to achieve 20,5,5 but he was short for 0.1 in points averaging 19.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg and 5.0 apg

- In 96-97 he averaged amazing numbers triple-double like, 21.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 7.3 apg.

- In 99-00 he averaged 25.8 ppg, the highest so far in his career (at least for now). You never know what could happened.

Now I ponder to myself what he could have become if he was never injured maybe we would be talking about one of the top ten players ever to play the game of basketball instead of this comeback topic

[Andrew]

Grant Hill's place in history would no doubt have been very different had he not fallen victim to injuries these past four or five years.

[Fresh8]

But maybe it was meant for him to go down by injury and write an even more inspiring legacy taht hes in now...

[MVP]

Grant Hill is not only a talented player, but he is also a classy guy. He's very humble and never high on himself. I think he could still improve his numbers next season if he is healthy.

Evident by his starting role in the All Star game, he is still one of the most popular players in the NBA.

Go Grant!!

[beau_boy04]

I concur, still at his age Grant Hill could get better numbers next season. I'm estimating 23,6,5. It is possible guys! He fought hard to get back to this level and he'd fight even harder to get back to the pedestal.

[j.23]

i cant see him averaging 5 assists per game next season (i would love to) because stevie franchise does a lot of the ball handling.. his points will go up though i think, to maybe around 21.. he believes he'll be even better next season, and i believe he can too

[Fresh8]

But his role on the team may start to diminish... depends on the coachign staff... I wonder howd he cope as a number 1 option..