It’s a legend’s birthday today. Grant Hill is now 51 years old.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Happy Birthday, Grant! 🎂 pic.twitter.com/p42FRjL2ob
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 5, 2023
This may make some people feel old as Hill was the reason a lot of us used to drink Sprite.
This was during the height of his NBA career when he was playing with the Detroit Pistons. He was an absolute superstar during that time. Hill averaged 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. The former Duke Blue Devil shot 47% from the floor. He was a Co-Rookie of the Year, selected to five all-star teams and five All-NBA teams while with the Pistons. After six years in Detroit, Hill went to Orlando as a free agent.
Hill went to Orlando with an ankle injury. This was thought to be an injury that would only cost him some games during his first year there. The ankle injury turned out to be way worse than what was first thought. Hill had to have several surgeries during his time with the Magic. He spent seven years with the Magic and only played more than 30 games in two of those seasons.
Hill would choose to come to Phoenix before the 2007-08 season. He was no longer the superstar who was the face of companies like Sprite. He was now a role player who would help extend the run of the 2000’s Suns. Hill would play with the Suns for five seasons. After all of his injury history with the Magic, he played 70 or more games in four of his five seasons here.
Hill’s role with the Suns was to run on the break and always be ready to receive Steve Nash’s passes. He also had the responsibility of defending the best wing players in the league. In the 2010 western conference finals he defended Kobe Bryant as good as anyone could at that time. The Suns fell short in that series as Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers were just a bit too good.
Hill was on the wrong end of this iconic moment but only a few players in NBA history can make that shot.
Hill had a great run with the Suns and he is one of the reasons that the Suns’ medical staff is viewed as one of the best in the NBA. Happy birthday to Grant Hill! He is a legend, not only because of his talent on the basketball court but his perseverance to get back on the court. He not only got back on the court but was an impactful player on some very good Phoenix Suns teams.
