Only Injuries Prevent Grant Hill from Become NBA Legend

Posted May 10, 2010

I just realized one interesting fact about Phoenix Suns veteran, Grant Hill. During his 16 years career in NBA, this year is the first time he managed to give his team a victory from 1st round of NBA playoff!

Grant Hill only plays for three NBA teams throughout his career; Detroit Pistons (1994-2000), Orlando Magic (2000-2007), and Phoenix Suns (2007- ...). He is an unfortunate player who often struggling with injuries, which made him only played in 22 playoff games before this season.

His first major injury happened in 2000. Before that ankle injury, he showed a promise career as one of the best all-around players in NBA. In his first six seasons in NBA, Grant Hill had a total of 9,393 points, 3,417 rebounds and 2,720 assists. Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, and LeBron James are the only three players in league history to achieved these numbers after their first six seasons.

Grant Hill in Phoenix Suns

From that year upward, Grant Hill suffered from series of injuries and surgeries. His injuries including knee, ankle, infection, and hernia. Only in 2008-2009 season with Phoenix Suns that he managed to 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.

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 now move to the Western Conference Finals.

Grant Hill in Orlando Magic

He also got a bonus achievement this season. For the third time of his career (after 2004-05 and 2007-08), Grant Hill received Joe Dumars Trophy presented to NBA Sportsmanship Award winner.

The annual award reflects the ideals of sportsmanship — ethical behavior, fair play and integrity — in amateur and professional basketball, a key focus of the league’s NBA Cares program efforts. The trophy is named for former Detroit Pistons guard and Hall of Famer Joe Dumars, the award’s first recipient.