Grant Hill was once possessed breathtaking athleticism. He seemed to effortlessly glide through the air on his way to the basket. He had that unique combination of body control and explosive leaping ability that all the great ones seem to own. In addition to his athletic prowess, Grant had an ideal family background that many athletes could only dream about. His father, Calvin Hill, was a star running back for the Dallas Cowboys. His mother, Janet, was a highly successful attorney and college roommate of Hilary Clinton. His solid upbringing and well spoken nature made Hill an ideal fit for family friendly endorsement deals with Sprite and McDonald’s. Hill showed tremendous promise early in his career, winning the Rookie of The Year and being selected to the All Star team seven times.
Sadly, his body began to betray him. After signing a lucrative deal with the Orlando Magic, he played in only four games in his first season and a combined 43 games in the subsequent two seasons. The explosiveness he once demonstrated was slowly fading away while the notoriety and popularity began to vanquish. His highlight real dunks became fuzzy memories and folklore.
While some athletes may have thrown in the towel, Grant Hill has persevered. He signed with the Phoenix Suns in 2007 and has seemingly found the fountain of youth. Over his last three seasons, he’s averaged a stunningly impressive 78 games played per season. He only shows flashes of his athletic brilliance, but his tremendous basketball IQ and knowledge of positioning have allowed him to thrive on the defensive end. The endorsements are gone and the comparisons to Michael Jordan are a distant memory. Although his career has been turbulent, his triumphant return has been an absolute joy to watch.
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