Comments on: What If… Grant Hill

By: Blurton

Blurton — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:15:36 +0000

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By: Pontillo

Pontillo — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 22:36:07 +0000

Really, great post to read, thanks

By: Clavier

Clavier — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:06:19 +0000

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By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:45:10 +0000

I remember watching some halftime report during the 2000 playoffs and one of the commentators (I think it was a former player...I was 13 at the time, my memory's pretty vague) was applauding Tim Duncan for sitting out with his injury, and criticizing Grant Hill for trying to be the hero, playing through his, and potentially making it worse. Duncan and the Spurs were the #4 seed and lost to Phoenix in the first round, while Hill and the Pistons were the 6 or 7 seed...and also lost in the first round. Ironically, the Magic pursued both players (later settling for McGrady when Duncan narrowly chose the Spurs). Anyway, no one knows if Hill did, in fact, make his foot worse by trying to "gut it out", but the point of my story is twofold: 1) What if Hill never tried to play through his injury, never needed surgery, and went on to fulfill the "next Michael Jordan" status (as in, not quite Mike, but maybe Kobe or McGrady level). Instead of the diminished numbers above (most of which are based on a hobbled Hill), you have him averaging his '99-00 Detroit numbers: 26 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 5.2 APG. Meanwhile, McGrady is also averaging 26 PPG (hey, Shaq/Kobe and Carmelo/AI did it, why not TMac/Hill?)...no way they're not in the finals basically every year (contrary to the projections you made on thirdquartercollapse, which use the numbers above). 2) What if Duncan tried to play through his injury, and was injury-prone the rest of his career? Suddenly the big rivalry of the decade is Lakers-Pistons? I'm not sure Shaq/Kobe break up after a potential 5th title in '04.

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 05:14:46 +0000

I think Grant Hill is a Hall of Famer regardless. His college success should push him over the top.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:37:45 +0000

What I'd be more interesting in seeing would be a hypothetical progression of his career from his peak onward. In other words, how would he have progressed (using this model), had he have not struck any injury at all.

His amazing natural abilities coupled with his on-court skills are still something to behold. He was a hybrid in the sense that he had the flair and offensive talent of a Jordan, coupled with the knack for the game, team play and court vision of a Magic... while not falling into the same black hole that many premier guards do during the current Like Mike era.

There's no question in my mind that he would've been able to post some monster seasons.

Grant and Penny... The greatest mistake of the modern era.

By: Eddy

Eddy — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:12:00 +0000

Great article. As a long time Magic fan, I always wondered the 'what if?' scenario with Grant Hill. As you stated in your post, he was a bonafide superstar and seen by some as the heir to M.J. We all know how the story goes, but nevertheless, it's interesting to surmise the possibilities had a healthy Grant Hill existed in Orlando. Obviously it would have been a much different story than it turned out to be. Either way, good stuff Neil.

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:44:58 +0000

Growing up in the Detroit area during Hill's "prime" was awesome, and I think his career is one of the more tragic injury-based stories in the NBA. Awesome article.