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Flashback Friday #5: Grant Hill
Last night, Grant Hill played a team high 37 minutes and led the Phoenix Suns over Kevin Love & the Minnesota Timberwolves with his 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 blocked shot. I know what you're thinking... these numbers don't even compare to Durant's 38 points against the Magic or Lebron's 38 against the Trail Blazers.
Please... let me remind you that Grant Hill is 39 years old and currently the 2nd oldest player in the NBA (Kurt Thomas is one day older). I didn't watch the game, but seeing the box score made me flashback to the 90's... when Hill was a perennial all-star. He was voted in as the starting Eastern Conference all-star forward in 6 of his first 7 seasons (there was no 1999NBA All-Star game, otherwise I guarantee you it would have been 7 out of 7).
Fans can only speculate what Hill's numbers might have been had he not suffered that serious ankle injury in 2000. According to Wikipedia, there are only three players who have numbers that exceed what Hill accomplished during his first six seasons in the NBA: Oscar Robinson, Larry Bird, and LeBron James.
But injuries are a part of the game... and there's no denying they affected Hill's career. Thankfully... last night's performance jogged my memory and reminded me that during the 90's, Grant Hill was among the NBA elite.
The question is...
Are his numbers going to be good enough to land him a spot in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame?
Have a great weekend and sayonara!
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