Grant Hill becomes first active player elected member to Hall of Fame's board of governors – NBA
Grant Hill, the small forward of the Phoenix Suns was elected as a member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Board of Governors on Tuesday.
It was for the first time that an active National Basketball Association player is going to serve on the board. Hill will serve the 22-member board for over a span of three years.
In a press release Hill said, “It is truly an honour to be elected as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Governors and to represent the living history of basketball. It is important for the current generation of players to
get involved with the Hall to help recognize the greatest in the game who have gone before us.”
This group supervises the management of the Hall of Fame by promoting the Hall’s mission “to celebrate the greatest moments and people in basketball on a worldwide basis” as former Phoenix Suns’ owner Jerry Colangelo chaired this group.
On Hill’s inclusion, Jerry Colangelo said, “Grant Hill has been one of the most dedicated, honourable and well-respected individuals the game has ever seen,” Colangelo added. “The Board recognized that Grant has offered a high level of leadership and integrity
both on and off the court for so many years at all levels of the game.”
Now it will be interesting to see whether Hill will become the first player without a ring to get an induction in the Hall of Fame. He is definitely worthy of a shot at the Hall in spite of the fact that the prime of his career was hampered by injuries.
He is the only NBA player who has won the Sportsmanship Awards three times and is the best ambassador to the game and a good teacher for young players.
Hill is considered one of the best players of the game, as he often led his team in points, boards and assists. Grant remained a co-Rookie in 1995 and was selected as an All-Star on seven occasions since he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons as a third overall
pick back in the 1994 NBA Draft.
Grant helped the Duke Blue Devils win its two NCAA championships, after which Hill declared his name in the 1994 NBA Draft. On August 3, 2000 the Pistons traded Hill to the Orlando Magic and on July 11, 2007 he was picked up by the Phoenix Suns as a free
agent.
The first six seasons of his career were Hall of Fame worthy as well. He successively made 20 points in each game. He averaged 21.4-9.0-7.3 in the 1996-97 season and tossed up his career-high 25.8 in 1999-00. Hill made 9,393 points, 3,417 rebounds and 2,720
assists, after playing six seasons. These numbers were surpassed by only by three players, LeBron James, Oscar Robertson, and Larry Bird at that time.
Hill was fast approaching the Hall of Fame, until he missed the 2003-04 season altogether. However, he did not give up and rediscovered himself as a brilliant role player with the Suns and pulled out four straight vigorous seasons together. At present, Hill
is 38 and still in good shape, as he averages 13.2 points per game while playing.
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