Trivia

Was sent on a blind date with singer Tamia which lead to a long term romance. The two married on July 24, 1999.

Son of football player Calvin Hill a Yale graduate and star NFL running back for the Dallas Cowboys. His mother Janet Hill works in the Pentagon with the secretary of the army.

Grant was an only child, but always wanted to have siblings. His parents, Calvin Hill and Janet Hill, were both only-children and were happy about it.

His father Calvin Hill did not allow him to play organized football, because Calvin didn't want Grant to be compared to him, as sometimes, the expectations were unreal. Calvin instead encouraged Grant to play basketball.

Friends with Queen Latifah.

Played for the Detroit Pistons (94-95 to 99-00), Orlando Magic (00-01 to 06-07), Phoenix Suns (07-08 to 11-12), and Los Angeles Clippers (12-13) in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

When Grant attended South Lakes High School his coach figured he was good enough to skip freshman basketball and go straight to varsity. Grant resisted the offer because he wanted to play with his friends and didn't want to appear better than them. But, when it got back to his friends, they were excited for him and encouraged him to go varsity.

Hill led the Detroit Pistons in points, rebounds and assists during the 1996-1997 season. Hill continued to lead the Pistons in all three categories in the 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 seasons joining Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor as the only players in NBA history to lead their teams in scoring, rebounding and assists more than once. Hill and Chamberlain are the only two players in league history to lead their teams in points, rebounds and assists per game three times.

His mother Janet Hill keeps his Rookie of the Year Award trophy in her work office.

Grant and Tamia welcomed their second daughter Lael Rose born on August 9, 2007.

When the time came to choose a college, Hill's mother wanted him to attend Georgetown, while his father preferred the University of North Carolina. Hill decided to attend Duke University, playing four years with the Blue Devils, and won two national titles in 1991 and 1992.

After his freshman season at Duke, Hill played on the U.S. team at the 1991 Pan American Games, held in Havana, Cuba. This team won on the bronze medal.

Hill also is widely known for his football like pass in a desperation play in an NCAA tournament regional final against Kentucky in 1992. With Duke down 103-102 in overtime and 2.1 seconds remaining after Kentucky's Sean Woods hit a floater, an unguarded Hill heaved the in-bounds pass 75 feet across the court into the hands of teammate Christian Laettner, who dribbled once and spun before pulling up to make the game-winning jumper from just outside the free-throw line as time expired.

Hill ended up sharing the 1995 NBA Rookie of the Year Award honors with Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, becoming the first Piston since Dave Bing in 1966-1967 to win the award.

On April 15, 2000, 7 days before the start of the playoffs, Hill sprained his left ankle in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers. He was told he had a bone bruise, but he was never really told not to play. He continued to play until the first round playoff series against the Miami Heat, in which the pain in his injured ankle got worse and Hill was forced to in the third quarter of Game 2.

He finished third in the 1996-1997 MVP voting, behind winner Karl Malone and runner-up Michael Jordan.

Hill was initially selected for the 2000 Olympics USA Men's Basketball team (a.k.a. Deam Team IV), but could not play due to his ankle injury. He was replaced by Shareef Abdur-Rahim.

After the first six seasons of his career, before his ankle injury, Hill had a total of 9,393 points, 3,417 rebounds and 2,720 assists. Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, and later LeBron James are the only three players in league history to eclipse these numbers after their first six seasons.

For the 1996 NBA All-Star Game (1996), Hill once again led the All-Star fan balloting, this time edging Michael Jordan (Jordan's first All-Star game after returning since retiring in 1993).

Grant Hill was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 3rd pick in the 1994 NBA Draft after graduating from Duke University.

In the 2000 off-season, Hill was an unrestricted free agent and several teams were eager to sign Hill despite his ankle injury. The Chicago Bulls did a video tape with Oprah Winfrey to convince him to sign with the Bulls, the New York Knicks also sent one with 5 celebrities including Jerry Seinfeld. However, when Hill heard Patrick Ewing's name come up in sign and trade talks, he did not want to sign with the Knicks. The Spurs were interested, but could not offer a max contract after Tim Duncan decided to remain with the Spurs. Hill eventually decided to join the Orlando Magic for a 7-year 92 million dollar deal.

During his collegiate career, Hill became the first player in ACC history to collect more than 1,900 points, 700 rebounds, 400 assists, 200 steals and 100 blocked shots.

Hill made history by being the first rookie to lead an NBA All-Star fan balloting in with 1,289,585 votes for the 1995 NBA All-Star Game (1995), narrowly defeating Shaquille O'Neal. In addition, he became the first rookie in any of the four major professional sports leagues to lead all-star fan voting.

The 1999-2000 season was Hill's finest. He averaged 25.8 points while shooting 49% from the field, the season's third highest scoring average, behind 2000 MVP Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson. He also averaged 6.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game.

He was a member of U.S. men's basketball team (a.k.a. Dream Team III) at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. This team won a gold medal.

For the 1995 NBA All-Star Game (1995), Hill wore jersey #35 to honor his father, Calvin Hill. He also wore #35 in the 1996 NBA All-Star Game (1996). Hill's regular #33 was worn by Patrick Ewing in these All-Star games.

During the 1995-1996 season, Hill showcased his all-round abilities by leading the NBA in triple-doubles recording 10 of them for the season.

Hill became the first Detroit Pistons rookie since Isiah Thomas in 1981-1982 to score 1000 points.

As a result of his successful college career, Hill became the eighth player in Duke history to have his jersey number, "33" retired.

His likable personality allowed him to get many endorsement deals such as Fila and Sprite.

As Hill sat on the side lines for the 2000-2001 NBA Season, sympathetic fans had voted him as a starter for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game (2001). It was his sixth all-star team selection, but had to be replaced by Latrell Sprewell on the Eastern Conference roster and Anthony Mason took Hill's spot in the starting lineup for the Eastern Conference. But to reward the fans' faith, Hill put in long hours of rehab.

Fans voted Hill an All-Star starter again in the 2005 NBA All-Star Game, and he led the Eastern Conference All-Star Team to a victory over the West.

In the 2006-2007 season Hill returned from injuries despite numerous rumors surrounding his retirement. He was moved from small forward to the shooting guard position in the Magic lineup. Despite having problems with injuries to his left knee and a tendon in his left ankle, Hill managed to play 65 games, two short of the highest number of games he played over a single season as a member of the Magic.

At the conclusion of the 2004-2005 NBA season, Hill was awarded the Joe Dumars Trophy presented to the NBA Sportsmanship Award Winner.

In the 2004 off-season, the Orlando Magic decided not to protect Hill in the expansion draft for the Charlotte Bobcats. The Bobcats decided to pass on Hill due to his ankle injury and max contract.

He went from being on crutches for 3 months to getting off of those crutches to start the 2000-2001 NBA Season with the Orlando Magic. His wife Tamia even sang the national anthem in the season opener. After the first game of the season he had swelling in his ankle and complained that it hurts. After 4 games Hill's season was over. Doctors had discovered Hill's ankle had fractured again and suggested a second operation.

He was named the Eastern Conference player of the week for the week between November 15th-21st, 2004.

On a January 16th, 2003 game against the Washington Wizards. Hill knew his ankle was fractured, but wanted to play against Michael Jordan one last time. Sensing Hill's physical weakness Jordan went for 42 points that night; Grant Hill scored 2 points then limped off the court. Hill was done for the remainder of the 2002-2003 NBA Season.

Right after a Christmas Day 2002 game against his former team the Detroit Pistons, Hill started having soreness in his ankle again. Initially it was thought to be tendinitis, but after a few weeks it was discovered his ankle had re-fractured again.

Preparing for his third season with the Orlando Magic, few shared Hill's confidence that he'd be able to return. There were articles that were starting to be negative about his lucrative contract and doubting he'd ever return. However, when the 2002-2003 season Grant Hill was back and everyone started to get high hopes again.

Hill decided to sit out for the entire 2003-2004 NBA season. That season the Orlando Magic won only 19 games and had the worst record in the NBA.

He received ankle rotation therapy from specialists in Vancouver, BC during the 2006 off-season and stated that he had regained much motion in his left ankle.

A few weeks after his surgery, He and Tamia celebrated the birth of their first child Myla Grace on January 23, 2002. The Hill family welcomed the addition so they would not be so focused on Grant's ankle injury.

The 2004-2005 season saw a return to the Grant Hill, who was so popular earlier in his career. Hill, though hampered by a bruised left shin that caused him to miss several games, started and played 67 games for the Magic, well over the combined number of games he played for the Magic the previous four seasons.

With Tracy McGrady reaching all-star status the season prior and the addition of free-agents Horace Grant and Patrick Ewing, Sports Illustrated predicted Grant Hill's return would help lead the Magic to the NBA Finals in the 2001-2002 season. However, Hill only lasted 14 games until his ankle drove him to the sidelines. A week before Christmas 2001 he underwent another season ending surgery.

When Hill returned to play against the Pistons in Detroit for the first time since the 2000 sign-and-trade deal, Hill made a bet with Joe Dumars. Hill said the Pistons fans would boo him, while Dumars said they would cheer. It turned out that fans did cheer for Hill in his return.

In the 2009 off-season, Hill received offers from the New York Knicks for the full mid-level exception and the Boston Celtics offering Hill the bi-annual exception. However, On July 10, 2009, Hill decided to re-sign with the Phoenix Suns for a 2-year deal worth around $3 million with the second year at Hill's option.

During the 2005-2006 season Hill was once again injured frequently as nagging groin injuries kept him sidelined for much of the first half of the season, limiting him to 21 games. He had a sports hernia that was caused by an uneven pressure on Hill's feet while he was running, due to concerns that he could re-aggravate the injury on his left ankle if it got too much pressure. Hill underwent surgery for the hernia and stated that he would consider retirement if he had to get another surgery.

On July 11th 2007 signed with the Phoenix Suns for $1.83 million with a $1.97 million player option for the 2008-2009 season.

Hill appeared in all 82 games for the first time in his career during the 2008-2009 NBA Season.