If more surgery needed, Hill will retire http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1611866 Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. -- Grant Hill's next comeback attempt will be his last. The question the six-time NBA All-Star couldn't answer Monday, though, was when can the Orlando Magic expect him back on the court? Hill hopes to return by February, but he conceded it might be best for him to wait until the 2004-05 season to play again on the surgically repaired left ankle. The injury has limited to him to 46 games since signing a $93 million contract three summers ago. "I'm prepared to do whatever it takes. If it means sitting out a year, I'll do it," Hill said. "I don't want to do it. I want to play. But at the same time, if that's going to help me to further my career, then I'll do that." Hill suffered a stress fracture to his ankle while playing for Detroit in the 2000 playoffs. He signed with the Magic as a free agent that offseason, hoping that teaming with Tracy McGrady would lead Orlando back to the NBA Finals. In March, he had surgery for the fourth time. Although he's confident doctors fixed the problem when they broke a bone in his heel to better align the ankle, he's not yet able to run and isn't anywhere close to being ready to test it on the court. Instead, he's spending hours this summer, exercising, riding a stationary bike and working out in a swimming pool at the Magic's training facility. "I'm just staying as active as I'm allowed to be," Hill said. "We're being a little bit more cautious. ... This time last year, six months after surgery, I was already on the court, working my body, trying to get ready for training camp." Hill played four games three seasons ago. He played 14 in 2001-02 and 29 last season when he averaged 14.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists -- numbers he felt demonstrated he is still capable of performing at a high level. If his ankle doesn't hold up in his next comeback, Hill doesn't view a fifth operation as an option. "If I had to go through another surgery, it's just not meant to be," he said. The NBA denied the Magic salary cap relief for Hill in July, rejecting the team's argument that there was no realistic way the 6-foot-8 forward can play this season. The medical exemption would have been worth about $4.9 million, enough money to pursue a potential starter. Hill, who will earn $13.3 million this season, said he was encouraged that the findings by an independent doctor seem to suggest there's a chance he will be able resume his career sooner, rather than later. At the same time, he was disappointed that the team was not able to seek immediate help. "That would have been awesome," said Hill, who found it difficult watching the Magic lose in the playoffs last spring. "It's not the easiest thing in the world and not something I'd wish on anybody, but I'm not looking for any sympathy," he said. "It's the cards I've been dealt, and I've got to deal with it. You fall down, you pick yourself back up. That's what I'm trying to do." Well it's about damn time. He won't be back...
Grant Hill was immensely talented. It's sad to see such a promising player injured and career shortened. He was MJ-lite. Not freakish athletic but could do so many things so effortlessly. Great players make the game easy. Hill was a great player in his prime.
They didn't his fourth season, despite stellar statistics, and playing 81 games, Detroit only won 37, and that team had Brian Williams, who put up better numbers that year than Yao Ming and the team had Jerry Stackhouse. 97-98 Pistons Roster Dumars, Joe Henson, Steve Hill, Grant Hunter, Lindsey Long, Grant Mahorn, Rick McKie, Aaron Montross, Eric O'Bannon, Charles Pollard, Scot Ratliff, Theo Reid, Don Sealy, Malik Stackhouse, Jerry Williams, Brian Williams, Jerome
That's because Francis is also a great player. I don't put much blame on his injury during the Pistons' playoffs. That was the catalyst, but it wasn't a terribly unusual injury he had. Either his doctors screwed up (repeatedly) or his body is not cooperating in healing properly.
lol Hill didnt make the playoffs in his 4th season, but he did make the playoffs in his 2nd and 3rd seasons. Overall, Hill led the pistons to the playoffs in 4 of his 6 seasons, including 2 seasons playing in the same division as the champion Bulls and other 50 win teams like Charlotte and Indiana. Id take a healthy Hill over Francis everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.
And Steve led the team to 45 games his second season, as a matter of fact they had similar years their first two seasons, and Steve was hurt his third year, but I guess he should have also led the Rockets to a winning record that year, and his fourth season with less talent Steve had a BETTER year than Grant's. The point isn't who would you take, the point is you guys are unfair to Steve. LOL .
PG, Hill's teams won 46 and 54 games in his 2nd and 3rd season. In Steve's 2nd and 3rd healthy seasons, his teams won 45 and 42 games. Both played in arguably, the toughest division in the NBA. The tie breaker is, Grant's teams made the playoffs and Steve's didn't. The other tie breaker for me is, Grant never had a problem getting his teamates involved or executing an offense. Both players are great 2nd options, but not someone who you want as a 1st option. I would rather have Grant Hill as my 2nd option. Grant is also much more diverse than Steve. I agree that they are comparable players, but I pick Grant because of the aforementioned reasons (unselfish, gets his teamates involved and can execute an offense). BTW, I am not being unfair to Steve. You brought Steve's name into this after responding to Riet. Just because RIET wants to say that Hill was a great player in his prime, doesn't mean he is trying to knock Steve at the same time.
But he does knock Steve, even though to be fair to Reit, he's one of the more objective posters when it comes to Francis and the rest of the team in general. Grant is not that much better than Steve in his prime, and you admit it, but Reit calls Grant a great player and at the same time continually knocking Steve and who with the exception of one year have had similar careers and have put up similar numbers. Your analysis of one being selfish vs. the other is totally subjective. Steve gets knocked for not maturing but Grant had a very bad year his fourth season playing on a team with more talent. You also continue to totally ignore that fact also, but again, if you admit they are similar I really have no argument with you, but for someone to always knock Steve and then call Grant a great player rings a bit hollow to me.
RIET only has one post in this thread. I don't see him knocking Francis. pgabriel, you are the first one who brought up Francis's name.
The way I look at it... Hill could do anything Francis could do, but was taller ... and not quite as stupid. I wish stuff like that would only happen to the Rasheed Wallaces of the world...
Unfortunately, I think he is done. Actually, he was done three years ago. He is lucky that he still got to sign that contract.
