Grant Hill: Hall of Famer?

[Dick Whitman]

Retired this weekend. Keep in mind that it's the basketball Hall of Fame, not just the NBA Hall of Fame.

http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HILLGR01

Thoughts?

 

[Big Circus]

Without question. His college career might be enough on its own. Add in his pro longevity and usefulness and he's a lock.

 

[The Big Ragu]

I don't see a lock, Big Circus.

Without the injury, he would have had a shot. But as things turned out, he's kind of like a Don Mattingly of the NBA.

I think his college career and the Olympics gets him closer than he might have been, but I'd say he is a long shot -- far from a lock.

The closest comparison I can come up with is Chris Mullin. Except Mullin was part of the Dream Team, had two gold medals, and was a better NBA player for a longer period of time.

I can't see Hill getting in. It's such a tough hall of fame to get into.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Now thinking. ... and looking at who is in. If David Thompson is in, maybe Hill stands a better chance than my initial reaction. College might count for more than I was thinking.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

The basketball HOF includes what he did in college and that will be enough to push him over the top.

Being a great ambassador to the game won't hurt him either.

If the question is, "Is he deserving to make it to the HOF based on solely his NBA career?" I would say no... Although, he may get a bit of a pass because of the injury.

 

[Big Circus]

Mullin never won an NCAA title. Hill got two and played a major role in one of the sport's seminal moments. You're right that it's a hard hall to get into, and I'm probably too high on him, but I think he's in. Ralph Sampson is in purely on college accomplishments, and he never won a title.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Pants ****ter for sure, and perhaps a Hall of Famer.

 

[doctorx]

I'm amazed he played as many as 67 games in one season during his Orlando years.

 

[Big Circus]

You leave George Brett out of this.

(That's now two of my favorite teams' most beloved players I've criticized on this thread. Stay tuned for a vicious attack on Bobby Orr!)

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Mullin isn't a bad comparison. Both players had about 6-7 years where they were one of the best players in the league.

Where Mullin has the edge is that he was still a pretty good player for several years after that, while Hill missed the bulk of three seasons because of injuries and then came back to play the majority of a season before missing the bulk of another season.

Hill had a 5-year stretch where he played in 4, 14, 29, 67 and 21 games...

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Honestly, there's no way he doesn't get in.

 

[Drip]

Now thinking. ... and looking at who is in. If David Thompson is in, maybe Hill stands a better chance than my initial reaction. College might count for more than I was thinking.

Comparing Hill to Thompson is crazy. Anyone who saw David Thompson play in his prime, knows he belongs in the Hall. Hill will get in.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Yeah, Thompson was a no-brainer.

I remember when Hill got injured in Orlando someone referred to him as basketball's Terrell Davis. It was a good comparison at the time... The difference was, Hill came back from it and had 4-5 pretty respectable seasons with Phoenix.

 

[Football_Bat]

Perhaps one of the top 5 citizens to ever play in the NBA. Got that from his parents. Born in Dallas because his dad played for the Cowboys.

But a HOFer? Flip a coin. He lasted 19 years in the Association, which is amazeballs considering all the injuries that consumed several years of his prime. Was outstanding in college of course, which skews the equation.

I hate to say Jack Morris, but ....

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Based solely on what he did on the floor during NBA career, Hill would be a borderline HOF pick.

Add in his college career and that changes pretty dramatically.

Add in that everybody just loves the guy (and justifiably so) and he's pretty close to a lock to get in.

 

[Tarheel316]

I think he gets in and should.

 

[heyabbott]

Based solely on what he did on the floor during NBA career, Hill would be a borderline HOF pick.

Add in his college career and that changes pretty dramatically.

Add in that everybody just loves the guy (and justifiably so) and he's pretty close to a lock to get in.

yes.

He's famous and its a Hall of Fame. Besides its basketball's HOF, its not important.

 

[cyclingwriter]

Tough hall to get into? Compared to hockey, yes. Compared to baseball and football, no.

Hill gets in, but waits a few years.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Tough hall to get into? Compared to hockey, yes. Compared to baseball and football, no.

Hill gets in, but waits a few years.

Agree on all counts.

 

[Webster]

He rarely was the type of player who had moments of brilliance. He was consistently excelent in all aspects of the game, but he wasn't really that type of a player who just dominated. Maybe he would have during that stretch from 28-33 when he wasn't ever healthy except for one year, but it just never happened for him. After the Magic, he was basically a complimentary player.

He's an HOF based on the college and pro career combined, but not just based on his NBA output.