Grant Hill: Little Boy Blue Devil Sitting on a Fortune

A look at the man with USD 180 million in his hand

Grant Hill has been retired for a while, but still feels the effects of his career on four different teams. Perhaps it’s better to say that his bank account is feeling it as it grows more and more. Grant Hill had such an incredible college basketball career with the Duke University Blue Devils, he was one of the most sought after and anticipated draft picks of 1994 making headlines and US gambling news.

• Hill became the first rookie since Isiah Thomas to score 1,000 points
• Hill was the 1st since Bird to average 20 pts, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in a season

• Hill had endorsements with Sprite, McDonalds, TAG Heuer, Fila and Adidas

Being a victim of the hype definitely paid in dividends for Hill as he was one of the highest paid players in the history of the NBA. It also helped that he was incredible his first year sharing NBA Rookie of the Year honors with the legendary Jason Kidd. As one of the best all-around players in the game at the time, Hill was offered number endorsement deals that led him to his fortune of USD 180 million.

From Duke University to the Detroit

Grant Hill had two parents who wanted him to go to two different Universities. While his NFL retired father wanted him to go to University of North Carolina, his mother wanted him to go to Georgetown University. Although both Universities had good programs, Hill chose Duke where he won back to back national titles in 1991 and 1992 making it the first time a University won consecutive years since UCLA. Even after Christian Laetner and Bobby Hurley went to the NBA, Hill was still able to lead Duke to another NCAA Final.

His loss of the final game as well as that last season showed the country what kind of player Hill really was earning him the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year award for being the first player in conference history to gain 1,900 points, 700 rebounds, 400 assists and blocked shots. In 1994, Hill went to the Detroit Pistons where he became the first rookie since Isiah Thomas to score 1,000 points and share Rookie of the Year with Jason Kidd. Hill would have been money in the bank within US gambling laws.

Although Hill earned a bit over USD 2,750,000 his rookie year, it was part of a contract he already signed for USD 31 million for five years. Being the first rookie, in any of the four major professional sports to lead in All-star fan voting, Hill was a magnet for endorsement deals. In his second season for the Pistons Hill lead the league in triple doubles. The next season he became the first player since Larry Bird to average 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in a single season.

Continuing the lead the league in triple-doubles, Hill also assumed the position of a point guard and a forward combined, which increased his assist percentage. Hill became the only players along with Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor to lead their teams in scoring, rebounding and assists for more than one year. Shortened by the lockout, Hill was able to get some time off. Hill finished his last year with the Pistons unable to get further in the playoffs and with an ankle injury.

Heading South to Florida

As a free agent, Hill signed to the Orlando Magic for USD 92 million for six years. The only drawback was Orlando lost two players to Detroit as compensation. Hill’s ankle problems hurt his progress playing only four games in his first season, 14 in his second and 29 in his third season. Orlando certainly lost money on a player who was making well over USD 10 million a years to sit on the bench.

By the time Hill received his ankle surgery, he contracted a severe antibiotic resistant infection which could’ve killed him. The 2005-2005 season saw a healthier Hill, but he was burdened by bruised left shin injury but managed to get some accolades for his 19.7 points average. As respectable as Hill’s image was, a punter wouldn’t touch him at this point through online sportsbooks in the US or otherwise.

The rest off Hill’s time at Orlando was with continuous minor injuries that limited his play. Signing with the Phoenix Sun’s in 2007, Hill saw a fraction of what he received in Orlando due to his injuries earning less than USD 2 million a year. With the Sun’s he was able to win a playoff series. Hill decided to stay with Phoenix until 2012 when he joined the LA Clippers and retired just after one season with a bruised bone in his right knee.

Those plagued by injury, Hill made the most out of the healthy times he had in his career where he still remains one of the richest ballplayers in NBA history. Throughout his career, Hill signed endorsement deals with Sprite, McDonalds, TAG Heuer, Fila, Adidas, Nike and AT&T. With appearances in film, television and video, Hill had kept alive his image. Hill finally took a job as a sports announcer for CBS and Turner Sports.