Christian Petersen/NBAE/Getty

When Coach Alvin praises Grant Hill, he is definitely preaching to this choir. And after last night’s squeaker over the short-handed Jazz he was singing them to the high heaven.

After giving due props to Channing Frye’s career night, Mickael Pietrus’s clutch play at both ends of the court, and another routine 20-14 night by Steve Nash, Gentry got down to the crux of the matter and, not incidentally, the real key to this victory.

Coach started off slowly, saying, “I can’t say enough about Grant Hill”, but then proceeded to give it a very good try.

“The job he did on Deron Williams was really outstanding. Grant doesn’t get enough credit for what he does, and in my mind he definitely belongs on the All Defense team. We ask him to play point guards, power forward, whatever, and he does it well night after night.”

Amen, brother!

Especially the part about not getting enough credit, even right here in Planet Orange. Williams is the straw that stirs Utah’s drink and is widely regarded as one of the game’s premier point guards, yet Hill pretty much took him out of his game. Williams was 2 for 11 from the field and had six turnovers, at least half of them for carrying the ball— a sure sign a player is being totally frustrated by defensive pressure.

And as Gentry notes, this was by no means a one-night stand. Hill’s been doing this all year, but it’s hard to generate much national notoriety when your team is struggling to stay above .500. But whether anybody’s noticing or not, Hill has quietly (what else?) turned into Shawn Marion at the defensive end. In his heyday here Marion guarded whoever the Suns felt needed the most guarding on any given night, especially in the fourth period — and remember Marion was in his 20s while Hill is in his very late thirties.

Belong on the All Defense team? Heck, Hill should be captain of it.

By Brad G.Faye, Suns.com
Posted: Feb. 4, 2010

When Grant Hill and Steve Nash each re-signed with the Suns in the summer of 2009, some were surprised to see the pair of veterans stay with a team that experts didn’t even project to make the playoffs.

Asked Nash the day he agreed to terms with the ballclub, “Even if you go to the team that comes in second, what does it matter? If you don’t win it, you don’t win it. Obviously, you want to win a championship but chasing that can be really fleeting and it’s a much more stable and challenging outlook to be a part of group that you really love and enjoy. I really love Phoenix, being a part of this community and the fans have been fantastic for me.”

Said Hill the day he re-signed, “You want to figure out what’s the best situation and it’s not necessarily always financial. I enjoy coming into work every day and being around those guys. I think the team is good and the weight of the expectations that were here when I arrived two years ago aren’t there now. I think it’s a great opportunity because people aren’t really expecting us to do anything, and sometimes that’s a good position to be in.”

The position did indeed prove a good one as that following season, the duo of Nash and Hill not only helped the team qualify for the postseason, but went so far as the Western Conference Finals, pushing the eventual-champion Lakers to six games. But it was far from being the first time the two had proven critics wrong.

Back in 2004, the Suns took what was then perceived as a chance on Nash, by signing the 30-year-old point guard whose best years were allegedly behind him. With Nash being the type of player who relied heavily on his speed, athleticism and court vision, many teams raised their collective eyebrows about signing him to a contract as long as the one the Suns had agreed to give – six years.

“I think a lot of teams worried about whether or not he could withstand the grind of an 82-game schedule followed by whatever happened in the playoffs, but obviously he’s proven them all wrong,” Suns Head Coach Alvin Gentry said. “For us, I don’t think his still playing in the league or playing at this level is a surprise because we see how well he takes care of himself. But I’m sure from the outside looking in, it could surprise you.”

Fast forward more than six years later, and those outsiders have seen the guard they deemed past his prime earn back-to-back MVP awards, make five All-Star appearances and help lead his team to three Western Conference Finals. This season, Nash is still continuing to amaze with his excelled play, despite celebrating his 37th birthday on February 7th.

Against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 19, he scored 15 points and handed out 15 assists in a 106-98 win. One game later, the playmaker came out and contributed 17 points and 14 assists during a victory over the Wizards. Nash finished the month of January averaging an NBA-best 12.1 assists per game, his highest in a single month since December of 2007.

“I think you see it year in and year out, he just has a knack for making everyone better,” forward Josh Childress said. “He’s obviously an excellent passer, but what makes him so effective is his craftiness in the lane. Opponents respect his ability there and because he demands so much attention, it allows Steve to dish it out to other players and get them open shots.”

Guard Goran Dragic agreed, “He just makes it so much easier for everybody, and you always know he’s going to find a way to either create for himself or for others.”

Nash not only finds ways to help the Suns compete on a nightly basis, but also finds time to make some history every now and then, as well. Matched up against rookie point guard John Wall and the Washington Wizards on December 5, Nash scored 20 points behind perfect 8-for-8 shooting from the field. Combined with his then-season-high 17 assists, the performance marked just the fifth time since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77 that a player handed out 17 or more assists in a game without missing a field goal. Joining John Stockton, Mark Jackson and Magic Johnson in accomplishing the feat, Nash is the only one of the playmakers to have done so on two separate occasions.

Odds are it won’t be the last time Nash finds his name mentioned with such distinguished company. Nash could surpass both Gary Payton and Isiah Thomas on the NBA’s all-time list before the end of the regular season. Such a finish would rank him sixth, just behind one of the game’s all-time greats, Oscar Robertson.

“I always dreamed of playing in the NBA, but I never envisioned being on the same lists as the guys I idolized,” Nash said. “It’s really surreal to sit back and look at, but it isn’t something I spend time doing. Maybe one day when I’m watching a game with my grandkids and I see my name on one of those lists, I’ll sit back and think about what it all meant.”

Forward Hakim Warrick, who credits Nash as a key reason why he chose to sign with the Suns, said his admiration for one of the game’s top 10 all-time assist leaders dates back before Nash had even cracked the top 20.

“I was a big fan of his in college, and I just think he’s the best pure point guard today,” the former Syracuse standout said. “When you get a chance to play with a guy like Steve, you have to take advantage. Not a lot of players get that type of opportunity in their career. He’s one of the best shooters in the game, but still remains a pass-first guy.”

But while stories about Nash’s selflessness or his ability to stay in such great shape are anything but new, what isn’t often discussed is how contagious the attitude he brings into the locker room can be for teammates.

“He’s our leader and people definitely follow him,” Dragic said. “It’s my third year here and I’ve seen the players who follow him and the progress that comes from doing so. Players watch what they eat more, and I’ve tried to do the same. I may be skinny now, but I know by following the way Steve takes care of himself, that when I’m older, I’ll be in much better shape.”

This season marks Childress’ first with the Suns, and the forward said being teammates with Nash is indeed a unique experience.

“This is the first team I’ve ever been on where there are contests regarding how well you eat,” Childress said. “Everybody will get on Jared Dudley just for eating a slice of pizza, and that’s just different, and it starts with Steve and his strict regimen. He’s just methodical in how he does it. He’s like a machine, and that’s why he’s able to play at the level he plays at his age.”

Helping to make things a little easier for Nash is that he isn’t the only potential android on the Suns roster. Grant Hill is also managing to play at a high level despite having turned 38 at the start of the season. The two both say it helps to know they aren’t alone in their attempt to extend already successful careers for as long as possible.

“Just having a guy close to me in age with the same interests and being at the same point in our careers, we can certainly understand what the other is going through,” Hill said. “So to have him as a teammate, a friend and a confidant, definitely makes it easier for me to get through the practices, the travel and the grind of an NBA season.”

Like Nash, the veteran forward could also join some exclusive company if he maintains his current level of play. Hill scored 21 points against the Blazers on January 14, surpassing the 16,000-point mark in the process. Through the month of January, the former Duke Blue Devil was averaging 14.3 points per contest. Should Hill finish the season averaging 14 points per game or above, he would join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Reggie Miller and Robert Parish as the only players to finish with such numbers at the age of 38 or older.

“Grant is amazing,” Nash said of his teammate and friend. “He’s first of all a fantastic person and human being, but also an unbelievable teammate. His intelligence, work ethic, class, skill and athleticism are all unbelievable. I’ve always been a self starter, but he definitely inspires all of us with his consistency and commitment and it’s been amazing to watch.”

Hill has another commonality with Nash in being seen as a potential risk at the time of his signing. When he joined the Suns back in 2007, many dubbed the transaction as a gamble because of the injuries that had plagued him in seasons past. While the forward was coming off a 65-game campaign with the Magic, in the six campaigns prior, he had only averaged 22.5 games played per season. Many questioned how much of a difference the Suns training staff could make to a player who had suffered so many injuries – including a life-threatening staph infection in 2003.

The answer has since been loud and clear, and in his first three campaigns as a Sun, Hill has played in an average of 77.6 games per season, including a flawless 82 back in 2008-09. But what is perhaps most impressive is not just the fact that Hill is participating in so many games, but that he is a proven difference maker thanks in large part to his incredibly efficient ability to score the basketball.

He made 8-of-9 shots en route to a 21-point performance against his former Magic team on November 18. In a win over the Warriors on December 2, the forward scored 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field. In fact, after connecting on eight or more field goals in seven different contests during the 2009-10 campaign, Hill has already enjoyed seven such performances this season, following his 11-of-18 outing at Portland on December 7.

“I think he’s a great, great basketball player, and I think he’s the most consistent player we have,” said Gentry, who also coached Hill as a youngster with Detroit. “He comes to practice every day and plays extremely hard for his team. Every coach should have an opportunity to coach a guy like him at some point in their career.”

But while every game played appears to add to Hill’s basketball legacy, it is off it where he continues to prove that true value which can’t always be measured with statistics.

“I’ve obviously learned a lot from Steve Nash in my career because we play the same position,” Dragic said. “But away from the court, I’d say I’ve learned the same from both Steve and Grant Hill.”

“Grant has spent a lot of time in this league, and I think that’s important for young guys like me to recognize when wanting to get questions answered. He shows us that if we put in the same type of work that he does, we can stay in this league for a very long time.”

The leadership and professionalism of the All-Star forward isn’t reserved for just helping the youngsters on the team, however. Former Suns teammate Jason Richardson said he learned some valuable lessons from playing alongside Hill.

“His whole character on and off the court are things I’ve taken and tried to adapt,” the guard said. “How he carries himself, how hard he works and how that work ethic has allowed him to continue playing at a high level are things you look to use as a mold to apply to your career.”

Even opponents can’t help but marvel at the level Hill is playing at this point in his career.

“He’s unbelievable and I think he’s playing the best basketball of his post-injury career,” Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. “He’s a true professional and a tough cover for anyone because he attacks the defense very well. More than anything, you’re happy for him because of the
injuries that he’s gone through and it’s tough to come back from those types of injuries.”

Any team in the league would benefit greatly from having either a player of Nash or Hill’s caliber, but for the Suns to have both men in the same locker room is something assistant coach Dan Majerle said should not be taken for granted.

“They don’t miss a beat,” the Ring of Honor legend said. “It’s a testament to how hard they work and all the little things they do to take care of their body. They understand everything that goes into being a professional basketball player, including the things that take place before practice and after practice. They show that age isn’t anything but a number and if you work hard to take care of yourself, you can play for a long time.”

Suns Athletic Trainer Aaron Nelson agreed that a lot of what has helped make Nash and Hill successful are things that take place away from the hardwood altogether.

“Both guys work tremendously hard and are among the most hard-working guys I’ve worked with,” said Nelson who has been with the organization since 1993. “Grant is the usually the first guy here every morning after he takes his girls to school. And it’s the same with Steve as far as putting in a ton of work and effort both before and after practice in the weight room and the training room. The way it’s looking now, if they keep up at this pace and continue taking care of themselves the way they do, there’s no reason they can’t play for another two or three years.”

As far as how much longer Hill believes the dynamic duo can continue to play in this league, the forward doesn’t see the end coming any time soon.

“I think we both understand that if you take care of yourself, there isn’t any reason you can’t continue to play as you get older,” he said. “I’m not one to look too far ahead into the future, but I don’t see either of us slowing down anytime soon. I think we both got a lot more left in the tank, and I look forward everyday to coming out in practices and in games and proving that. Having somebody like Steve who has the same mindset, the same attitude and the same approach just makes it that much easier for me. It’s nice to think we can both play for as long as we’re both mentally still up for it.”

While it may sound crazy to think that Nash and Hill could still be wearing Suns uniforms that much farther down the line, if there is anything the two have taught fans during their time in the Valley, it’s this – don’t ever bet against them.

by CBS Sports

It might be too early to tell if the Phoenix Suns’ recent revival is merely a mirage, but Grant Hill’s appears to be anything but.

Hill looks to continue his scoring surge while helping the visiting Suns win a season-high fifth straight overall and ninth in a row over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.

Hill was among several Suns that struggled after the trade that brought in Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus and Marcin Gortat last month, with the team dropping seven of the first nine with its new lineup.

Hill averaged 11.4 points – 3.6 below his season average – and 43.2 percent shooting in the first eight games of that stretch before spraining his knee Jan. 9.

He missed the next two games, but the NBA’s third-oldest active player has looked rejuvenated since returning. Hill recorded 21 points in a 115-111 win over Portland last Friday, scored 25 in a 129-121 victory at New York on Monday and had 27 points and 12 rebounds as the Suns beat Cleveland 106-98 on Wednesday.

“I think, at first (after the trades), I was a little more tentative, trying to get these guys involved and trying to figure them out,” Hill said. “I think the (two games) out, you can certainly learn and watch them. I realized that I had to continue to be aggressive and look for my stuff.”
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By Josh Greene, Suns.com
Posted: Jan. 14, 2011

Grant returned to the court after a very short recovery from a knee sprain during a Suns vs. Trail Blazers game to accomplish not only a personal best but help lead the Suns to victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

In the third quarter of the game, Grant became the 15th player in NBA history to score over 16,000 career points. The achievement also lead the Suns to a 115-111 win over Portland.

Despite the games rocky start for Grant, who dodged injury again in the first half of the game after knocking knees with Portland SF Nicolas Batum, Grant returned to the court to achieve this great feat.

With the NBA All-Star Game quickly approaching, this major career accomplishment may put Grant back in the All-Star game as well. Check out thorough coverage of Grant’s great achievement and a recap of the Phoenix vs. Portland game over in the NBA Newsroom by clicking here

ORLANDO, Fla. — There are times when a graying Grant Hill wonders why he’s still chasing kids — some literally half his age — through screens, battling them for rebounds, and taking charges from bruisers that make him ache the next day.

Then he answers himself:

Because he still can. And he still can do it surprisingly well. And he feels great.

Hill, at age 38, has given himself an extension on a basketball career that almost ended years ago, reaping the benefits now of the seasons he lost in his prime.

Anyone waiting for his pre-retirement tour around the league, and his expected start in politics, better prepare to wait a lot longer. There are too many career milestones out there awaiting him.

Hill is the third-oldest player in NBA today, trailing Shaquille O’Neal in Boston and Kurt Thomas in Chicago (who both also are 38), but he likely will outlast the other two.

“The way I feel now, I want to go another couple of seasons,” he told FanHouse Thursday night before another very efficient performance for his Phoenix Suns. “I’d like to be playing when I’m 40.”

Hill is expected to receive an unusually warm welcome for a visiting player when his Suns play in Charlotte against the Bobcats Saturday night. Hill spent four years at nearby Duke University, leading them to back-to-back NCAA titles (1991, ’92), and his return to the area as an elder statesman has been marked by increasing admiration.
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By Stefan Swiat, Suns.com

One of the toughest mental and physical hurdles to overcome in the NBA is performing well on the second night of back-to-back games.

Picture this. You’re playing the Lakers in Los Angeles and after chasing Kobe Bryant around for 48 minutes, you board a plane that gets back into Phoenix at 2 a.m.

After talking to your wife about the sale of your Orlando home, you attempt to go to sleep at around 3:30 a.m., but your 3 year old won’t let you because she’s 3 years old. At 4:30 a.m. you finally start drifting off, but now you can’t sleep because you have visions of Carmelo Anthony, the very player you’ll be defending in approximately 15 hours.

That was the exact scenario that Suns forward Grant Hill faced the yesterday. And while that predicament would be difficult for any player, it’s even more daunting for a 38 year old.

Considering his age, his position and those circumstances, conventional wisdom would predict that Hill would most likely be fairly atrocious on the second night of those back-to-back games. Think again.
(more…)

It’s been seven years since methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nearly took Grant Hill’s life. Since then, the Suns forward has dedicated himself to raising awareness to the deadly Staph infection through his involvement in Stop MRSA Now.

As part of the Stop MRSA Now sweepstakes, CLICK HERE for your chance to enter to win a trip to Phoenix for a meet-and-greet with Hill and to watch his Suns in action for a night. The sweepstakes ends October 29, and there’s no purchase necessary to enter.

“When I was diagnosed with an MRSA infection, it was hard to get information about the illness or even how to help prevent the spread of it,” Hill said. “This infection is becoming an issue in community settings across the country and that is why, as an athlete and a father, I am joining STOP MRSA Now to offer a playbook on prevention so that everyone can get in the game to help reduce the spread of MRSA.”

Hill is a partner in the Stop MRSA Now Coalition’s “Equip Them Well” program, an initiative to help teach families and sports teams about practical MRSA prevention steps, such as washing hands and disinfecting equipment with a bleach solution. Like so many others who have been affected by MRSA, a potentially life-threatening antibiotic resistant Staph bacteria, Hill understands the importance of prevention, both in the locker room and on the court.

Although there is still much research to be done about MRSA, STOP MRSA Now members are urging others to help reduce the spread of MRSA with the following five-point plan, from the STOP MRSA Now playbook:

1. Scrub up – Wash hands for at least 15 seconds (enough time to sing “Happy Birthday” twice), or use an alcohol-based hand rub sanitizer
2. Wipe it down – Use a bleach solution to disinfect surfaces (1 tablespoon of disinfecting bleach diluted in 1 quart of water)
3. Cover your cuts – Keep any nicks or wounds covered until healed
4. Keep to yourself – Do not share personal items
5. Use a barrier – Keep a towel or clothing between skin and shared equipment

For more information on MRSA, CLICK HERE.
To enter to meet Grant Hill, CLICK HERE.

What can you expect from the newest updates to Grant Hill’s website?

More functionality, more access, and easier use of features, and the capability to view Grant Hill videos on your phone! Most of the changes are already in place, and the designer behind it says that the mobile videos will be coming shortly after a few more tweaks are made.

For now, enjoy an updated navigation, a live twitter feed of Grant’s personal twitter account right from the homepage, and a refined video catalogue experience for better viewing.

Check back soon on your mobile device to watch videos on the go!

Phoenix Suns forward Grant Hill has exercised the one-year player option on his contract and will return to Phoenix for the 2010-11 season, the club announced today.

“We’re thrilled that Grant has decided to exercise his option and return to the Suns next season,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr. “He is a critical part of our success, both because of his skill as a player and also his leadership and professionalism that help guide our team. Grant sums up what the Phoenix Suns are all about.”

The 6-8, 225-pound forward is coming off a 2009-10 regular season in which he averaged 11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds, his highest rebounding average since 2002-03 and his most total rebounds (445) in a single season since 1999-00. In the playoffs, Hill averaged 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds, second-most on the squad, in the Suns’ run to the 2010 Western Conference Finals, the deepest postseason run of Hill’s career.

“The decision to stay in Phoenix was easy,” said Hill. “Our team’s success on the court last season was the result of the efforts of a great group of guys and I’m looking forward to building on that with them and being a part of this team next season.”

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By J. Michael Falgoust, USA TODAY

“I don’t know if that answers your question,” he says politely, so careful to address every detail that he’ll quip about his age when he forgets. “Wait, what was the question?”

He’s 37, which by NBA standards is ancient, especially for this Phoenix Suns forward, a seven-time All-Star who missed significant portions of four seasons during his prime because of six surgeries to his left foot and ankle for stress fractures and a life-threatening staph infection.

The patchwork rebuilding effort included skin grafts, six screws, a titanium plate and cutting a wedge from the foot to realign it. The foot has restricted Hill’s jumping ability, but not his sense of humor or purpose.

As he thought of the Western Conference finals, with the Suns trailing the Los Angeles Lakers going into Wednesday night’s Game 2 in Los Angeles, “No one is talking about my health. They may be talking about my age or what I can or can’t do, but they’re not talking about my health.

“That is something I’m proud of.”

Hill isn’t just with the Suns. He started 81 regular-season games — and all 11 in the postseason — and he’s their best one-on-one defender. His 6-8 frame disrupted Andre Miller in the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers and Manu Ginobili in the second round against the San Antonio Spurs.

His assignment got significantly tougher with the Lakers‘ Kobe Bryant, who scored 40 in Game 1, as Hill tries to inspire the Suns past last year’s champs and to their first NBA Finals since 1993.

“He’s the best player in the game. He’s going to get points,” Hill said of Bryant, 31. “You’re just … trying to prevent him getting the ball.”

The role is a major adjustment for Hill, once considered the heir apparent to Michael Jordan, the baby face of the NBA when he was drafted third overall by the Detroit Pistons in 1994 out of Duke.

Hill became the first rookie voted to start in an All-Star Game. He averaged 21.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists in his first six seasons.

But he played hurt during the playoffs, the impetus for his physical deterioration, before going to the Orlando Magic as a free agent in 2000. He missed 199 games from injuries in his first three seasons and 93 games in his last three.

He has missed 13 games in three seasons with Phoenix, averaging 12.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Hill credits Duke University Hospital with the turnaround after he went there voluntarily seven years ago.

With All-Star point guard Steve Nash, 36, Hill has shown invaluable leadership. Phoenix is loaded with young talent, such as center Robin Lopez (second season), point guard Goran Dragic (second), forward Lou Amundson (fourth) and forward Channing Frye (fifth).

“The youth on our team has played such a big part in our success,” Suns general manager Steve Kerr says. “But you’ve got to have a mentor. That’s why our young guys have played so well. (Hill is) an unbelievably smart player, a clutch player. He just knows what he’s doing.”

Despite being so accomplished, Hill had never advanced past the first playoff round. He shied from being the story, especially after the Portland series. “I was embarrassed there was all this talk about me. I’ve always been about what we’ve accomplished as a unit,” he says.

He is more comfortable with how he’s viewed today than in previous seasons.

“When I was in Detroit, it was almost too perfect. I didn’t even like it, with these perfect parents, this perfect childhood,” says Hill, whose father, Calvin, was an NFL running back — a “Renaissance man” to his son — and whose mother, Janet, is an attorney. “Everything was just easy. Going through those struggles … and now being on this stage where everyone’s watching, I think that might’ve won people’s respect.

“I kind of like who I am now. In terms of my career, the injury was horrible. In my development as a human being, it’s been good. I am better than who I was.”

A man of strong character

Hill will take the lead to help players even on the opposing team so they don’t experience his regret by rushing back from injury.

In the opening playoff series, Portland guard Brandon Roy returned for Game 4, eight days after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Hill was amazed. Before Roy would spark his team to victory in that game, Hill offered words of caution.

“We saw each other at the beginning of the game as captains, and I said, ‘Hey man, just make sure you’re being smart,’ ” Hill says.

“I don’t know if that was the right thing, or an inappropriate thing, to say. … I always feel like if someone’s coming back from an injury, wait another week to be safe. I wish there was somebody who held me back.”

Hill’s words are as honest as his efforts, as many will attest. The diligent person off court is reflected in his determination on it.

“He’s one of my favorite people I’ve ever been around, athlete or non-athlete,” says Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who coached Hill in Orlando. “I just had so much respect for him. People were killing him (for not playing). There was no way he could play. He showed up at every practice. He went on every trip.

“He swam. We called him ‘Mark Spitz‘ because he was in the pool for hours a day trying to rehab, knowing there was probably no chance he was going to play. But he just wanted an opportunity.”

Hill didn’t develop these qualities when he attended Duke, where, as an underclassman, he helped deliver the first national championships for coach Mike Krzyzewski in 1991 and ’92.

Hill already had them, which has served him well in keeping his career afloat amid turmoil.

“He didn’t want to take money and go. That’s just not who he is,” says Krzyzewski, who regularly speaks with Hill and considers him a friend even as his three daughters see Hill as a big brother. “He owed it to himself and the people he made agreements with to do his best. He doesn’t have to be ‘the show.’

“He knows what it means to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and wait in line. There’s nobody like him.”

Hill reminds Kerr, who won three NBA titles as a role player with Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, of former teammate Ron Harper, who once averaged as many as 23 points with the Los Angeles Clippers. He lost much of his athleticism because of a knee injury and morphed into a defensive stopper who averaged 7.6 points.

“It’s rare for a former superstar to subject himself to a role that is maybe less glamorous,” Kerr says. “I’m sure the injuries over the years have made him appreciate what he has here.”

Player agent Lon Babby went to Yale with Hill’s dad, who persuaded the former litigator to represent his son. Sixteen years ago, Hill was the $100 million man. In the offseason, he re-signed with the Suns for two years and $6.2 million. This season, he won the NBA Sportsmanship Award for a record third time.

“Talent opens doors. But strength of character keeps those doors open,” Babby says of Hill’s continuing attractiveness to sponsors such as Nike, Clorox and LifeLock. “It’s such a remarkable story.”

Teammate Frye says Hill’s contributions to the Suns are just as valuable as they were to his former teams.

“He has a bigger role outside this court, just being a leader,” he says. “Look at where he is and look at this team. We couldn’t be here without him.”

Giving back to his alma mater

Hill has interests far beyond basketball. He’s a 20th-century African-American art collector, a passion passed from his parents, and has staged exhibits.

Now Hill is pursuing a film project with Amy Unell, a teacher at Duke, about the school’s former track and field and Olympic coach, Al Buehler. Hill and Unell took a sports history class at separate times under Buehler.

Hill came on board as executive producer for Starting at the Finish Line this year and has helped raise funds from Duke alumni. When Unell asked Buehler about his favorite students, Hill was among them. “The reason Coach admired Grant and Grant admired Coach is they honor commitment, integrity and hard work,” she says.

If all goes well, Hill would like to pursue another film with Unell on his two Duke championship teams. He also thinks it would be “neat” if he can continue playing basketball until he’s 40.

“Everybody already calls me old anyway. I might as well embrace it,” he says.