Washington, D.C. - Seven-time NBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist Grant Hill has announced his retirement from professional basketball after 19 seasons in the NBA. At 40 years of age, Hill has amassed over 17,000 points, 6,000 rebounds, 4,000 assists and ends his career as the oldest active player in the league.

Though Hill played his final season with the Los Angeles Clippers, his meteoric rise began his rookie season in 1994 as a member of the Detroit Pistons. Selected with the team's third overall pick in the 1994 Draft, Hill made NBA history as the first rookie to top the league in fan voting for the All-Star Game, and was co-Rookie of the Year. He would be selected to appear six more times in his seven-year tenure with the team. Hill's professionalism and class proved indomitable during this period of adversity as he received the first of his league record three NBA Sportsmanship Awards in 2005.

Hill enjoyed a physical renaissance after joining the Phoenix Suns in 2007. For five injury-free seasons, he shined as a key starter and double-digit scorer before his final run with the Clippers in 2012-13. Hill ends his NBA journey after 1,026 regular season games with a career stat line of 16.7 points, 4.1 assists, 6.0 rebounds and one gold medal as a member of the 1996 Olympic team in Atlanta.

"I'm completely at peace with my decision to retire, but it was not arrived at lightly," said Hill. "After the season, I took time and considered two schools of thought. On one hand, I'm 40 years old and still in great physical condition. My body tells me that I can continue playing. On the other hand, I'm 40 years old and still in great physical condition - a rare parting gift in this sport. I want to enjoy my health, spend quality time with my family and pursue other professional goals. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to spend almost 20 years of my life doing what I truly love, but I believe it is time to move on."

The son of distinguished business consultant Janet Hill and former All-Pro Dallas Cowboys running back Calvin Hill, Grant chose from an early age to devote his physical and mental gifts to the basketball court. He emerged as a high school phenom in Virginia and was named a McDonald's All-American before joining the Duke Blue Devils in 1990. Playing under Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Hill played in three Final Fours, winning back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 1991 and 1992 in addition to accumulating such accolades as the NABC Defensive Player of the Year Award (1993), the ACC Player of the Year Award (1994) and recognition as an NCAA First-Team All-American (1994).

In recognition of Hill's success at every level of competition, he was elected in 2011 to serve on the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Governors. Though he will not be eligible for induction until 2018, Hill is the first and only active NBA player to hold this position.

Few players in basketball history can rival the scope of Hill's accomplishments on the court. Fewer still can rival his track record for social responsibility and investment in community. He and wife Tamia, a six-time Grammy nominated recording artist, have impacted countless live through their scholarship programs, contributions to the arts and sciences, and service on boards including the Special Olympics, Make-A-Wish Foundation and the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition.

Hill has previously received the Horizon Award presented by the U.S. Congress, the Community Service Award from Variety Children's Charity and the Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award for his dedicated efforts to varied social causes.