Grant Hill: This Detroit Pistons Superstar was "THE FIRST LEBRON JAMES" | FPP

He put together a four year career at Duke university which saw him team with Christian Laettner and Bobby Hurley to win back to back National Championships. He graduated as one of the greatest players in program and NCAA history. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons on the tail end of their "Bad Boy" Era and over the next 6 years, was one of the most complete and popular players in the NBA. He could do it all and was routinely near the top of every major statistical leaderboard and MVP voting. After 6 years in Detroit, he would sign on with the Orlando Magic prior to the 2001 NBA season where he was supposed to team with Tracy McGrady to dominate the East. But constant foot and ankle injuries would steal the majority of his 7 years in Orlando and fans never got to see what him and McGrady could have done together. He would have a couple respectable seasons, but nothing near what he was supposed to bring to the franchise. He would spend the twilight years of his career as a healthy and serviceable starter for the Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn MArion Phoenix Suns, where in 2010 he would finally make it past the first round. Although he couldn't win a title, he got to play meaningful basketball for years after it seemed that he would be forced to retire early. His overall career numbers don't look special, but his time spent in Detroit was the definition of Special as Grant Hill was a generational point forward who at one point was supposed to take the torch from Michael Jordan.
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[@Bart848]

Grant was a very popular player back in the 90’s

[@lucashenderson2775]

The first rookie to lead the league in All Star voting AND the only player to top Michael Jordan in All Star voting in the full seasons he played from 1988-98. That's how big a deal Grant was.

[@zozoridgenal7894]

This booger McFarland statement

[@orestes1984]

Nobody has forgotten who Grant Hill is except people who know nothing about basketball

[@markprice2225]

Yeah, I was gonna say... Forgotten Player??? I Think Not! Homeboy was bangin Tamia when we all wanted to. Watching Laetner, Hill, & Hurley was the best!

[@markprice2225]

He did make "The Pass" to Laetner, who hit "The Shot". Grant Hill always wore the best Nikes too, only First 2 pairs of Filas were alright

[@dandrewilson1995]

The fact that grant hill made it in the hall of fame! Despite the all the injuries says a lot

[@Classicbasketballdvds]

factz...he was that dude

[@Himmyjewett]

They literally let anyone in

[@heavenbound9641]

Learn respect. . G.HILL is not just anyone, he is one of the TOP BEST in NBA history, Period. 🤔

[@RexT3rra]

He deserved it

[@arthurrobinson4644]

Yeah, a lot of these guys gotta do that homework.If they rate his period that he played, he was one of the best all around players in the game ever at his level.I think people that wouldn't around to understand man.This dude, that injury was very significant.He should be in there​@@heavenbound9641

[@Juwellz18]

Grant Hill was the definition of a professional. Even with all the injuries, he was always professional.

[@Classicbasketballdvds]

thanks for this...G-Hill was that dude 94-00. The keys to the league were gonna be passed to him & penny. You gotta do Penny Hardaway next. Both their kicks catalog are legendary

[@Sweat404]

Penny and Hill were my 2 favorites in the 90s. Had both their jerseys and wore them every day, and the Nike Penny 2 was the first pair of sneakers I got that I was really excited about.

[@justinwashington7076]

You ain’t lying! I had a pair of Grant Hill filas and I had a pair of Nike penny 2s back in the day.

[@Classicbasketballdvds]

yup...i rem i wanted them so bad as a kid but never got them till i became an adult@@justinwashington7076

[@marvinwhittaker]

All of those injuries he went through he never gave up.

[@nbarealtalker]

This guy was truly up NEXT. His story is still epic though. Can only imagine how many times he was advised to give up on his career before finding a way to reinvent himself as a veteran role player.

[@Chuck_EL]

I remember Detroit made the playoffs in his third year, he was top 4 player in the league at his prime

[@ChairmanLMAO-li3wc]

​@@Chuck_ELHe was the best player in the league for a few seasons. Underappreciated peak, what he was doing was blending MJ and Magic. These kids who think this bum ass generation is better than the 90s-2000s players are crazy.

[@s.tavares3257]

His dad was a Cowboy's legend also.. great athletic genes in that family.

[@zoeledwards6617]

Didn’t his mom was roommates with Hilary Clinton?

[@noneya1987]

Yea we know. Dude said that like 45 seconds into the video. Way to be a parrot...

[@PaperChaserLa]

I love your Channel because ppl often only talk about his Detroit and Orlando days but never talk about his days with the suns as he was really a reliable player in Phoenix at the tail end of his career

[@jessiesmith5577]

He really stepped up his defense with the suns also

[@arthurrobinson4644]

​@jessiesmith5True hes in 577

[@Sweat404]

I’ve been looking forward to this one. Grant Hill is my second favorite SF of all time behind LeBron. When I was a kid in the late 90s I wore his jersey every day at school while playing basketball at lunch and after school.

[@jamiahwilson3901]

I remember watching Grant when he played for Duke... Dude was nice, especially in Detroit! 💯

[@skyMcWeeds]

Grant had a very quick first step. He said it himself he had a simple game plan he kept his dribble alive put it between his legs while watching the defense react, put a small hop and a in his own words carry/hesi then blow right past the opponent drive to the basket. it was so simple and effective. Healthy Grant was athletic, the sky was the limit for him, he may not have had a good outside shot during his early years but turned into an effective spot up shooter during his role player days. A great locker room guy and one of the best role models of the NBA.

[@arthurrobinson4644]

Glad he came to duke

[@mastermindmartialarts]

Hill was something special. Right as his prime should have started is when his injuries started. Such a shame. Imagine 3-4 peak seasons out of him in Orlando with Tmac as the second option. Unreal. His injuries prevented him from being an all time player, but regardless, he is an all time talent.

[@tnizzii]

A 90s basketball icon with the sneaker. The injury is all you can say. Imagine how much of an legend he would have been.

[@滋榎本]

Grant Hill was one of the best small forwards in the NBA in the 1990s. It is very unfortunate that he has lost his original strength due to injuries since the 2000s.

[@jamaljohnson243]

Salute my first favorite player when I started watching basketball

[@17thN.O]

Man, I was one of his biggest fans back in the mid to late 90s when he was with the Pistons. I had the GH4 shoes and FILA Grant Hill gear. He would really go at Jordan too and was compete too. Too bad for him and my Pistons that the Bulls were just too good and so was the Eastern Conference.

[@Dantana773]

Grant Hill had Me a duke Fan in the early 90's For him not to have a jump shot he was a problem on the court before injury. salute to G hill and thanks for the content

[@rhaksol9564]

The Forgotten Player Is Dope! Really Appreciate The Calming Music💚

[@ZPMBTV]

The First Grant Hill… 4 Year College Player, Homeboy was that Ninja. I wasn’t a Fan back then, like with Kobe,,, but Later on in life I realized Their Greatness. Salute G.

[@codyholt7004]

Grant hill was awesome.

[@wesleyweber8488]

Grant Hill and Drazen Petrovic are two of the biggest what if’s in the NBA. I know there’s a couple more, but those 2 stand out to me the most.

[@rankoorovic7904]

Before he got injured he looked like he was going to be the next Michael i know to some people it sound unbelievable today but for those of us that watched him when Grant was at his peak it was very believable

[@kingfree3396]

Ya for those of us who saw him play before the injury know this is 100% TRUE

[@antoniomiranda8691]

How, by being the face of the league?

[@rankoorovic7904]

@@antoniomiranda8691 Yes it look like that when he was in Detroit

[@antoniomiranda8691]

@@rankoorovic7904 OK.

[@weswesyallforalltimegreats9498]

I love Grant Hill, but that Arkansas 94 feet of hell had an affect on his performance. He was to be the "Air Apparent" to Michael Jordan at that time. The frustration with how his career began to fizzle out is still hard to describe now. I can't imagine how he felt. Thank you for the video. Grant Hill had beautifully smooth game mixed with power. Great defender. "He was born to do it." 👑Wes

[@MrMixItup]

Grant was simply amazing to watch yet I don't know that he was a Franchise Player. I believe that you had to have two other All-Star caliber players to get Detroit deep into the playoffs let alone winning a championship. Grant would have been amazing playing with Tim Duncan and Tracy McGrady to my point that he would have filled a 2nd or 3rd option role PERFECTLY. Overall, a very good player HOF level player.

[@pauldamanbro9415]

I watch ur vids almost everyday. Keep them coming, love ur content

[@samsoncudjo]

You finally did grant hill wow 😯

[@4392amtrak]

Grant Hill is a top five what if, along with Penny, Walton, Sampson, and D-Rose

[@J_Ru31352]

At least Walton got to win a championship 🏆 on his own leading the Blazers to it's only title in '77 while Bill was in line for the game's next great center since Kareem, and while injuries did come into play stunting how great the Dead Red Head could have been, him winning that one championship for a practical expansion franchise Portland was then helped get into the Hall of Fame, along with getting to be named one of Top 50-75 greatest players in NBA history.

[@tobznoobs]

Grant Hill is a nice guy who is a generational talent on court. People saw through that this the reason he was very popular. Fila also did a good job marketing hill as a superstar. almost everyday i would try to see hill’s statline if he got near triple double as it was the norm before lebron got drafted. im glad he got inducted in the hall of fame.

[@oladipupoajani]

Thank you for this one you hard work is appreciated. Grant Hill was Lebron James before Lebron James.

[@Chuck_EL]

I'd have no issue if the media compared LeBron to Hill or even Van Horn as his game is identical to theres

[@lucashenderson2775]

Great job on this one as usual. One slight correction I wanna point out: Mike was still retired in 1995 during the All Star voting period, he came back in March of that year. Grant did top him in 1996 though.

[@blakebrown84]

Grant Hill was that dude who was a great player in his own right. He was actually a great athlete before the injuries took a toll on his body.

[@The918dad]

Great video on Grant Hill. I feel like you’re hinting to us about a potential Otis Thorpe video coming in the future. You’ve brought him up in quite a few videos recently. Maybe just a coincidence. Love your videos!

[@shaieresmirnoff]

I said Steph Marbury was my favorite… but Grant hill was my Micheal Jordan bro. Loved this guy the new Detroit jersey …. That injury man

[@kincamell2]

Peace to Grant Hill and his Fam.

[@brianbachmeier34]

Excellent

[@DRV404]

Grant Hill imo one of the biggest what ifs. If injuries wouldn't have determined his career he woulda no doubt have been in the conversation amonst the true greats.

[@josephzwiek5694]

I love this channel. Amazing entertainment.

[@BrandonCrapo]

Had raw talent like no other player ever

[@cajonjonaleon4633]

Grant Hill was That Balla back in the late 90',s and his first shoe was a classic (Fila) I had them white joints... His game and his shoes were popular demand😢😢😢 I miss them days

[@evanjordan5075]

Wow!!! I knew Grant was amazing his first 6 years in Detroit. But his numbers after all the surgeries and he joining Phoenix weren't that bad. Definitely one of my favorite players featured on Forgotten Player Profiles.

[@Alajuwon]

Yo when grant hill was in Detroit he waa him. Complete package. No holes in his game.

[@rudygee9171]

He couldn’t shoot the three!! There was a hole in his game

[@Porthos240]

My favorite player of all time. You can throw all the arguments you want, but he's still the biggest what if in NBA history, that even his peers played the what if game the most based on #33.

[@LarryHoover-dn7ms]

Grant beat Michigan 😢i was sick then he came to Detroit i loved him 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@darksidedjcatastrophe]

Grant Hill drinks Sprite was a staple of my childhood

[@master-kq3nw]

Injured runied his career grant hill was unstoppable in 90s

[@Chuck_EL]

And now we know the Detroit Drs screwed him over

[@chaseadams5037]

I remember when Grant Hill drank sprite✅

[@petemitchell2124]

Remember him being Kellogg's cereal in the 90s in the UK! Not much exposure for NBA in UK back then. Great player

[@THRREAT23]

Gotta make an Andre miler jawn bro they sleep on him

[@localone1597]

Grant Hill and Bill Walton are probably the two biggest "what if's" ever in the NBA? At least that I can think of.

[@justinwashington7076]

Add Penny Hardaway and Len Bias to that list.

[@localone1597]

@@justinwashington7076 that's true!

[@samghost13]

LJ the Grandma i was not aware that Hill played against Grandma back then. That is so cool!

[@bradleystraley6165]

Crazy to think the Magic had two of the greatest what-ifs in like a 5 year span. Technically, 4 what-ifs. Both individual players (Hardaway, Hill) and both iterations of the team. 5 if you add in the Duncan signing. Also, what does TMac and Dwight look like (ironic TMac didn't want to play with a high schooler considering he himself made that jump) Man, so much happened to that team in such a short time.

[@barz2k12]

A crazy amount of young talent was pumped into orlando quick too unlike most of the other expansion teams

[@J_Ru31352]

Penny was already gone from the Magic by the time Hill left Detroit for Orlando. It was Tracy McGrady that Grant was meant to team up with on the Magic thought to become a dynamic duo never coming to fruition.

[@J_Ru31352]

No way Duncan was gonna leave the Spurs where he was comfortable at.

[@bradleystraley6165]

@J_Ru31352 I said Hardaway in the "Had a magical team up with Shaq that was amazing. Got injured and became a shell of himself. What kind of career could he have had if he'd stayed healthy and with Shaq?" kinda way. Not him and Hill

[@Chuck_EL]

​@@J_Ru31352 as a spurs fan I won't lie I was worried but I'm glad he stayed a spur

[@ScottHicks-h4t]

I had his shoes in seventh grade fila with the Patton leather

[@malz92]

I know I'm about to get depressed once I get to the Orlando part. btw. @17:03 was actually dream team 2, not 3.

[@beardgang2065]

He didn't lead Jordan in All-Star votes in 94'-95'. Jordan wasn't in the league in 94'-95' until after the All-star game but overall this is a nice video.

[@philmoe5392]

They better put some respect on Grant Hill’s name. MJ will always be the 🐐, but Hill was legitimately given the opportunity to take the reign over once MJ retired. Blessings to him for fighting through adversity and still having a solid career despite all the injuries.

[@dscwac396]

The fact he had no ankles by the time he got to Orlando he still managed to be borderline all star caliber player.

[@conduitofthegospeldarrellb9154]

Grant Hill’s heir apparent today IMO is Cade Cunningham. Very similar game. Sneaky athletic, quick, tight handles, big wing, vision, strong and solid jumper. Wishing Cade better luck and health then what Hill ended up with.

[@t4d0W]

Watch Grant's tape again. His first step was *elite* and didn't have to dribble too much as he blew past guys too small/too slow in front of him. He was a heck of a one leg leaper too with his drives to the basket and usually finishing over bigs. Or finding hard angles to get at the rim and put the ball up with great touch and some FTs. Something that Cade can't do on the regular so he has to rely on craft. He is the definition of 'sneaky athletic'. Hill was very athletic (not a freak) and stronger than his lanky build made him look. He can play Lebron's game of drive and kick if he was ever in a roster with shooters when he was healthy.

[@lashgoshotwheels1127]

Thank you 🙂

[@tygailard7719]

My favorite player

[@icantfindmyphone]

This was great!! Can you do one on Jason Richardson?

[@jimmyplenderleith9471]

Grant Hill, without his ankle / foot injuries, goes on to be one of the top 5-10 best players of that era. Its a shame his ankles failed him.

[@birdbangbobarui]

Do 1 of Travis Best and Tyrone Hill

[@wildcat8598]

As a Ky native I couldn’t stand Puke but have to admit that I always liked Grant Hill. He always seemed like a good guy unlike some of his teammates 😂 but he was a special talent and was sad to see injuries hold back his greatness in the NBA

[@TogetherEvery1AchievesMore]

#TogetherEvery1AchievesMore TEAM‼️

[@TaydoLayTV]

G-MONEY! I remember being on my moms ass about getting me those Fila Grant Hill’s. Big sis came in the clutch.

[@isiahbraun8704]

No word needed.real ogs know

[@anthonystevens7594]

Before this even starts as a very biased lifelong UNC fan I gotta admit if he’d stayed healthy Grant Hill would be an all-time of all-time great. Best player in basketball during Jordan’s first retirement, guy was absolutely incredible.

[@DeeNice681]

The first small forward to attack the way Grant Hill did in the halfcourt was Marques Johnson!

[@thomaswin5535]

I used to watch Grant Hill back in the day on NBA Inside Stuff, along with the regular games. Still think of him whenever I see FILA. Wonder if those FILA shoes contributed to his injuries. I for one will never know.

[@0luv]

Can you do Earl Manigault

[@silvianosanchez8430]

Perhaps the biggest "What if's."

[@RexT3rra]

Never LeBron but Grant Hill was special

[@edjones9324]

I fux wit Grant Hill no doubt and i really respect your page and all its content and the work you put in to present these stories to the masses BUT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "THE FIRST LEBRON JAMES" grant wasn't NBA ready in the 10th grade

[@omoowobhd]

This man was a legitimate, bona fide SUPERSTAR! What would his career been like if he hadn't got that staph infection? The world will never know...

[@mavsfanforever7919]

Scottie Pippen was the first LeBron James. Magic would have been but they play different positions

[@anadvocate7310]

Exactly, he was during this while playing with & without MJ23.

[@elrondhubbard9127]

I have an unopened Grant Hill Wheaties cereal box from his rookie season somewhere. Lol

[@ryansack5198]

I forgot all about the Grant Hill-Allan Houston Pistons duo.

[@Dooley901]

If Grant Hill was LeBron James before LeBron James and Jordan and Pippen could really do nothing with him, how would they be able to do anything with the actual LeBron James?

[@themichaelphone]

Bro, i think you should do one of these on vince carter. People think he was just a dunker.

[@CDubb442]

He used cook Mike and Scottie 🔥🔥🔥

[@robranko5931]

Most underrated player eva..ask pippen n jordan

[@daveruegg6769]

Imagine if Duncan went to Orlando w those 2 wings!

[@yarclewinson]

LeBron at 22 was way better than Hill at 22 and so on

[@ItzTheDay]

NBA then vs NBA now are two completely different games. They actually played defense back then, just look at all the monsters Grant and to work past to get to the rim. Now it's just an open invite.

[@rudygee9171]

LeBron would’ve bullied G Hill!!! Too small

[@SuperSpacebum]

I want to buy some Grant Hill sneakers now.

[@alrice2012]

bro had more in his offensive bag than lebron no disrespect I KNOW HIS CAREER overshadows grant by a mile lol

[@richardyoon4209]

Grant Hill was top All-Star vote getter in his rookie year but he did not get more votes than Michael Jordan in 1994-5. Jordan was retired at the time and was not on the All-Star ballot.

[@4392amtrak]

I would love to see an Ilgauskas profile

[@terryindachat7296]

That was still a crying shame the commi got together to fix that game in favor of Duke against UNLV.

[@eugenedantzler4485]

This shall be good💯💯💯💯 he would have been top 10 all time easy. Damn injuries!!! Still a great player though

[@hoganmann]

Hill is a legend but damn he was a horrible three point shooter.

[@goodbboyjonny9079]

Wow grant hill dunk on Jordan 😮 17.46 mark on the video

[@marcusanderson933]

If Grant were healthy he would've been a top 10 to 15 player ever.

[@rudygee9171]

Sure about that?

[@RE1GN_BLOOD]

At the time besides Jordan, the most popular players in the league with Penny, Alonzo Mourning and Grant Hill.

[@lestermoonbottom]

Grant Hill could actually shoot. And post up. And handle the ball without looking at his hands. And break down his defender. And defend. And make shots in the 4th quarter of closely contested games. And never sat out when opponents who could make him look bad came to town. IOW very little in common with LBJ.

[@dwayneturner9395]

So fkn dumb. And he couldn't guard 1-5, carry a weak ass team to a finals, lead a finals in every fkn category on BOTH TEAMS in an NBA FINALS. And you all pick and choose when to use rings, so 4-0. I always preferred Anfernee Hardaway anyways. But Hill was a monster and fun to watch in college. See, it's not hard to give props . Much easier than hating all the time.

[@ItzTheDay]

@@dwayneturner9395 NBA then vs now is a completely different game. Look at all the monsters Grant had to deal with getting to the rim. Now it's an open invite to get to the rim. Not to mention all the traveling and carrying that is now allowed. Put the Grant then in the game now, he would have a field day to the rim and would most likely would have a longer career.

[@RoyPage1970]

Grant's father played for the cowboys the browns and the Redskins Calvin Hill

[@justineebourgeois3420]

Killian Hayes > Hill

[@ryansack5198]

Rookies as a whole just used to come into the league more prepared to take on a heavy role due to staying in college. Even if you look at guys who never became stars they would still come into the league averaging good numbers already. One and done era kinda sucks IMO.

[@kylepatillo5071]

Please do Johnathan Bender next 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@J_Ru31352]

Bender was a Bust... Period!

[@rudygee9171]

Why? He was a bum!!!!!

[@egbunaobi4237]

Smoother

[@itisnottaken4444]

Cade exudes a lot of the same characteristics as Hill. Hopefully Detroit can figure out the talent issue before he leaves