“I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO TAKE THAT, I DIDN’T KNOW IF I SHOULD BE FLATTERED” - GRANT HILL ON LEBRON TELLING HIM HE WAS HIS CHILDHOOD IDOL
LeBron James' was a superstar in the NBA from the get-go. People saw his potential as an uber-athletic star, but he also had the playmaking skillset of a point guard despite being a small forward.
That play style reminded people of Grant Hill and how he played the game during his prime. He was established as the next face of the NBA but failed to live up to those lofty expectations due to his injuries. Despite those struggles, Hill remained an iconic player for NBA fans, including a young LeBron, who loved watching Hill play.
"The funny thing was, LeBron is really a good guy, he's genuine. We see each other at jump-ball, and he said, 'I want you to know that, as a kid, I had a poster of you on my wall,'" Hill said on The Dan Patrick Show in 2013. "I didn't know how to take that, I didn't know if I should be flattered or if he was trying to say I'm old. He didn't take it easy on me, he competed, and that's what you want. I enjoy that challenge, even in the later part of my career, guarding those types of guys."
Hill was a complete player in the 1990s
Hill was one of the most impressive players in the league during the 1990s, establishing himself as a true superstar. The former Duke Blue Devil stood out because he could do everything on the court.
Grant was an elite scorer, peaking at 25.8 points per game in the 1999/2000 season. Aside from being the number-one option, Hill also showcased his skills as a playmaker, reaching a career-high of 7.3 assists per game during the 1996/97 campaign.
He was a prototypical point forward, which LeBron adopted when he joined the league in 2003. That skill set made people anoint Hill as the successor to Michael Jordan. Those were some big shoes to fill, but Grant's skill set made everyone believe in him as a superstar, including Isiah Thomas.
"When Jordan was retiring and Grant Hill was coming into the league, we were talking about passing the mantle to. We talkin' about a guy like you carrying the league," Zeke said to Hill on an episode of NBA Open Court.
LeBron ended up surpassing his idol
Grant was meant to reach a higher ceiling in his career than he did due to constant injuries. It did not work out, but he still had some elite years during the '90s, inspiring a new generation to avoid making positions restrict how they want to play. James took that to heart, as he was a small forward, but he showed how much he could control the game as a primary ball-handler and facilitator for others.
LeBron surpassed his idol because he is arguably the best-ever player to reach the NBA. With four regular season MVPs, three Finals MVPs, four championships, and many more accolades, King James has cemented himself as one of the best to ever play in the league, making someone like Hill proud, especially by performing under immense pressure.
2024-06-15T17:05:51Z dg43tfdfdgfd