Grant Hill retires after 19 seasons in the NBA.
I got to know Grant during his rookie year with the Pistons in 1994-95, when I worked for Joe Dumars. We'd play Madden football on the Playstation, I got to run with the guys in a few games during the lockout, and hit Dave and Busters for some heated video game sessions. I found Grant to be well-grounded, humble, and genuine nice guy. When I moved back to Denver in the summer of 1998, Grant showed up at my going away party.
I've got a few mementos from those days, including a game-worn, signed jersey from his rookie year hanging in my office:
along with a picture of him scoring on me on the court one morning while we were screwing around:
Grant will probably make the Hall of Fame on the strength of his collegiate record-3 Final Fours in four years, will most likely get him in. The NBA will miss his character, his competitiveness, and his desire.
I hope we see him in the game in a front office role sooner than later.
