Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees 2018: A look back at their careers

Dallas Mavericks v Phoenix Suns
Dallas Mavericks v Phoenix Suns

#4 Grant Hill

Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons in action
Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons in action

Grant Hill was to the 90s what LeBron James was to the noughties - a combo forward who had the playmaking skills of a point guard and could rebound with the best of them. He did average 9.8 rebounds per game in just his second season in the league, after all.

Drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 3rd overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, Hill built a profile as a player who could do everything on the hardwood. But the incompetence of the Pistons franchise led to their best player walking in a sign-and-trade deal that landed them arguably the greatest defensive player of all time in Ben Wallace, along with Chucky Atkins.

Foot injuries derailed Hill's first 4 seasons with Orlando, and they failed to make the playoffs in the only year Hill played at an All Star level. The T-Mac trade gave nothing of note in return to the Magic, who, however, were able to draft Dwight Howard with the #1 overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft.

While Hill never showcased the same form from his initial years again, he was a very good role player for the Suns from 2007-2012, before spending his last season with the Clippers in 2012-13.

Grant Hill is right there with T-Mac, Derrick Rose and Bill Walton among those players who could've been all-time greats but for debilitating foot injuries.

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