“I Was Listening to the So-Called Experts”: Grant Hill Reveals the Biggest Regret About His NBA Career

We wish Grant Hill had listened to his body! The former NBA player would have had an entirely different career and legacy if it weren’t for injuries. While he enjoyed immense success during the first six years of his NBA career, an ankle injury changed everything. Years after his retirement, Hill has expressed one regret regarding his time in the league.

During a conversation on The Rich Eisen Show, the 4x All-NBA Second Team selection stated that he never paid attention to his body and injuries. We all know how the retired NBA player required surgery almost every season. Slowly, it took a toll on his body and game.

“I think the one thing [I should’ve done] was I would have listened to my body. … I didn’t listen, didn’t trust my instincts, didn’t trust what my body was telling me, I was listening to the so-called experts, and it really derailed what had a chance to be a really special career and a real special trajectory from my first six years in the NBA,” Grant said on the show.

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Hill also explained how the league was quite different during his era. Regardless of injuries, players had to play. But things have changed now, with organizations and franchises taking care of the players a lot better.

Grant Hill nearly lost life in this journey Hill was probably talking about the incident that took place in 2002. The 7x NBA All-Star forced himself to play in the playoffs despite an injury to his left ankle.

via Getty

Another crucial moment was in 2003. Hill underwent surgery that was meant to realign his ankle with his leg bone. However, he didn’t know that he got infected during the surgery. It resulted in him suffering from high fever and uncontrollable convulsions. Hill had to undergo another surgery and was kept under a dosage of antibiotics for weeks.

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“I was so down, I just said, ‘Forget it, I don’t want to play anymore. I’m thinking, ‘Man, why does it come to this?’ That was the lowest point,” Hill said in an interview with NBC.

Hill had an incredible career after being drafted in 1994 by the Detroit Pistons. He even won the 1995 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Following this, he played for the Orlando Magic until 2007. He retired from the NBA in 2013. Not just Hill, his fans too have this regret that he got injured way too often.

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