For NBA Hall of Famer Paul Pierce, his “Welcome to the NBA” moment didn’t come with cheers or celebration — it came with embarrassment, frustration, and a dose of reality delivered by none other than Grant Hill. In a recent reflection, Pierce admitted that during his rookie season, Hill dominated him so completely that he almost broke down in tears. “I had to rethink my entire position in the league,” Pierce confessed, recalling the night he realized the NBA wasn’t just about talent — it was about greatness, and Grant Hill had it in full supply.
Paul Pierce opened up about Grant Hill almost reducing him to tears during his rookie year in the league.
Grant Hill was already popular when he first entered the league in 1994, courtesy of his success at Duke. Winning back-to-back NCAA titles for the Blue Devils, alongside various other individual accolades, he was honored with a jersey retirement at the Cameron Indoor Stadium.
After graduating from Duke, he declared for the NBA and was drafted at No. 3. Hill delivered the goods right away, co-sharing the ROTY with Jason Kidd. He was also the first rookie to lead the All-Star fan balloting. His all-around ability made him a nightmare for the defense and the opposing players assigned to guard him.
Something Paul Pierce would surely know, considering the tough time Hill gave him during his rookie year. Pierce admitted to almost being in tears and rethinking playing the forward position. Shedding further light on the incident, he remembered, “Grant Hill, Damn! I almost cried during my rookie year…He went at me so crazy that I had to rethink my position in the NBA.”
He added, “I was just like, damn, can I even play in the league? I cannot do nothing with him. I can’t stop no move he game me. I got exposed. I was like, I got to get my s–t together,” Pierce said about Hill, who was projected as the next big thing after Michael Jordan.
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Pierce entered the league in 1998 as the 10th pick in the draft. Playing for the Boston Celtics, it was only a matter of time before he faced Hill-led Detroit Pistons, given that both teams faced each other more often in the Eastern Conference. Pierce once disclosed how Grant was the first player he couldn’t figure out when he first came to the NBA.
“That is something I will never forget. For me, it was Grant Hill. I won’t even lie to you, that was the Detroit Pistons Grant Hill. I swear on everything I love, the last five minutes of the game, he either scored, I fouled him, or he got an assist for somebody to score. I felt like I lost the game. I think he had like 38, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, and I was in the locker room, I felt defeated,” described Pierce, who also had Hill as his Top 5 NCAA players of all time.
Interestingly, the two Hall of Famers did have some commonalities. Though they primarily played the small forward position, their versatile scoring allowed them to occasionally fill in as a shooting guard. This probably also had to do with Pierce idolizing Hill growing up.
The complete package
A multi-dimensional talent, Hill dominated at both ends of the court, having all the ingredients of a bona fide superstar. Sharing observations from his first meeting with “G-Money,” Pierce mentioned the following.
“Grant Hill was the player I idolized when I was in high school. So I was ready for this when idols become rivals. But I realized I need to get back in the lab, straight up. He had that first step, and if you don’t give him that body, he will blow by you. So he was like LeBron before LeBron. He had the whole package. Point forward that was athletic, he had that unselfish mentality, but could still give you 30, rebounded on a high level.”
Sadly, Hill’s career did not see the desired success due to his serious ankle injuries. The seven-time All-Star underwent several tedious surgeries, which even led to him contracting fatal infections. Overcoming all of the challenges, Hill never gave up, continuing to contribute in some form or another. After retiring from the NBA in 2013, Hill continues to juggle several roles, serving as an analyst, co-owner of the Hawks, and Managing Director of the Men’s USA National Team.
