Detroit Pistons Legend Grant Hill Suggests Medical Negligence By Orlando Magic Ruined His Career
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect In a surprisingly honest moment during an interview this week, Hall of Famer and Detroit Pistons legend Grant Hill suggested that negligence by the Orlando Magic medical team in 2004 ruined what could have been an even more impressive NBA career. When Hill entered the league as the third overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft , it wasn’t long before he showed he could be one of the top stars in the game. He won Rookie of the Year honors and would get voted in as an All-Star in six of the next seven years.
In 2000-2001, he only played in four games and was still voted in because of how big a star he was among NBA fans. He missed almost all of that season — his first with the Magic after signing a seven-year, $92 million deal — after undergoing surgery to deal with an ankle issue he had been battling through for quite some time. In a new interview with the Cousins podcast , hosted by fellow NBA great Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, Hill admitted some surprising “mistakes made managing my injury” by the Magic medical staff during rehabilitation after his surgery.
Grant Hill was put on the court after surgery three months earlier than recommended USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect The Pistons great claims that after getting surgery in May of 2000, he was on crutches for two months and still in a boot in July. By Labor Day, or early September, the Magic already had him working out on the court and geared up for the start of the new season. The doctor who performed the surgery was not informed of how quickly Orlando got Grant back on the court, and was stunned to read the newspaper and see the basketball star already playing.
The doctor called the Magic to inform them Hill was not to be on the court working out or playing until December. While the seven-time All-Star admits he was naive to the process of proper rehabilitation and was not forced to play. But also claimed he was under the impression the Magic had spoken with his surgeon and they were following his recommendations.
Grant Hill stats (Career): 16. 7 PPG, 6. 0 RPG, 4.