When old basketball fans speak passionately about how remarkable the pre-injury version of Grant Hill was, many modern-day fans struggle to fully grasp the extent of his brilliance. To put it in perspective, from an individual standpoint, Hill was so exceptional that from the very moment he entered the league, he was instantly counted among the greatest in the league. In fact, in terms of production, he was often held on a higher pedestal than some of the most accomplished players in his position.
However, no matter how highly he was appreciated, Hill never fooled himself by admitting he was superior to six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen . Moreover, he once even admitted the key reason why his prime version with the Pistons would consistently rank below the aging version of Pip.
After being the face of Duke basketball for four years, Hill made such a significant impact in the league since the 1994-95 season that he truly lived up to his reputation as a generational talent. Over his first six campaigns, he averaged 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, collecting five All-Star and All-NBA team nods, respectively.
On the other hand, during the same period, Pippen registered 17.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game with three All-Star nods and four All-NBA Team selections.
However, "G-Money" understood why his best version could not be ranked above Pippen. Despite being the driving force for the Pistons, Hill could never lead them past the first round of the playoffs. In contrast, Pippen helped the Chicago Bulls win another three-peat and featured in the Western Conference Finals with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2000. Thus, team success placed the latter in a higher tier.
"Six years, but I didn't win. And we're judged on postseason, and I didn't have great success in the '90s in the postseason. So, if that's part of the criteria, then yeah, Scottie gets it, " Hill said on an episode of "NBA Open Court." " But, head up, my numbers were (better)."
Interestingly, what made Hill's perspective more compelling was that he never viewed Pippen strictly as a rival. Instead, for Hill, the Bulls legend was like a mentor and even a big brother , someone whose guidance helped him refine and elevate his game.
"Pippen was a small forward; he was older than me; he was kind of a big brother of sorts. I got to meet him a few times, play with him in the '96 Olympics, " Hill said. " He was the barometer. "
As a result, rather than attempting to diminish Pippen's legacy, Hill consistently reinforced how much respect he had for him, admitting that Scottie was not just a great forward but one of the most significant and most successful the league has ever seen.
It's safe to say that speculation will always linger about how differently the basketball world might have viewed Hill had injuries not derailed his career. However, if these two legends had shared their prime years directly, the comparisons would likely have been even more compelling, especially if they had battled it out in the postseason.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
