Advice from Grant Hill to Oden

[Rastapopoulos]

Here:

"I got to a point where I was tired of being mad at it and sort of looked at it like I could get something good out of it," Hill said. "Greg has to ignore all the critics, the people who are going to doubt him, the fans who say they shouldn't have drafted him, and work on getting himself right.

"It's probably more mental and emotional than physical. The physical part will happen."

Hill felt lucky, if that's the right term, that his ankle problems began six years into his career. He had achieved a level of success in the league, was married and had started a family. Hill felt a level of balance between his personal and professional life.

Oden, single and without children, hasn't had the chance to get his career started.

"The thing he has to realize is you go from being a great high school player, with all those accolades and attention, to being a great college player, his team got to the finals and he was the first pick in the Draft, and sometimes you feel what you do defines you," Hill said. "It really doesn't. It's a bit of humbling experience, but it's a good experience in that it gives you perspective and understanding. At some point you're not going to play anymore. It's hard to realize that when you're young, so hopefully down the road he'll learn to appreciate the difference."

 

[ABM]

Sage words.

Thanks for posting this.

 

[BenDavis503]

Hill FTW

 

[Shooter]

Grant Hill is a class act. That said, there's no guarantee that Oden will ever have a successful NBA career. He's proven that he's very injury prone, and his body may just not be able to endure the pounding that goes on during an 82-game season. I have no faith that he'll suddenly become injury-free once he comes back from this incident.

 

[alex42083]

Great stuff. Wish we had Hill on our team. What a mentor he'd be for Greg to get through something like this and the fact that we could use a consistent SF.

 

[axs88]

Great stuff. Wish we had Hill on our team. What a mentor he'd be for Greg to get through something like this and the fact that we could use a consistent SF.

Can we have PHX's medical/training staff as well, please?

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

Great stuff. Wish we had Hill on our team. What a mentor he'd be for Greg to get through something like this and the fact that we could use a consistent SF.

And he looks really good sitting behind the team in a suit while he's injured, too!

 

[Denny Crane]

Hill was married. Greg was....

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Take that advice and 'sport these

 

[jlprk]

The only thing I got out of Hill's silly inane remarks are that if you get injured, it goes better if you're married. I would think it's the opposite. Whiling away the months is easier if you have a social hobby.

 

[ABM]

The only thing I got out of Hill's silly inane remarks are that if you get injured, it goes better if you're married. I would think it's the opposite. Whiling away the months is easier if you have a social hobby.

What he's saying is, there's more (much more) to life than playing basketball...............and that it took him awhile (perhaps, too long) to realize this.

 

[handiman]

What he's saying is, there's more (much more) to life than playing basketball...............and that it took him awhile (perhaps, too long) to realize this.

The funny thing is, you'll never hear someone say that when they're on top of their game because that would diminish the singular focus that it takes to be truly great. Such an admission only comes when balance is needed in one's life to offset diminished (or never realized) abilities.

Oh, and plant the seed big fella!

 

[ABM]

The funny thing is, you'll never hear someone say that when they're on top of their game because that would diminish the singular focus that it takes to be truly great. Such an admission only comes when balance is needed in one's life to offset diminished (or never realized) abilities.

Oh, and plant the seed big fella!

Interesting. Which may beg the question, which great players were also great family men at the same time?