Grant Hill

Left with a noticeable, 6-foot-6 void to fill following the retirement of its most recognizable talent, the NBA’s 1994-95 season featured plenty of prospective No. 1 contenders gifted enough to catch the proverbial “torch” passing their way. As the Minnesota Timberwolves would learn on November 8, 1994, Grant Hill preferred to snag his opportunities with flair and otherworldly athleticism. Finding few issues transporting his championship-winning collegiate pedigree to the pros during his career’s first week, the Detroit Pistons’ soon-to-be-superstar races the floor to introduce a 3-on-1 opportunity, streaking into his teammate’s view for an alley-oop lob. Stretching his 6-foot-8 frame seemingly into a mid-air logo, Hill extends into an emphatic throwdown, leaving one commentator with a hysteric holler, and the other in a muted whisper. A double major in history during his unforgettable Blue Devils run, the 1994 No. 3 pick, fittingly, registered himself through the record books with six consecutive 20-point games to kickstart his reign. Automatically endorsed by past legends as a potential “next up,” Hill — later becoming the first-ever rookie to lead any of the four major sports in All-Star voting — dazzled with 22 points (on a nearly-flawless 10-of-11), alongside four rebounds, seven assists, and two swipes.

Rookie of the Year

Rookie Year

Top Shot Debut