Round #1/Pick #33: Grant Hill
Since the 1979-1980 season, there have been six players who averaged at least 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, with a PER over 25. The list: Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Kevin Garnett, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, and Grant Hill (LBJ was .1 RPG away, so we can toss him in there too). Hill did this at age 24, averaging 21.4, 9.0, and 7.3 with a 25.5 PER, while leading a
Pistons team that had no other player over a 17 PER to 54 wins (and a 57 win pythag). At 24 years old. After his first 6 seasons, only two players in NBA history had accumulated the stats (points, rebounds, and assists) he had: Larry Bird and Oscar Roberston.
Defensively he was very solid. At 24, his best season (the year mentioned above), he also posted a defensive rating of 99.7 with 17.3 win shares.
6 straight all-star games. 5 straight all-NBA teams (4 2nds and 1 1st). Top 10 in NBA voting 5 straight years (3rd in 96-97). The prototype for how the small forward position is to be played. I'm ecstatic to build my team around such a multi-dimensional, hard-working, unselfish player like Grant Hill.
Team so far: SF Grant Hill