by Curtis Clontz

Created on: January 13, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

To achieve this award, you need an Alonzo Mourning type of return. Returning to top form against the odds. In 2008 there will be many players that deserve such an award, but there will be one player that deserved this more than anyone. Some of the others that may compete for this award may be chuck Liddell, Albert Pujols, or Jamal Lewis. The winner of this award in my eyes was one the best college basketball players for the best franchise since 1990, the Duke Blue devils. If you are still unsure who this great role model is, it is Grant Hill. As I said earlier he was one of the best players to ever play at Duke, but once he made it to the National Basketball Association he has had a career riddled with injury after injury. His playing style is one similar to Scottie Pippen of the great Chicago Bulls of the 90s. He is a great scorer, passer, and is an amazing team mate. He deserves this award because he will provide a veteran presence for the Phoenix Suns that could lead them to the NBA Finals. He is extremely smart and if he stays healthy could be the puzzle piece they were missing from last years team.

For Grant Hill to be considered for this illustrious award you have to understand the pain and suffering he has been through in his National Basketball Association career. In his rookie season for the Detroit Pistons he became the second rookie to ever score more than 1000 points. The first to do so was Isiah Thomas. In the 99-00 season Grant Hill was beginning to be labeled as "soft" by the Detroit Fans due to a sever ankle sprain, this sprain eventually held him out of the series after game two and was the start of a knee problem that would continue to haunt him for years to come. After that season finalized he was traded to Orlando. His ankles continued to bother him causing him to be absent major time. He played 4 games his first season, 14 his second, 29 in his third, and missed the entire 4th year in Orlando. In March of 2003 Hill had to have surgery on one of his ankles. This surgery was an intense one where the doctors would re-fracture one of his ankles and realign it with his legs. A few days after the surgery Hill began one of his toughest battles. He developed a dangerous staph infection that nearly killed him. After the help of many doctors and prayers Grant eventually healed, and began his efforts to continue playing basketball. In his next season as a member of the Magic he played 67 games, the most in Orlando. He was still hampered by injuries throughout that season. In the 05 season he was limited to 21 games because of a sports hernia, and rumors of his retirement started swirling. After that season, Hill decided to sign with the Phoenix suns where plays now.

Since signing with the Suns he is playing very well averaging in double figures and was staying healthy until he had to have his appendix removed a few weeks ago. Come playoff time when this team is peaking, he will be a key piece. He will not lead the team in scoring, assists, or rebounds, but he will offer valuable veteran minutes which may lead them over the juggernaut known as the Spurs. With all of the injuries in his career, and the positive season that he will have this year makes him the 2008 comeback player of the year. Grant hill has had an amazingly hard career for one player that was once considered the future of the NBA. The things he has done for the NBA, his fans, and his community is outstanding, he is one of the rare true role models on sports today.

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