Orlando Magic Top 30: The Most Under-Appreciated Player in Orlando Magic History

13. Grant Hill (2001-07)

It is easy to forget just how good Grant Hill was when the Orlando Magic pursued him in free agency in the summer of 2000.

The numbers he put up with the Detroit Pistons were rivaling Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. He was on a Hall of Fame pace for his NBA career alone (his time with the Detroit Pistons and Duke Blue Devils assured he would get in).

During the 2000 Playoffs, Hill was clearly playing in pain from an ankle issue. But his determination to play and lead his team in the playoffs, even in a losing effort, is baked into his DNA.

So he arrived in Orlando on crutches. That would come to define his tenure with the Magic. He played in only 47 games in his first four years with the team. He would appear in only 21 games in 2006 after a relatively healthy 2005 season.

Fans revolted against him for his inability to play and how his max contract hamstrung the Magic during the Tracy McGrady era. It was easy to criticize the player because his work behind the scenes goes unnoticed.

Not to mention, Hill nearly died of a staph infection while recovering from one of his surgeries. He was plenty determined to play and give himself for the team. His body would not cooperate.

It is also easy to forget just how good Hill still was in a Magic uniform. He averaged 16.4 points per game with a 50.2 percent effective field goal percentage. Those are solid numbers for a guy who was not a 3-point shooter at all.

His presence on the team made the Magic a lot better. Especially after McGrady left.

Hill was solid and efficient in getting the Magic back to the playoffs in 2007 too, his final year with the team.

Ultimately, Hill’s tenure with Orlando was disappointing because he could not get healthy and realize his full potential. But he was far from bad when he did play. And he still contributed a lot to the team when he did.