Hill's Rookie Season Leaves Everybody Smiling (Pop Promises To Play Him More)

[duncan228]

Local piece on Hill. There's a photo gallery here.

Ex-IUPUI star's rookie season leaves everybody smiling
Spurs coach promises to play Hill more next year.
By Jeff Rabjohns

George Hill learned many lessons in the NBA this season, including that a rookie needs to know his place -- even in the parking lot.

After an early season practice with the San Antonio Spurs, Hill came out to find his Escalade filled to the brim with foam packing peanuts, courtesy of his new teammates.

His offense? He was in All-Star center Tim Duncan's parking spot.

"I didn't think we even had 'spots' because they didn't have names on them," the former Broad Ripple High School and IUPUI star said recently while he was in town watching his youth league team play.

"I was always at the gym an hour or two before everybody, and I just parked closest to the door. I came out six hours later and I was like, 'What happened here?' "

Always good-natured, Hill laughed it off and went about his rookie season in the NBA.

An early entry candidate after his junior season at IUPUI, Hill became the school's only first-round NBA draft pick. But going to an established team like the Spurs with stars such as Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, Hill wasn't expected to play much.

After their first-round playoff loss to Dallas, coach Gregg Popovich said he wished he would have played Hill more. He promised to do so next season.

Hill, a 6-2 point guard, averaged 5.7 points, 1.8 assists and 2.1 rebounds in the regular season, and about the same in the playoffs. As important, he learned about the difference between the 82-game regular season and the postseason.

"There's more focus on that one game," Hill said while waiting for the first-grade basketball team he sponsors, G3 Progeny, to play at the Indy Southside Sports Academy.

"You have time to study other players. You have time to study the whole team, what their strengths and weaknesses are."

Hill showed he was more ready for the pros than many people expected. He scored in double figures in 10 of his first 17 games, with three 20-point performances, as the Spurs dealt with injuries in the backcourt.

The state's leading scorer as a high school senior, Hill was IUPUI's top offensive player in college. In the NBA, he already is making a name for himself as a defender.

"They're now talking about him becoming a great defensive player and how that's what he's going to make his living on," IUPUI coach Ron Hunter said.

"When George came into our program, he had no idea what defense was. For him to turn himself into a great defensive player says a lot about him and how hard he's worked."

Popovich said Hill will be part of the primary rotation next season.

"He's somebody that's going to be important to the Spurs both at the point guard and the off guard," Popovich said. "Obviously the pick-and-roll is big in the league and he's learning that offensively and defensively, but he's a fantastic defender. That's his major skill. He's learning to shoot the 3, and he's going to get better as he gets more experience."

Hill plans to spend part of his summer working out in Indianapolis. He wants a better jump shot.

He'll be sure to make time for the little guys, too.

"It's just a joy," said Hill, who recently had his first chance to watch his first-grade team play a full game. "I never had anyone as a mentor I could look up to start me off on the right foot when I was little.

"To see these kids wearing the GHill Progeny jersey and the headbands, it puts a smile on my face because it puts a smile on their face because it's giving them an opportunity."

[timvp]

Very good find

After their first-round playoff loss to Dallas, coach Gregg Popovich said he wished he would have played Hill more. He promised to do so next season.

Interesting. Pop has never publicly regretted his decision to not play Hill more. I wonder if this info is via Hill or did the writer talk to Pop.

"He's somebody that's going to be important to the Spurs both at the point guard and the off guard," Popovich said. "Obviously the pick-and-roll is big in the league and he's learning that offensively and defensively, but he's a fantastic defender. That's his major skill. He's learning to shoot the 3, and he's going to get better as he gets more experience."

My last question would probably be answered by figuring out whether or not this is a new quote. Looks like an old, recycled quote but I didn't find it right away on a Google search.

[lurker23]

Great article, thanks for posting.

"When George came into our program, he had no idea what defense was. For him to turn himself into a great defensive player says a lot about him and how hard he's worked."

Popovich said Hill will be part of the primary rotation next season.

"He's somebody that's going to be important to the Spurs both at the point guard and the off guard," Popovich said. "Obviously the pick-and-roll is big in the league and he's learning that offensively and defensively, but he's a fantastic defender. That's his major skill. He's learning to shoot the 3, and he's going to get better as he gets more experience."

Hill plans to spend part of his summer working out in Indianapolis. He wants a better jump shot.

to everything in the quoted section. We'll see what comes of the season, but it sounds like Pop is envisioning a similar rotation for Hill to what many of us have been suggestion for a while: 10-15 minutes as the backup PG, plus 5-15 minutes in the SG position, with a key emphasis on defense.

[NewJerSpur]

When you start to stray Pop, just come to ST and take a look at my avatar.

[Obstructed_View]

Interesting. Pop has never publicly regretted his decision to not play Hill more. I wonder if this info is via Hill or did the writer talk to Pop.

If you find a quote, please let me know so I can email it to Randy Galloway.

[angelbelow]

nice! great read!

[raspsa]

A lot of fans were upset at Pop for his handling of GH.. some were even convinced that Pop had lost faith in the rookie. That was just Pop being Pop and GH having to pay his rookie dues. Unless you're a rookie like TD or TP you're going to go thru a similar learning cycle. Almost like the military in some ways. Break the rookie down, teach him humility and patience then go about rebuilding him.

[spursbird]

After their first-round playoff loss to Dallas, coach Gregg Popovich said he wished he would have played Hill more. He promised to do so next season.

I doubt it. See how Pop treated Beno when he was a Sop re.

[poop]

good article. i hope what pop said is true

[Ice009]

Well we all wanted Hill in the playoff rotation and Pop should have played him from the get go.

Hill showed he is tough and played his ass off. Mason Jr on the other hand vanished.

Anyway Pop playing Hill next season is a good thing because it means DEFENSE could be the no 1 priority again. I thought Hill was awesome on D for some good stretches last season.

I like Hill at 10-15 minutes at PG and 10-15 minutes at shooting guard like a poster mentioned above because of the defense he brings.

[Bukefal]

Local piece on Hill. There's a photo gallery here.

Ex-IUPUI star's rookie season leaves everybody smiling
Spurs coach promises to play Hill more next year.
By Jeff Rabjohns



After an early season practice with the San Antonio Spurs, Hill came out to find his Escalade filled to the brim with foam packing peanuts, courtesy of his new teammates.

Is this some custom? I remember Amundson doing that to Shaq about a month ago.

Nice read! I hope we can see much of him in the future

[tonylongoriafan]

i like george hill

[manufan10]

I saw a video at the Kings practice facility, and they filled a rookie's car with popcorn. That is more harmful than packaging peanuts, but still funny.

[Dex]

I saw a video at the Kings practice facility, and they filled a rookie's car with popcorn. That is more harmful than packaging peanuts, but still funny.

That would suck. Packing peanuts would just be annoying, but that would make your car smell like popcorn for weeks!

[DPG21920]

So we have Pop and Hollinger admitting they were wrong in the same week. Is it 2010?

Hill had a successful season, and unlike everyone else he did not let Pop's whacky rotations completely derail his at ude and effectiveness. He went through some patches where he struggled but for the most part, he made an impact when he came into games no matter how many minutes or what position he played.

It would still not surprise me to see him traded though if the right piece comes along.

[spurspokesman]

good. Finally

[manufan10]

[John_C]

Sheesh, I won't take Pop's word outright. Better wait and see if he stands up to what he's saying now. Remember when they drafted him he said that GHill would be someone who would be able to help outright on the get go. And Hill did prove him right during the early games only for Pop to screw the kid for the rest of the season.

[z0sa]

Hill should have averaged 25 mins a game against the Mavericks.

[John_C]

I guess since Pop has 4 rings and we don't. We didn't know what we were talking about...

Well since Pop's 4 rings did not really make him the wiser to play GHill during the playoffs just proves that he's not correct at all times.

[tomtom]

At least he finally admits to his mistakes. Good news to hear Hill should be a bigger part of the team next season

[Bruno]

Hill has had a very good rookie season. I hope Spurs won't trade him.

[MoSpur]

Pop knew he made a mistake in not playing Hill when he finally did play Hill against Dallas and saw how he performed.

[Spurs_9_20_21]

Finally! At least Pop says he is playing Hill more. Well see if he follows his words.

[024]

i expect good things from hill. he definitely has the talent to play even if it's just to fill parker's time and chase around elite point guards.