Grant Hill is so nice that he earned the nickname of “Mr. Nice Guy” during his NBA career in the 90s. The former Magic legend is currently participating in the 36th Annual American Century Championship.
In his most recent appearance on the ‘Dan Patrick Show,’ he revealed that this nickname gave a misconception of who he was on the court. He believed that while he was kind to everyone off the court, his competitive streak comes on between the lines, and he is a different person than he is in his daily life.
“I mean, you don’t get to the NBA, you don’t get to that level, All-Star, All-NBA, if you don’t have a competitive streak. And so if anything, I think people sometimes can mistake kindness for weakness.”
“When we got between those lines, you know, you had to put on almost a— you had to become a character, you know, you had to put on a different personality. And so it allowed me to, you know, go at guys and not be nasty, you know, be a competitor, have sportsmanship, but you’re out there to win and compete.”
“And then after the game, whatever happens, happens. But, you know, I was Mr. Nice Guy. And you know, they ran with that in the 90s and my wife would say, ‘You’re not always nice.’”
Hill went on to compare his mindset with the likes of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. He said that while he did not have a jumpshot like them, he had the competitive will to drive the ball into the paint and make things happen there.
Grant Hill played in the NBA for 18 years across four teams and got multiple honors, including seven All-Star selections. He won the Rookie of the Year award from the 1994 Draft class and averaged 16.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in his career.
The NBA is arguably the most competitive basketball league in the world. To succeed at that level, any player in the world needs a level of ruthlessness and a competitive spirit.
Kindness and niceness are perceived as weaknesses in usual cases, but Hill seemed to use them as a strength. If you perceive his kindness as a weakness, you are prone to underestimate his abilities. Hill seemingly tried to use that to his advantage, as he became a different person on the court than he was off the court.
Hill retired in 2013 and was selected for the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 2018. He is currently serving as the managing director of Team USA basketball.
