In 18 years as an NBA player, Grant Hill has seen every shape and style of coach. He was reunited, briefly, with one of his former coaches on Sunday afternoon.
Doc Rivers, whose Celtics handed Hill and the Los Angeles Clippers a 106-104 defeat, coached Hill for three-plus seasons in Orlando. Although Hill’s time with the Magic was marred by injuries and Rivers’ final season with the team ended 11 games into the 2003-04 season, the seven-time All-Star came away with an appreciation for Rivers.
“He’s just a good man,” Hill said. “He’s come up here and had some success, and you’re happy for him to be able to establish himself as one of the better coaches in the league.”
It was been a while since Hill played for Rivers, but the 40-year-old forward looked back on the things that earned Rivers respect in the Magic locker room at the beginning of the last decade.
“He’s been a player,” Hill said. “He knows what it’s like to lace ’em up. He’s a great communicator. He holds you accountable. He’s honest. Like I said, communication is really one of his strong points.”
Check out Hill’s comments in the video below.
