:24 HOOP: The Suns are back in the playoffs after sitting one out last season. What are your expectations this year?
HILL:We’re going in to win. We’re not just happy to be there. But it does feel good. It’s good for the team, good for the psyche of the young guys, good for the organization.
:23 HOOP:How much fun have the last few years been, being able to play relatively injury free1 and be a significant contributor again?
HILL:The last three years have been great. A great bunch of guys, a great environment and, of course, it’s good to be healthy. So I’m having the most fun I’ve had in my career.
:22 HOOP:We saw your tweet asking why broadcasters have to give your age every time you touch the ball.
HILL:I don’t really hear what goes on during the game, but my wife informs me of that. She’s always asking, “Why do they always have to mention your age?” But it’s all good. It’s a compliment.
:21 HOOP: Well, you are almost old enough to be Robin Lopez’ father, after all.
HILL:Well, I did have a fling with somebody when I was 14 in Fresno [laughs]. No, I’m just playing.
:20 HOOP:You’re now the third-oldest player in the League behind Shaq and Kurt Thomas. What do you think when you hear that?
HILL:Just that a lot of the guys I came in with are gone. The guys from our era are moving on. There are very few of us left. When I’m playing now, I feel like I’m representing all those guys that are retired.
:19 HOOP:Are you going to outlast Shaq and Kurt?
HILL:Definitely. I’m the oldest starter now with Shaq out hurt [laughs] [Ed note: at the time of the interview, the Diesel was nursing a thumb injury]. I might be able to squeeze out another couple years.
:18HOOP: Tell us about your cross training during the summer.
HILL: I just try to do things outdoors that I can’t do during the season, so I paddle surf, kayak, cycle, swim, play tennis. It keeps me in shape.
:17HOOP:Stand-up paddle surfing?
HILL:It’s a great core workout. You’re balancing the whole time, paddling, outside on the water. It’s calm water. You’re not in the ocean or anything, but it’s fun.
:16HOOP: What would you like to do after your career?
HILL:I thought about it a lot earlier in my career, because of all the injuries. Obviously, I’ve prepared myself, but right now I’m just focusing on enjoying these last few years of playing.
:15HOOP:Is your mom still pushing a political career?
HILL:Not really. She always wanted it when I was younger, but there are ways to serve without getting into politics. As long as I do that in some form, my parents will be happy.
:14HOOP:Is it true you got a call from President Clinton the night you got drafted?
HILL:Yeah. I had known him for a long time, as my mom and [Hillary Clinton] were college roommates. So he had seen me play when I was younger. But it was cool to have the President call me on draft night.
:13HOOP:And you called President Obama on election night, right?
HILL:I don’t know if I called him on election night, but I’ve seen him a few times since. Steve [Nash] and I went and saw him while we were in DC this year.
:12HOOP:What's his game like?
HILL:He probably thinks he’s better than he is [laughs]. But he’s a passer, a good facilitator, runs the show, has good leadership out there on the floor. He’s probably the best president that’s ever played.
:11HOOP:Back to your post-NBA career, maybe you could be a DJ. We hear that you enjoy mixing a little bit?
HILL:Not me. That’s J-Rich. I used to fool around6 with that when I was in high school, but I have not been on the turntable since I’ve been in the NBA.
:10HOOP:After seeing your new Twitter7 avatar, we think you’d make a good DJ.
HILL:I was getting ready to go to a concert in 1986, the Fresh Fest with Whodini, Doug E. Fresh, and a bunch of rappers. That was a very LL Cool J, Washington DC influence.
:09HOOP:What photos do you have that you hope will never surface?
HILL:We all have embarrassing photos at embarrassing ages. I used to go to Up Against the Wall [a mall clothing store], and dress with the parachute pants, the bad flat-tops, all that stuff. Luckily I have all the photos, so no one can get a hold of them.
:08HOOP: You were a big New Edition fan back in the day, right?
HILL:All-time greatest boy band. I think they were underrated. The ‘80s were their reign. Obviously, they’re still around, but those were great times and great music.
:07HOOP: Bobby Brown or Johnny Gill era?
HILL:Bobby Brown. I actually went on stage with Bel Biv Devoe9 once, too. We had just won the championship at Duke and they were at Carolina performing, and they brought us up on stage. Me, [Christian] Laettner, Bobby Hurley.
:06HOOP:Did you know all of their dance moves?
HILL:Not BBD, but New Edition. I still know them. I’m hoping my wife will get them for a concert for my birthday one of these years. Maybe my 40th. A private New Edition concert for 100 of my closest friends.
:05HOOP:Is HOOP invited?
HILL:You might be. I don’t have many friends.
:04HOOP: What does Tamia think of your dance moves?
HILL:When we dance together she’s always trying to be sexy and I’m trying to be funny, so it doesn’t work all that well together.
:03HOOP:What are you listening to on your iPod right now?
HILL: I tend to listen to stuff probably from ’85 to ’96. That was my favorite era..
:02HOOP:You sent a tweet thanking Steve Jobs for the iPad. Did you get a preview pad?
HILL:Oh no, I think that was my buddy. I just retweeted him. I’m not like Nash, I don’t have all the new stuff.
:01HOOP:How about a group or song that would surprise our readers?
HILL:Goo Goo Dolls, [singing] “I don’t want the world to see me, cause I don’t think they’d understand.” Or Red Hot Chili Peppers, [singing again] “What I’ve got you’ve got to give it to your mamma.”
EXCLUSIVE WEB OVERTIME:
HOOP:Are you ever amazed that you're still playing in the league and playing at such a high level, considering all the injuries that you suffered and the surgeries you had?
HILL:No, not amazed. I think I've worked hard and put my body through a lot. I actually expected to have these types of results. When I came out here to Phoenix, I expected to do well and I expected to be able to play, and was really feeling like I had something to prove. So I'm not amazed, but it certainly feels good to accomplish the goals that I've set.
HOOP:Do you see any similarities between your game early in your career and any of the younger guys in the league now? Maybe someone like LeBron, who is a high-scorer, but who also grabs boards, hands out assists, leads his team like you did?
HILL:He's more powerful. He's a power guy. But you certainly see a lot of guys, or hear from guys who say they enjoyed watching me play when they were young and patterned their games on what I did. The thing is, I did the same thing. Guys in my generation watched those before us.
HOOP:Does it ever make you feel old, having these young guys like Lopez or Earl Clark as teammates?
HILL:Yeah, there are certain video games or songs, or certain events that happened that they have no recollection of. So that always kind of dates you a little bit.
HOOP:Do you think you'll stay involved in basketball after your playing career is over? Maybe coaching or broadcasting?
HILL:I don't know. Maybe broadcasting. It's hard to say. Right now I don't have any desire to do anything in the front office or coaching. But when you're away from the game, who knows what you start thinking or how you start missing things. We'll see how it all plays out.
HOOP:Have you ever considered acting? You've done some sitcoms, a lot of TV commercials.
HILL:No, I've never really thought too much about that. You know, I stay in my lane.
HOOP:You've been in a music video, too.
HILL:Yeah, I was in one. What was the group? Hey Jay (Gaspar, Suns equipment manager)… What rock group was I in that video for? Nickelback, that was it, "Rock Star." I'd never really heard of them before. They must have been desperate if they wanted me (laughs).
HOOP:What's your favorite commercial you've ever done?
HILL:I think the Sprite commercials were funny. They were pretty entertaining and I wasn't afraid to make fun of myself a little bit.
HOOP:If you could endorse any product, what would it be?
HILL:Probably my Apple. I’ve got an Apple laptop that I really like. I’m not a PC (laughs). I like the idea behind it, but I also just like the internet, in general, and what a great tool it is for communication and for research.
HOOP:Why haven't you starred in one of Nash's videos yet?
HILL:Not interested. It's not about me, it's about the young guys. I've had my acting experience. It's about them getting on and enjoying themselves. Sometimes I'll help out behind the camera, or help him with some ideas, but I'm not interested in being in front of the camera.
HOOP:What do you think of his vision?
HILL:You can't take them too serious. He's just having fun. The current one is sort of an inside joke, from when we went to Vegas for New Year's. That's where the idea came from. We saw somebody standing like that. So it's just funny, just being silly. But in terms of his real vision, he obviously has more substance, he's very intelligent and very funny. I think he just does this for fun.
HOOP:You retweet a lot of #OMGfacts. Give us an #OMGfact about Grant Hill that nobody knows.
HILL:I'm addicted to Spider Solitaire. I play it before every game. An hour before the game, I'll be in the locker room putting heat packs on and playing Spider Solitaire. I play a lot before shoot around, too. For some reason I don't feel like I'm ready to play if I don't play at least 10 to 15 minutes. It's fun.
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