"The full, frank story of a remarkable life's journey-to the pinnacle of success as a basketball player, icon, and entrepreneur, to the depths of personal trauma and back, to a place of flourishing and peace-made possible above all by a family's love"--
Game is Grant Hill’s autobiography. He grew up outside of DC in VA. His dad was former NFL player and his mom worked for the Pentagon then in consulting. They were strict yet supportive every step of the way in Grant’s athletic and academic journey. He grew up as a huge Georgetown fan but really liked Coach K and Duke after his recruiting visits.
Grant details his college basketball experience at Duke, highlighting specific games and learning experiences. The team won 2 national championships and reached the Final Four 3 times during his 4 years at Duke.
Grant went on to be drafted by the Detroit Pistons and play in the NBA for almost 20 years, but those years were not without injury, mediocre medical advice, and some various team drama. He also played for the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and LA Clippers. Today, he’s a partial owner of the Atlanta Hawks.
In Game, Grant also touches on his personal life, meeting his wife, Tamia, and becoming a father to two girls. I was excited in 4th grade when I got his Pistons basketball card and while I haven’t always been a fan of his teams, respect him as a person and a player. This book will mostly appeal to basketball fans, especially Duke and Hill fans.
Having been a frequent reader of NBA books & memoirs, I’m skeptical when I see a new player memoir being released. They often feel like a bunch of stats and thin recollections that barely keep my attention. This book has now set the standard for a sports memoir. Grant Hill takes you inside the game and provides enough detail of not only of what happened but why he made the decisions that he did that you can’t help but be absorbed. A fantastic read for fans and non-fans of the NBA and Grant Hill
I’m a fan of the NBA and college ball, and remember Grant Hill being great, until he got hurt. I was excited to see this book drop and learn how he dealt with that adversity.
But this book was a chore.
There’s a thread of pettiness that gets tiresome (e.g. bagging journalists who wrote unfavorable stories, teammates who weren’t as committed, proving his love of hip hop).
The big stories are there, but feel imbalanced. You meet all of his Duke roommates and teammates with detail and get specific stats for dozens of inconsequential games from both college and pros. Chapters and chapters on that. But comparatively shallow depth of reflection on his injuries, rehab (or lack thereof), and his thought process there.
For all the talk of developing craft (as a player, broadcaster, businessman), Grant didn’t seem to apply those lessons to his writing.
I watched it happen. The alley-oop in the championship game when he jumped to the rafters. The ascension toward basketball royalty. The playoffs where he gutted through a broken foot, and we all shook our heads that they suckered him into playing. He was never the same after that. Frankly, he disappeared. He never got to where he was headed.
I loved all the insights this book gave into the injuries, and was bewildered at how callously teams treated his health and their investments. It's astonishing, frankly. This guy could have been one of the all-time greats, and they cheated us all.
Hill is probably too nice a guy to write a tell-all -- he seems to get to the edge of saying what he really thinks a few times, but then backs away. Don't look for him to unload freely on his adversaries here. Still, he tells us just enough that we can read between the lines.
In all, a fascinating look into the career and life of Grant Hill.
Game by Grant hill was a very good book. The book examines his life and his career in basketball. I don’t read a lot of sports books but this one is very open and honest.
Lifelong Duke basketball 🏀 fan, so when I found out about this book, I had to read it! Actually, I listened to the audiobook, and Grant Hill reads it, which is always my favorite with an autobiography! I am a sucker for a good memoir—especially from someone I have admired from afar. I feel that it humanizes the person, and I enjoy that! I remembered so many of the players, games, historical events that he mentions in the book. It was insightful to hear about those occurrences from his perspective. The most surprising discovery for me was learning about how archaic sports medicine/athletic training/medical resources were in the 90s and early 2000s. Hill was riddled with injuries during his NBA career. Those injuries became nagging ones primarily because of poor medical care/testing/rehab—while he was in the NBA 🤯 To see how the field of sports medicine has advanced over the last couple of decades was mind blowing. I enjoyed the book immensely!
Grant Hill is truly a good guy, and this is exactly the memoir you’d expect from him. He recalls the big events of his basketball career, especially his four years playing under Mike Krzyzewski, and if you didn’t know better, you would read this book without realizing just how great he was. I like Grant Hill, and I enjoyed spending 400 pages in his company, and yet I’m sure that if he were a little less good, this memoir might have been a touch more interesting. Surely anyone who interacted with so many big personalities must have some juicy gossip to share, but you’re not going to get that here. Overall, no complaints, though. Great guy, pleasant read.
Audible sale 12 hours 43 min. Narrated by Grant Hill (A)
In 1991, I married an avid Duke basketball fan, and after the end of each hunting season, the next season was and still is devoted to Duke basketball 🏀 We spent our tv time searching for televised Duke games, and I was drawn to the unassuming young black player named Grant Hill while being astounding by the players Christian Latner and Bobby Hurley. That was back when players were recruited for four years, and not "one and done." Fans could watch players develop as athletes and teammates. We both shed tears when Coach K retired. In the spring of 2021, our second oldest grandchild graduated from North Carolina. She and her grandpa had spent "quality " time madly texting during games. Rub it in you Tar Heal, Abi. We still love you.
I'm not sure how to rate a memoir of a young man who is just a few months older than my son. I read a few GR reviews that refer to Grant as "privileged.""" If growing with two college educated parents in a committed marriage and to seeing their only son survive the drug culture, then I guess Grant is. Grant is from the metro DC. area Reston, VA, a planned community not far from Falls Church where I lived as a child. As a lover of history, ESPN's 30 for 30 had already provided me with background on this story.
The first half of the book is devoted to Grant's youth and details his years at Duke. I found this half riveting as these are the years I remember most. We don't watch professional basketball (not since Larry Bird retired ), so I couldn't relate as well with Grant's years as a professional ball player. However, I never realized how serious his injury to his ankle was nor that it had been incorrectly diagnosed and treated ineffectually. This almost cost him his leg.He was fortunate to have already had a good doctor at Duke Medical Center from his broken toe as a college player and the financial resources to fly there to receive the proper care. This section was harrowing for him as a young married man and a new father. Sports medicine has come a long way since then.
Another criticism I read was of Grant's many references to hip hop music. I don't see this as anything abnormal unless the reviewers were saying Grant used his music to make him sound "more black."" Look at his photo. He is black! His father took him to art galleries and instilled a love for art made by blacks. Grant's other major book is of his own personal art collection. I got off track. The vocabulary in this book rolls off Grant's tongue and will leave many readers reaching for a dictionary. Having listened to Grant read his own story, I could hear the influence of hip hop on his cadence. I wonder if others noticed? Although I am not a fan of that music myself, I think Grant's professions are genuine.
I think Grant Hill is as genuine in his reflections when there were some hard truths to be told, especially concerning the NBA teams and sports "medicine." I recommend this book to those who love Duke basketball or are fans of Grant Hill as an NBA player,
I’ve always been a big grant hill fan, and love sports books, so this book was a win-win! I thought Hill did a good job describing different people kindly while still showing faults. Interesting insight into the game.
This was a really good book. It gives insight into what makes Grant tick as he is candid and forthcoming in this autobiography. He was never the fiery leader type. More of a quiet kid and that is conveyed immediately. The interesting things that happen to him prior to college, at Duke, with the Pistons and then all of his ankle surgeries was very interesting. The years he lost over his ankle were crazy and I was blown away by what happened. I’d like to think the modern NBA would have given him better medical advice and not sabotaged his career. Grant doesn’t dish a ton of dirt on people but there were some eye opening things from time to time - especially with his injury.
As a Piston fan I was angry when he left. This book gave me more insight into his decision making at the time and now I’m angry at how little the Pistons did to keep him lol.
I was intrigued the whole time reading. Anyone who liked Grant Hill or wanted to know more about him and his career would really enjoy this book. I felt it was a very honest reflection and worth reading.
To say Grant Hill has lived a charmed life would not be inaccurate, but it certainly had some bumps in the road. From his upbringing by two successful parents (his father was Calvin Hill, an All-Pro NFL running back and his mother was a successful businesswoman) to an eventful basketball career complete with injuries and a near-death hospitalization to successful business ventures, Hill has many stories to share and he does so in this fast paced and fun-to-read memoir.
Having read this fairly quickly on an e-reader, I was surprised to see that the hardcover edition is 400 pages – it certainly didn’t read like a 400 page memoir. No matter what part of his life Hill is discussing, he does so in a manner that the reader will enjoy as it feels like Hill is sitting next to the reader, talking to them in plain language – even when discussing basketball strategy or later, medical terminology during his injury-plagued years while under contract for the Orlando Magic.
Those years were certainly the most frustrating for Hill, as he not only laments his lack of time on the court but also expresses his displeasure at the medical teams that treated him for his ankle injuries. One of the surgeries he underwent had complications due to infections and he nearly died in the hospital. He eventually recovered from these thanks to the medical teams at Duke University and was even able to play some more seasons as a role player for the Phoenix Suns.
It is only appropriate that Duke was the place for his medical recovery as that was where his basketball career really took off and his star rose quickly as in his four years as a Blue Devil, Duke won one championship and appeared in two additional championship games in Hill’s four years there. He was the third pick in the 1994 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons and immediately made an impact in the NBA as well, as his six years with the Pistons were successful for him individually but not as much for the team before he left for Orlando as a free agent.
The book is certainly not limited to his basketball career or his medical issues as he talks at length about his parents and their influence in his life, both in childhood and adulthood. He also spends much time discussing his marriage to Canadian singer Tamia and their two daughters. His love for hip hop music is evident throughout the book and he even dips into social and political commentary. The latter is written quite well and even-toned which was a welcome change from the divisive dialogue of today.
One doesn’t have to be a basketball fan to enjoy this book, although it does help when he is discussing his time at Duke and in Detroit, where much of the basketball talk is focused. The book is a great look at the man and his mostly humble personality. I say “mostly” because he isn’t shy in sharing his opinions when they enhance the discussion.
I wish to thank The Penguin Group for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
POPKULTUROWY KOCIOŁEK: Kiedy myślimy o Grancie Hillu, przed oczami staje nam obraz absolwenta elitarnego Duke, który zdominował ligę w połowie lat 90. Jednak książka Gra stara się odmienić ten wizerunek i pokazać człowieka z krwi i kości. Publikacja ta to przede wszystkim historia człowieka, który musiał mierzyć się z ogromnymi oczekiwaniami, kontuzjami i presją bycia „następcą Michaela Jordana”.
Książka zaczyna się od opisu dzieciństwa i młodzieńczych lat Hilla w uprzywilejowanej, choć wymagającej rodzinie, gdzie edukacja i sukces były na porządku dziennym. Autor nie unika tematów związanych z tożsamością Afroamerykanina w kontekście jego pochodzenia, pokazując wyzwania związane z akceptacją otoczenia. Hill splata osobiste doświadczenia z opowieścią o koszykówce akademickiej. Opisy meczów, taktyk czy zdobywania przez niego niezbędnego parkietowego doświadczenia są ciekawe. Niestety, nie można tego samego powiedzieć o wątkach pobocznych dotyczących muzyki czy polityki, które są przeciągnięte, a momentami wręcz nudne. Pojawia się w tej części publikacji również mnóstwo nazwisk i wydarzeń, które wymuszają na czytelniku uważną lekturę, w przeciwnym razie można poczuć się przytłoczonym.
Dalsza część publikacji to oczywiście parkiety NBA oraz ukazanie życia po zakończeniu kariery sportowej. Najciekawszym elementem publikacji jest jednak jego trudna i wymagająca walka z własnym ciałem. W książce znajdziemy szczere i dość szczegółowe opisy zmagań z kontuzjami. Hill otwarcie pisze o niekompetentnym leczeniu w Detroit i Orlando, które zagrażało nie tylko jego karierze, ale i zdrowiu. Poznajemy szczegóły trzech skomplikowanych operacji, problemy z rehabilitacją oraz niemal tragicznej infekcji szpitalnej. Czytamy tu o błędnych diagnozach, ignorowaniu bólu i zmuszaniu do gry na „blokadach”. Jest to pewnego rodzaju oskarżenie rzucone systemowi NBA, który w tamtych latach traktował zawodników bez litości. Widzimy więc dramat sportowca, który pomimo wielkiego talentu i ciężkiej pracy nie był w stanie osiągnąć swoich szczytów. Hill w opisywaniu swojej tragedii nie jest jednak zgorzkniały ani nadmiernie dramatyczny, cały czas stara się być rzeczowy....
Grant Hill’s “vibration” over all things basketball is evident in this honest, often self-effacing, autobiography. Despite a near-career-ending injury and a botched medical treatment and rehabilitation period, Hill couldn’t let go of the game, resulting ultimately in his installation into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. While Hill certainly recounts his experiences and feelings during the highest of pinnacle moments and during the most difficult challenges throughout his career, this is not a book which is dominated by a detailed game-by-game, season-by-season recounting of his or his team’s performances. Hill provides us with his player’s eye-view account of the flow of activities, his important relationships, his continuing efforts to build simultaneously his ongoing career as a player and the foundations of his post-player paths. His focus, determination, and resilience have been apparent and essential to his ongoing success.
“I own part of an NBA franchise, call college and pro games on television, started a mezzanine fund, have worked in real estate, and serve on several corporate boards. Down the road, I will assume stewardship as the managing director of the USA Basketball’s Men’s National Team,” Hill summarized to himself in 2018 as he awaited word about his Hall of Fame candidacy (pp. 364-65). He was selected. He is the current (2021-24) US Men’s National Basketball Team managing director as the team heads into the 2024 Olympics. His co-ownership of professional team franchises has expanded to include both Orlando’s men’s MLS and women’s NWSL teams as well as Major League Baseball’s Baltimore Orioles.
“Game” is an entertaining look at a great athlete as told in his own voice. Enjoy!
My expectations were pretty low, just because I am not a huge fan of biographies, but Mr. Hill defied my expectations. I should've known to expect excellence from a Dukie. I could sit for hours reading about the player experience under Coach K. The amount of respect that everyone has for Coach K, whether it is from a former player or even a former rival coach, is truly incredible. I am excited for my own experience with him coming soon (please ask me about this, I am so excited to meet him). Anyways, I did not know how both hard and successful Grant Hill's NBA career was. I definitely took for granted the training staff at Duke and how diligently they work to both prevent and monitor injuries - I didn't know there was a time where this wasn't the standard. I like how much Grant focused on his time at Duke, but I also would have loved to learn more about his business ventures post NBA career. I admire his ambitions in that aspect of his life and how he saw a bigger picture outside of basketball. His commencement speech was basically the section of his book about his mother. He came from amazing parents and I cannot imagine what an amazing woman his mother must have been - being an influential politician during such a tumultuous time. TY Dad for this book and I apologize for just getting around to reading it now.
I’ve always liked Grant Hill. I remember him launching the pass downcourt to Christian Laettner to hit one of the most iconic shots in college basketball history. I remember being disappointed when he got drafted by the Detroit Pistons (as a child who grew up loving basketball in the Jordan era, the Pistons were the enemy). I remember the “Grant Hill drinks Sprite” commercials.
Hill had all the talent in the world, but was chronically unlucky when it came to injuries. The man has had multiple surgeries and even almost died when his ankle turned septic, which undoubtedly hindered his career, placing him on the dreaded “what if” list of athletes.
Despite all of those injuries, he still had a great career, and was named to the Hall of Fame in 2018. Although he never won an NBA title (I was all-in on that Suns run in the late 2000’s), he still will go down as one of the icons of the late 90’s NBA, and a Duke legend.
This autobiography gives us a behind-the-scenes look at Grant’s life as a college star, NBA player, Olympian, TV analyst, and now team owner, and dives deep into his psyche. His empathetic story pulls back the curtain on the phone calls from doctors, agents, and coaches, while showing just how smart and hard-working he is both on and off the court.
Felt like the beginning really dragged and was seriously disjointed. I in fact almost gave up on it. Glad I didnt tho as I thought the chapters dealing with his NBA years were fascinating...as well as some of his insights into marriage and parenthood. The shoddy irresponsible health care doled out by some NBA teams...especially towards a franchise player was particularly revealing...and brutally disturbing to learn of. Upon reflection i suspect i didnt enjoy the early chapters as much because i was a superfan of Duke during the 80s-00s and not much of what Hill wrote of his years there was news to me. Most of that info has been revealed in other books, interviews and documentaries. I do wish he had included a bit more about his early upbringing...his life before bball entered the picture...and occasionally the book seems a bit snarky for someone who wants to allude at conversations or occurrences without being honest (or brave...or just too nice of a guy) enuff to give the whole "who what where when and how" of the story. Overall, it was a decent days read...but Im not sure i would recommend to anyone who isnt already a fan or at least semi interested in Hill already.
I’ve been a fan of Grant Hill, the athlete, for a long time. I didn’t know much about Grant Hill, the man. I was excited to dive in and learn more about him. I was intrigued by his parents and all that they accomplished. They raised a remarkable man. At times, I wondered if he was really as squeaky clean as he portrayed himself in the book. I really enjoyed reading about how his passion for basketball began. His retelling of his collegiate hoops days were a little long winded, but still interesting. His recap of his numerous injuries in his professional career was almost heartbreaking. I absolutely loved reading about his relationship with Tamia. Such a beautiful love story. I also enjoyed learning about his process to become part owner of the Atlanta Hawks. As a season ticket holder, I’ve had a few chances to meet him. He’s been incredibly nice each time. I’m so glad that I had a chance to learn more about him beyond his basketball feats.
Even though I am a big basketball fan I had not followed Grant Hill's career after he left Duke University. I did not realize all the pain and suffering of injury that he endured in the middle of his career while trying to justify his huge contract with Orlando. A long and winding road though helped by his amazing family, wife and support group including medical doctors and professionals along the way that made him the kind of all-star player that he was at the NBA level. Hugely talented and hard-working yet I think well-liked by most and well-received after he entered the broadcast booth, his story is one of endurance and perseverance which are traits all young basketball players should try to emulate.
I love Grant Hill, but the beginning of this book fell a little flat. I feel like too much time was spent naming players and games at Duke. I know that is when he was at his pentacle, but it went on for 13 of the 21 Chapters of the book. I wish he had spent more time talking about his relationship with Tamia, the injury and recovery. I do love that he shed light on how players were misdiagnosed and didn't receive quality care and rehab in the past. Overall it was a decent book. I definitely enjoy the latter half of the book than the first. I hope Tamia decides to write a book about her life too.
Grant Hill “Game - an Autobiography” is a very honest and forthcoming account about the life of Mr. Hill. It’s all here: his Duke days, back-to-back championship seasons, life in the NBA, injuries, more injuries, marriage, kids, injuries, and yes — more injuries.
The book is well written and it comes across just like Grant Hill does — easy going, honest, and someone who seems to have a good head on his shoulders. While some autobiographies can be self-indulgent, this one never comes across that way. Did I learn anything new about Grant Hill? A little — but overall this book is a great retrospective about a life and career that many of us followed from the 90s to today.
Grant Hill is one of my all-time favorite Duke basketball players. He's as nice and humble in person as he seems on TV. I loved reading about the stories from his playing days and learning more about what it was like being a player and how the game evolved. But, the writing is mediocre at best. I wanted to love the book more, and I appreciated his insights and recollections as a player. I was also aghast at how the NBA team doctors and staff were so indifferent to his injuries. Had he been properly diagnosed from his first injury as a pro, he might not have spent so much time off the court in hospitals and recovering from botched medical care.
Audiobook: Must read for college basketball fans, and even better read if you were in college in the 90's and got to see many of these great basketball match ups live in person. The first half of the book was dedicated to Grant's time at Duke and all of the amazing players during that time.
I knew he had dropped out of the NBA picture for a bit , but didn't realize the extent of the injury he was nursing after his time with the Pistons.
Even being a Michigan State fan (and huge Smitty/Steve Smith fan) I felt like I was back at one of those Duke/Michigan State games.
Grant Hill reads the audiobook and it is very well done.
Ostrożnie podchodzę do autobiografii, bo zwykle to po prostu przechwałki. To nie jest kolejna historia o chłopcu, który klepał biedę, a potem stał się KIMŚ. Na początku wybrzmiewało mi w niej dużo pokory, ale może po prostu po biografii MJ każdy sprawia wrażenie pokornego. 🤡 Książka pokazuje nam, że zdolności fizyczne mają jakąkolwiek szansę na sukces, tylko przy jednoczesnej ogromnej sile psychicznej. To nie jest książka o koszykówce, ale o człowieku, kontuzjach, kompromisach, a także o trenerskim kunszcie. Może kompozycja książki ze szczegółowymi opisami meczów (zwłaszcza tych szkolnych) to nie jest najlepszy pomysł, ale finalnie czyta się bardzo przyjemnie.
I like Grant Hill and I think he contributes a lot to the world as an ambassador for basketball and people. The most engaging parts of this book are Hill’s reflections on his struggle through injury, which unfortunately plagued Hill’s pro career. The last chapter, in which Hill reflects on how training in sports has evolved, is the most engaging, and I wish he had spent more time opining on the state of the game. I would’ve preferred less comprehensive autobiography and more careful pit stops at the harrowing challenges Hill endured and ultimately triumphed over by way of a heck of a lot of grit.
Hill's "Game" is an enjoyable and easy read for any sports fan wanting a glimpse into the realities of a star NBA player. From his time as a high school player, to his role in the Christian Laettner's "The Shot", to his injury-riddled NBA career, you follow Hill every step of the way and see how the effects of one's job can create a mental toll. The part of the book when he talks about his injuries was very eye opening, and the loneliness of the spotlight is something that makes these unreal stars feel human. If you're into basketball or just want a story about a man and his resilience, then this is a great read for you.
A better title might be “Resentments.” Grant resents Coach K’s cruel treatment of his roommate Tony Lang. He resents Joe Dumars for being a terrible teammate in Detroit. He resents being called Uncle Tom because he has two parents, both of which are successful. He resents his poor medical treatment at Duke, Detroit, and Orlando, limiting his basketball career. He does not resent his network of Duke business types that have helped him have a lucrative post-NBA career. Recommended read for Duke fans; otherwise, not so sure.
Grant’s true story was one that has escaped me for some time. Growing up I knew he was a BAD man, just didn’t appreciate / know the full scope of his game. I loved how real this way, how honest he was throughout, especially in the moments where there were some hard truths to tell. I didn’t know much about his time at Duke, and that ended up being one of my favourite parts of the book. It has also given me a newfound appreciation of players today protecting themselves at times from medical professionals who are clearly conflicted between the patient (the player) and their employer (the team).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.