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George Hill News & Rumors

Foul trouble constrains Hill's contributions to a minimum
May 14
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers starting point guard George Hill had foul trouble impact him more than any of his starting teammates in their Game 1 loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday. Hill played only 25 minutes because the foul trouble. "It messed my rhythm all up," Hill said. "I felt like I had it going a little bit, especially in the first quarter, and then a couple of crazy fouls." Hill scored seven points on 3-of-4 shooting in the first quarter."
Hill to remain starter at point guard
April 21
Indianapolis Star
 
"Darren Collison has started 56 of 57 games this season and hasn't done anything wrong other than get injured. George Hill has stepped in for him and led the Indiana Pacers to their longest winning streak in eight years. As gut wrenching as the process was, coach Frank Vogel knew he had to look out for the betterment of the team. That's why he decided to stick with the hot hand as his starting point guard. Vogel announced Friday that Hill will remain the starter even when Collison returns from his sore groin. "The way (the team is) rolling right now, I don't think you mess with that chemistry," Vogel said. "You keep it, you stay the course and that's the plan." The Pacers are 7-0 since Hill"
Pacers like this point guard question: Darren Collison or George Hill?
March 28
Indianapolis Star
 
"It's the position that's been the most scrutinized this season. Is it Darren Collison at the point and then George Hill? Or is it Hill, then Collison? It's both, actually. Indiana PacersIndiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel doesn't regard it as a point guard controversy. He looks at it as a luxury. To Vogel, the Pacers have two starting point guards. "George would be a starter on most teams and, obviously, Darren Collison is one of the best point guards in the league," Vogel said. "Yes, I absolutely feel like we have two starting point guards on our team.""
Pacers, Hill find their stride against Milwaukee
March 25
Indianapolis Star
 
"With the outcome determined and his teammates walking back onto the court after a fourth-quarter timeout Saturday night, Indiana Pacers guard George Hill plopped down in his seat on the bench and placed a towel over his body. Tired from playing three games in as many days? Possibly. But Hill was exhausted from dissecting the Milwaukee Bucks defense with pinpoint shooting and passes. Hill, less than a week from making the move to backup point guard, scored a season-high 24 points and dished out five assists in the Pacers' 125-104 victory over the Bucks at the Bradley Center. "He can do that," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "It's not there every night. No one can be hot every night. He comes"
Pacers notebook: Hill tries out new role
March 21
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers guard George Hill has played his best basketball of the season thinking shot first, pass second. Now Hill has to reverse that mindset because he has slid over to being the backup point guard. Hill played his first game as a Pacer predominantly being the backup point guard during Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. "I think it'll be a big transition, but at the same time, it's not something I'm not used to," Hill said."
Pacers: No Collison-Hill swap just now
March 9
Indianapolis Star
 
"Darren Collison, the Indiana Pacers' starting point guard, is in the type of funk that has left him questioning himself. Collison's backup, George Hill, is playing his best basketball since the Pacers acquired him last summer. Is it time for coach Frank Vogel to make a lineup change to try to jump-start his suddenly subdued team? "Yes, there's a thought process there, but I think George Hill has played better for us at shooting guard than he has at point guard," Vogel said after practice Thursday at Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse. "I don't anticipate any major shifts in the rotation.""
George Hill nears return to court
February 20
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers' bench could get stronger Tuesday against the New Orleans Hornets. Guard George Hill, who has missed the past 11 games with a chip fracture in his left ankle, is days from returning to the lineup. "We expect him back any day, possibly Tuesday or Wednesday (at Charlotte)," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. Hill has taken part in significant parts of the past two practices. The only thing he has yet to do is participate in scrimmages, which could happen today if Vogel decides to have one."
Hill's injury opens door for Price
February 2
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel is going back in time. Vogel said George Hill's injury will cause him to go back to the rotation he used last season when he had two players at point guard, two at shooting guard and two at small forward. A.J. Price, who has had to bide his time on the bench, will back up Darren Collison at point guard. Lance Stephenson will follow Paul George at shooting guard and Dahntay Jones backs up Danny Granger at small forward."
Loss of George Hill takes gleam off Pacers' 14-6 start
February 1
Indianapolis Star
 
"George Hill said he must take the bad with the good. The Indiana Pacers had some of both Tuesday night. Hill was sidelined indefinitely by a small chip fracture in his left ankle during the Pacers' 106-99 victory over the New Jersey Nets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. That injury, and letting an 18-point lead shrink to three, were negative notes for the Pacers in a game that otherwise featured a breakout by Paul George."
George Hill and Indiana Pacers blow past the Orlando Magic 106-85
January 30
Indianapolis Star
 
"George Hill's first season playing for his hometown Indiana Pacers hasn't been an easy transition. The former Broad Ripple High School and IUPUI star has spent the better part of the early season trying to get a feel for his role. Hill hasn't wanted to be too aggressive, but he has also wanted to be able to play his game. He hopes he has finally found a happy medium."
Pacers' Hill, Hibbert must wait on contract extensions
January 26
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers guard George Hill and center Roy Hibbert will have to wait until the summer to get their next contracts and find out where they'll be playing next season. The deadline for contract extensions passed Wednesday night with neither player agreeing to a new deal. They will be restricted free agents, meaning the Pacers can match any offer made to them, this summer. "We'll just wait until this summer and see what we can do," Pacers President Larry Bird said."
Pacers Granger, Hill may not play tonight
January 9
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers could be without two key rotation players, including one starter, for tonight's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Forward Danny Granger (food poisoning) and guard George Hill (back) will be game-time decisions tonight. Hill injured his back when Charlotte Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson threw him off his back while getting off the ground Saturday."
His dream job
December 26
Indianapolis Star
 
"The dream was no different for George Hill than for any other kid with NBA aspirations growing up. Hill dreamed of playing for his hometown Indiana Pacers every time he waited outside Market Square Arena for Chris Mullin to leave so Hill could have Mullin's finger braces. Or when Antonio Davis would play Sega Genesis with Hill while Davis waited to get his hair cut at the salon where Hill's mother worked. After three years of developing his game and learning from some of the best in San Antonio, Hill is home and preparing to live out that childhood dream. Hill, who was acquired from the Spurs in June, will make his regular-season debut with the Pacers tonight when they take on the Detroit"
Pacers guard Hill: 'They're calling me vet'
December 9
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers guard George Hill spent the first three years of his NBA career soaking in the knowledge of players like Tim Duncan, Tony Park and Manu Ginobili while with the San Antonio Spurs. Now Hill, who was traded in June, wants to pass some of that knowledge to his new teammates to help the Pacers improve on their first playoff appearance in five years last season. "Even though I'm going into my fourth year, they're calling me the vet," Hill said at Conseco Fieldhouse today. "You learn so much coming from the organization I came from. I'm just happy to be here. I'm going to try to bring some leadership to this team.""
Fans get a chance to see NBA talent at UIndy
September 24
Indianapolis Star
 
"he closest thing to an NBA game that area fans may see for a while takes place tonight at Nicoson Hall on the University of Indianapolis campus. Fans will have an opportunity to see in-state NBA talent Zach Randolph, George Hill, Gordon Hayward and others take on fellow NBA players John Wall, Caron Butler and Jeff Green in an exhibition game dubbed "Ball For It All." The teams feature players from the Indy Pro Am and the Washington, D.C.-based Goodman League. "I'm glad we were able to attract a well-known league like the Goodman to come to Indianapolis and compete against our group of players," Pro Am organizer Carlos Knox said. The game, which is expected to include as many as 19 NBA"
Hill's return is what's right with Pacers
June 28
Indianapolis Star
 columnist Bob Kravitz
"Edna and Darwin May are not related to George Hill, the newest Indiana Pacer. The Indianapolis natives are not part of his inner circle, haven't been to the family home, really don't know Hill beyond the fact that he's an Indianapolis Public Schools graduate, a former IUPUI star, a prodigal son coming home. So on an otherwise ordinary mid-summer day, the two retirees -- Edna once was a teacher and principal at the now-closed IPS School 98 -- chose to come downtown to be part of a crowd of roughly 125 people who watched Hill's introductory press conference Monday at Conseco Fieldhouse. Just because. "He represents IPS, he represents IUPUI, and we just wanted to be here to welcome him," Edna"
Pacers hope Hill provides leadership
June 28
Indianapolis Star
 
"George Hill watched and learned from the San Antonio Spurs' veteran stars for three years. Now he is being thrust into the same kind of leadership role with the Indiana Pacers. Hill said Monday he is ready to accept that challenge. "I think it's going to be a great experience," Hill said. "I've learned a lot from guys like Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Just try to bring a little leadership, things I know how to do that will help win games. I'm just going to try to use that to my advantage and try to help this team win basketball games and lead them in the right direction." Hill, acquired from San Antonio last week, was introduced Monday in front of about 125 friends, family"
Parker says he saw Hill as his 'little brother'
June 28
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Speaking to a French website Monday, point guard Tony Parker said he would miss backup George Hill, who was traded to Indiana on draft night for a package that included Kawhi Leonard. "I have confidence in (the front office's) ability to make good choices," Parker told 20minutes.fr. "It was still very difficult to separate from George Hill, because everyone loved him. Personally, I considered him my little brother. But the NBA is a business." In the same interview, Parker reiterated his desire to join the French national team for the ?EuroBasket tournament in Lithuania in August, but says he will not play if a lockout prevents him from obtaining insurances against injury. "If there's no"
Bird sought deal for Hill for some time
June 25
Indianapolis Star
 
"Skilled defensively. Versatile. Great work ethic. Those are some of the descriptions commonly used concerning George Hill. Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird watched Hill exhibit those traits on a regular basis during Hill's three years with the San Antonio Spurs. After a couple of years of being rejected by the Spurs, Bird's persistence finally paid off when San Antonio agreed to send the former Broad Ripple High School and IUPUI star back home Thursday night. "I think he is a great addition and he'll help us not only with his defensive ability but his scoring as well," forward Danny Granger said Friday. The Pacers immediately improved their roster when they acquired Hill from the Spurs"
Spurs trade Hill, acquire pair of first-rounders
June 24
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"The San Antonio Spurs knew they needed changes, and they used the NBA draft to start making some.

The Spurs kicked off an unusually busy draft for coach Gregg Popovich by trading backup point guard George Hill to the Indiana Pacers for their first-round pick, 6-foot-7 forward Kawhi Leonard of San Diego State. San Antonio then picked Texas guard Cory Joseph at No. 29 overall.

Although Hill has always played behind Tony Parker during his three NBA seasons, Popovich has long lauded Hill as his "favorite player" and predicted he would eventually transition from a role player into a star for the Spurs.

But San Antonio's outlook changed after a 61-win season came to a crashing halt in the"

Trading Hill was hard, but a Parker deal was never likely
June 24
San Antonio Express-News
 columnist Mike Monroe
"Tony Parker played soccer in New York City on Wednesday, then kicked aside suggestions he would welcome a trade from a Spurs team whose ability to contend for future NBA titles he questioned a few weeks ago. He loved playing for the Spurs, Parker told reporters after the conclusion of Steve Nash's charity soccer game. He hoped the rumors weren't true, he assured. He didn't really say those nasty things about the Spurs' future competitiveness, he asserted. Reports that the Spurs were discussing deals involving the three-time All-Star and MVP of the 2007 NBA Finals weren't fiction. But the talks were initiated by teams that had a sense the Spurs were in a mood to blow up their core after the"
George Hill coming home: Draft day trade sends Hill from Spurs to Pacers
June 24
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird has spent the past couple of years talking about the need to acquire veteran players to speed the team's development. Bird did that Thursday night, and he accomplished it while also bringing a local standout back home. The Pacers acquired George Hill, a Broad Ripple High School graduate and former IUPUI star, from the San Antonio Spurs for the NBA draft's No. 15 pick -- San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard -- and the No. 42 pick -- big man Davis Bertans. The Pacers also gave up the rights to forward Erazem Lorbek, who has been playing in Europe since 2005. The Pacers used part of the $3.5 million trade exception they acquired in the Troy Murphy deal with the"
Could George Hill be the Spurs guard to be swapped?
June 23
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Multiple reports are indicating that the Spurs have offered George Hill to a variety of teams for a pick at the end of the lottery. The Draft Express' Jonathan Givony tweeted today that Hill has been offered to Milwaukee (No. 10), Golden State (No. 11) and Utah (No. 12) for their first-round picks. Those picks would put the Spurs in position to pick a player who reportedly has caught their eye in recent days — 6-foot-7 Washington State guard Klay Thompson."
Hill's surge swings momentum
April 28
San Antonio Express-News
 
"When George Hill took the court to start the fourth quarter at the AT&T Center on Wednesday, his team had already blown a 16-point lead. He had spent much of the night being outplayed by Greivis Vasquez. And he hadn't made a single basket. "Things weren't going my way," Hill said. Fortunately for the Spurs, he figured out a way to change his own fortune. With the rest of the offense foundering and no one looking ready to take over, Hill attacked the rim on three consecutive possessions, scored six quick points and spearheaded a fourth-quarter surge that led to a 110-103 victory in Game 5 of their series with Memphis. "I had to do what I could to get going," Hill said. It wasn't just his"
Spurs' Hill, Memphis' Conley rekindle old times
April 22
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Shortly before the start of the playoffs, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich pulled guard George Hill aside and issued marching orders only he could understand. Once the postseason began, Popovich said, he wanted the mild-mannered Hill to transform into an alter ego named Indiana George. "Pop means Indiana George from back in Indianapolis," Hill said. "Just being a freak of nature on offense." In the other huddle in this first-round series, running point guard for Memphis, is a player who knows Indiana George well. "That guy," Mike Conley said, "was lethal." Growing up within a few miles of each other in Indianapolis, as friends and adversaries, Hill and Conley never dreamed they would one day"
Hill comes through with two key free throws
April 21
San Antonio Express-News
 
"The Spurs led by two points with 14.4 seconds left as Antonio McDyess looked for an open teammate from the sideline. George Hill saw the Grizzlies double-teaming Manu Ginobili, who had missed six of 13 free throws, and made sure he darted to an open area. It was one of his best decisions of the game. McDyess found Hill, who had been money from the line all night. He was fouled immediately, then made his seventh and eighth straight free throws of the game. "They did a great job guarding Manu," Hill said. "I just had to go opposite where Manu was going. They jumped and denied him, so I made a move for the ball. It worked out in our favor." Hill finished with 16 points and was 2 for 2 from"
Hill helps Spurs get over the hump
April 4
San Antonio Express-News
 
"As the losses piled up to unthinkable heights, and the Spurs' once unapproachable lead in the Western Conference dwindled to next to nothing, Matt Bonner found himself looking back in time and across an ocean for perspective. Playing for an Italian team, Sicilia Messina, as a professional rookie in 2003, Bonner not only endured a losing streak longer than the one the Spurs ended Sunday with a 114-97 demolition of Phoenix. His team finished dead last. "It wasn't my fault though," Bonner said. "The team went bankrupt, and a couple guys stopped showing up." Say this much about the Spurs' six-game losing streak, the club's longest since 1996-97: At least the checks still cleared. The"
Thumb injury doesn't keep Hill out
January 23
San Antonio Express-News
 
"An hour before the Spurs' 96-72 loss to the Hornets on Saturday, guard George Hill emerged from the locker room at New Orleans Arena and headed for the court. Nearby, coach Gregg Popovich interrupted his pregame briefing with reporters to engage in some investigative journalism of his own. "Georgie, they want to know if you're playing," he called after Hill. Hill didn't answer verbally but did give a thumbs-up as he walked away. Considering the nature of his injury - a sprained right thumb - the response was ambiguous. That ambiguity continued up until game time, but in the end - with the thumb heavily padded - Hill decided to give it a go. He logged 19 minutes, 25 seconds of the Spurs'"
Hill's recent surge keyed by extra work, confidence
December 3
San Antonio Express-News
 
"After struggling through a slow start early this season, Spurs guard George Hill has rebounded with a strong recent stretch. Hill shot only 36 percent from the field and averaged 8.0 points per game during his first eight games. But he's bounced back to score in double figures in six consecutive games, averaging 14.3 points and shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from 3-point range."
Hill adjusting to life back on the bench
November 26
San Antonio Express-News
 
"When it comes to George Hill, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich eschews labels. He doesn't care if the third-year guard starts or comes off the bench, plays point guard or shooting guard. "I just want him to play basketball," Popovich said, "and not worry about anything else." Basketball has always been a care-free endeavor for Hill, whose comfort-level under the bright lights of the NBA has ?? always belied his mid-major college roots. Earlier this season, however, Hill admits to feeling a little out of sorts. Moved back to the bench and asked to provide the sort of reserve spark traditionally supplied by Manu Ginobili, Hill at first struggled to rediscover the feel-good groove with which he"
Hill perfect vs. Pacers
October 27
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Acutely aware most of his closest friends in his hometown of Indianapolis will be watching the Spurs' regular season opener against the Pacers tonight, Spurs guard George Hill hopes to keep alive his perfect record against the team he grew up idolizing. Leaning down to tap on the hardwood court at the team's practice facility, Hill said working out with Pacers players during the offseason time he spends in his hometown serves only to heighten his desire to retain summertime bragging rights. The Spurs have won all four games against the Pacers since Hill joined the team for the 2008-09 season. "That's the goal. I never want to lose to my hometown team," he said. "That's always good. It's"
Spurs' Hill works overtime to end slump
October 25
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Spurs guard George Hill swears he is not the superstitious type. That's probably a good thing, given the way he shot the ball during the preseason. "If I was superstitious, everything would be changing right now," Hill said. "I might come in with a mohawk, my eyebrows dyed, something to change it up." With his third NBA season set to open Wednesday against Indiana, Hill aims to alter his bad preseason mojo the old-fashioned way. Instead of rubbing a rabbit's foot or sacrificing a chicken, he hit the practice gym. Immediately after going 2 for 9 in the Spurs' preseason finale Thursday against Houston, Hill — the player coach Gregg Popovich is counting on as his sixth man with Manu Ginobili"
Hill's team option picked up by Spurs
October 21
San Antonio Express-News
 
"In what could go down as the least-surprising Spurs-related news story of the season, the team announced Wednesday it has exercised its fourth-year contract option on guard George Hill, locking him up through the 2011-12 campaign. Hill, a favorite of coach Gregg Popovich, is slated to make $1.39 million next season, the final year of his original rookie-scale contract. It will likely be the last time he comes so cheap. Selected out of IUPUI as the 26th overall pick in 2008, Hill is coming off a sophomore season in which his scoring average jumped nearly seven points to 12.4 per game. He shot a team-best 39.9 percent from 3-point range and was a runner-up to Houston's Aaron Brooks for the"
Spurs Exercise Fourth Year Option On George Hill
October 20
NBA.com
 
"The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have picked up the fourth year contract option on guard George Hill. He is now signed through the 2011-12 season. An early entry candidate, out of IUPUI, in the 2008 NBA Draft, Hill was selected by the Spurs in the first round with the 26th overall pick. Last season Hill enjoyed a breakout year finishing second in Most Improved Player voting. He appeared in 78 games, including 43 starts, averaging 12.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 29.2 minutes while shooting .478 (353-738) from the floor, .399 (75-188) from the three-point line and .772 (183-237) from the free throw line."
Hill's tech a teaching tool
October 14
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Throughout training camp, during intrasquad scrimmages, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has instructed visiting referees to be quick with the whistle when calling technical fouls. It was Popovich's way of preparing his team for the NBA's new low-tolerance technical rule, which allows officials to tee up any call-protesting gesture deemed over the top. In Tuesday's 100-99 preseason win against the L.A. Clippers in Mexico City, guard George Hill became the Spurs' first official victim of the new mandate. At a critical juncture — the Spurs up two with 27.2 seconds left — Hill was whistled for a questionable reach-in foul against Eric Gordon and reacted by throwing up his hands and stomping to"
Hill working on leadership skills
October 4
San Antonio Express-News
 
"After a breakout sophomore season that made him co-runner-up in voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player, the next step in guard George Hill's development is on-court leadership. The Spurs' coaching staff wants Hill to be more assertive and vocal on the court — not an easy transition for a player who prefers to let his game do the talking. After leading all scorers in Sunday's public scrimmage at the AT&T Center, Hill made it clear his game still shouts. The combo guard from IUPUI made six of 12 shots and all eight of his free throws, scoring 20 points in a 48-minute Black vs. Silver game played with a running clock. The vocal leader role remains a work in progress. "(I've added) a little"
Spurs' Hill: Parker not expendable
July 28
San Antonio Express-News
 
"It's still two months and a few days before the Spurs begin training camp, but it's never too early to challenge a widespread misperception. Though he was the Spurs' starting point guard for 18 of the final 23 regular-season games and all 10 playoff games, George Hill wants the basketball loving world to know his rapid development at the position has not rendered three-time All-Star point guard Tony Parker expendable, no matter how much speculation to the contrary has hit the rumor mill this summer. Hill has seen and heard most of the rumors, which aver that Hill's progress, combined with the fact Parker's contract expires after next season, makes Parker prime trade bait. "I've heard that"
Spurs' Hill gains some momentum
May 6
San Antonio Express-News
 
"After getting burned by Suns veteran Steve Nash in the first quarter of Game 1, George Hill started Game 2 on Wednesday with two goals in mind: play Nash tougher and stay out of foul trouble. "I guess that foul thing didn't work out so well in the first half," Hill said after the Suns' 110-102 victory at US Airways Center. "I still picked up a couple of cheap fouls." Hill was moderately encouraged by his Game 2 shooting that produced 14 points. After missing five times from 3-point range in Game 1, he made 2 of 5 threes from his favorite spots in the corners in Game 2. "It felt good to make a couple, but I'm still not knocking them down the way I'm used to," he said. "I've got to get back"
Hill, Duncan reunited in second round
May 4
San Antonio Express-News
 
"When Game 1 of the Spurs-Suns Western Conference semifinal playoff series tipped off Monday at US Airways Center, Phoenix forward Grant Hill officially moved past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in his 16-year career. Hill insists he has no time for regrets, but there was a time, 10 years ago this summer, when he envisioned teaming up with Spurs captain Tim Duncan as the nucleus of a perennial championship contender in Orlando. Free agents represented by the same attorney, the two NBA All-Stars had flown together to Orlando on July 1, 2000, greeted there like visiting royalty. The whirlwind tour complete, Duncan and his wife-to-be, Amy, returned to San Antonio, where a"