NBA legend Isiah Thomas believes today's players would've aspired to become like Grant Hill or Penny Hardaway if they didn't get injured.
Thomas aired his sentiments during the May 29 episode of NBA TV's “Open Court,” via the network's official Twitter account.
The two biggest what-ifs for me in terms of injuries is Grant Hill and Penny Hardaway. If those two don't get injured when they came along at the time they came along, no big guys was doing what they were doing. Like at 6'7″, 6'8″, that type of athleticism, that type of handle.
Magic (Johnson) had athleticism, but Magic didn't have no crossover. Grant Hill came in, Penny Hardaway came in…they were two of the best athletes that I had ever seen. And they had ball-handling skills no big guys had at the time.
You know, if those two don't get hurt, then it's..it's a different day. It's a totally different day in terms of what players are imagining they can be
“If those two didn’t get hurt, it’s a totally different day in terms of what players are imagining they can be.”
– @IsiahThomas on Grant Hill and Penny Hardaway #OpenCourt pic.twitter.com/B7TFZzpcF5
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 30, 2019
Thomas also stressed versatile big men such as 2014 NBA MVP Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors “would've come sooner” had Hill and Hardaway not gotten injured.
There's a lot of truth to what Thomas said: a healthy Grant Hill or Penny Hardaway would've set the trend for big, versatile, and athletic players during their heyday. Alas, the thought of what could've been, intrigued Thomas.
Nonetheless, today's NBA fans are enjoying watching the likes of Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, and LeBron James tear up the league. It shouldn't change anytime soon.
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