YouTube Gold: Grant Hill’s Commencement Speech

One of Duke’s most treasured graduates comes home for graduation

Grant Hill has always had a special relationship with Duke fans. We all admired Christian Laettner’s fire but he wasn't exactly a warm and fuzzy guy. Bobby Hurley was beloved for his intensity and heart. But Hill?

He was impossible not to love and admire. Aside from his elegant game, he always seemed good-natured and approachable. He just seemed like a good dude all the way around. He’d gut you just like Laettner and Hurley, to be sure, but he just always seemed like a more approachable guy than his celebrated teammates.

So it was no surprise that he was asked to give Duke’s commencement speech Sunday.

Hill’s post-Duke life has been crazy. He was a superb NBA talent until a series of injuries derailed his career. He rebuilt it though, despite immense odds, and finished with a 19-year run and tons of admiration from fans and colleagues alike.

He works for CBS during the NCAA tournament each year and does NBA games as well. He is a part-owner of the Atlanta Hawks. He now runs USA Basketball, helping to secure another gold medal last summer. He’s involved in many other enterprises and is even a Duke trustee. The guy is pretty remarkable.

Here’s his commencement speech. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

A lot of highly promising people are in that sea of students, but we’d like to salute on in particular: Dav King. He has contributed to DBR in various ways over the last several years and leaves Duke with a passion for basketball that we hope endures as his career begins to unfold. Thanks for your contributions, Dav! Congratulations! Now go kill it!

Sincerely,

Uncle Julio