NBA.com Hill Knows his Time Will Come

by Tommy Dee on November 16th, 2009 at 3:00 pm

Via Chris Creed (nba.com)

“…But more importantly, his play over the two-game span got the attention of his head coach.

“It’s time I have to start playing him some,” Mike D’Antoni said following the Cavs game. “We have to start developing him little by little.”

With a number of veteran “bigs” ahead of him on Coach D’Antoni’s depth chart, Hill understands he must be patient and absorb as much about the game as he can until his number gets called.

“I have to wait my turn and keep working,” he said. “I might get two minutes one game and 15 the next. I just have to stay ready and be prepared.”

The Jordan Hill story has only begun to be written and time will tell whether it becomes a best seller. But the person most instrumental in deciding the length of that story, to this point, feels there is enough character development to keep reading.

“He showed some promise and he’s very athletic,” said D’Antoni. “He’s got a ways to go, but I do think it’s something we need to look at and keep developing.”

Hill’s career in New York has spanned just a handful of games so far in the young 2009-10 NBA season, but in his brief tenure he has a clear understanding of what he needs to do and is willing to put in the time to get there.

“To get on the floor and help my team out as much as possible,” he said of his goals for the season. “Give it my all and play my game. I love to play basketball. I have to keep working hard and I know my time will come…”
  • Bob

    “”.CRICKETS” ” ” “

  • HaS

    LOL I was thinking the same thing, but I didn’t want to say anything. Damn Bob, you’re ruthless! Haha

    Seriously I hope this kid has something that I haven’t seen yet. Unfortunately, it’s probably 2 years down the road. He seems like a less athletic Sean Williams with a jumper and without the off-court issues.

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    hill will be a double double machine with 2 steals an 2 blocks when he gets it going….

    i don’t know when that will be or if what i wrote will happen but DOUG is seasoned an ready to go.

    sit duhon let him learn a few things from the rookie..lmao..

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    i guess the knicks were that good of a team that they could afford to use there lottery picks on projects…

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    here is a great question

    IF THE KNICKS DIDN’T PICK HILL AT 8
    WHERE DO U THINK HE WOULD OF ENDED UP BEING DRAFTED…

    that’s a great question he was so called top 5 an went 8
    i think he probably would of been 10-13

  • Mucha

    10 would have been his position.

  • Bob

    he woulda been on the milwaukee bucks

  • VOR

    The question is becoming no longer is Jennings the star that should be shining in NY rather than in Milwaukee, and if his all-star game and acclaim was foreseeable only the dull of seeing could not grasp his light, nor if JHill can represent because i believe he will to some degree in a few years when he get stronger and put on some weight, but the question now have become Walsh and do he have the GM acumen as well as foresight to take this franchise forward, or is this guy an old fuddy duddy, stumbling bumbling backwards thinking excuse of a GM who should be at home in his rocking chair or on a cruise somewhere instead of trying to connect with younger players and todays game! For him to say he didn’t have a feel for Jennings is either a lie or shows what a joke he is and makes exactly my point! The best thing he can do now is hire Chris Mullins as our new GM effective immediately!!!

  • HaS

    He might have fallen out of the lottery altogether.

  • HaS

    Just kiddin’ Tommy. I hope he gets better in a hurry, meaning in the next 2 years. Right now that looks like a fast tracked timeline for him.

  • JustinCharles

    I was very critical of the few minutes I saw but that last game he showed flashes of what he can bring to the table.

    Hill averaged 11 boards last year in college. Rebounding is a stat that generally doesnt fluxuate much throughout one’s career. You can easily see this guy bringing down 10+ boards a game if he got the minutes. He just needs to get used to the NBA game, get more comfortable defending real pros. Thats something you just have to experience. I mean, you’d have to hope he’s not fouling out of games in a few years.

    He hasn’t showed as much actual defensive skills as he has shot blocking ability, and his offense is very raw and limited, but you could easily see this guy being good for a double double and a block or two, even if he doesnt develop much of a back to the basket game.

    You’re gonna get a good look at him because he is gonna start getting minutes after that last game, as long as he is not fouling himself out.

  • Mucha

    Jordan Hill will be a very good player if D’Antoni doesn’t want him to be a jumpshooter. Hill could be a 16/10 player for a long time, he was a really good college player last year – definitely the second best big man prospect.

  • HaS

    fluctuate > fluxuate.

  • BiggieSmalls

    second best big man in a draft with really only one good big man.

  • nyknicksfan

    i have to say i rather have hill because of his personality think about this when jennings get all crazy and his team mates get pissed everyone will say thank got we didnt take him came on you cant say o man 10 games we sould have taken him talk to me in a few YEARS but hill has only played orginized Bball for 5 years everyone knows big men take longer to develop look at Frye he is play better then ever we know hill can shoot he can run the floor and block shots give him till at least the end of the year before you get mad a hey maybe toney douglas will turn into a better player then jennings

  • nyknicksfan

    i agree he is going to be a good player give him some time he hasn’t played much if you wanna get mad be mad a Dlee taking his mins and playing like a girl trying to fight a 6’3 rookie because he got owned

  • steiker9

    Jordan Hill can be a good player he needs more minutes and I would
    possibly try starting him, let him play until he fouls out that’s ok, what this kid needs is burn so give him some. He should have all of JJ’s minutes since playing him doesn’t help his trade value but lowers it, everyone knows Jeffries is trash even 12 year old NBA fans. Why not play Jordan Hill a lot even if we are getting blown out what’s the difference, let us see what this kid can do Donnie Walsh you drafted him! Hill’s minutes should also eat into David Lee’s, I liked Lee for a long time but I just can’t watch him play anymore, his best years as Knick are past and he needs to be shipped soon.

  • DeBusscherescorner

    You’re not going to get your chance anytime soon, Jordan. Everyone thinks you’re a bust and D’Antoni keeps saying you ‘ showed promise’ and saying Toney’s minutes ‘will be increased a bit’ when the both of you are showing the most effort on a squad that’s getting blowned out by every team in the first quarter.

    The other guys on here don’t believe in you, they want to turn back the clock and draft Jennings like little groupies. So I see you off the bench in 2011. The earliest, maybe, March of 2010.

  • BobbyFromBK

    Yeah, Vor, I agree totally. And then put Geezer Donnie out to pasture where he belongs.