San Antonio Spurs: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history
By Simon Shortt
9. George Hill (PG) — No. 26 pick in 2008 NBA Draft
Career stats (with the Spurs): 231 GP, 9.9 PPG, 2.4 APG, 2.4 RPG, 45.3 FG%, 37.8 3P%, 81.2 FT%
George Hill is one of the classic “diamond in the rough” draft selections the Spurs are famous for. Coming from a small school in Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and in a relatively deep draft class, Hill was fairly unknown, but made an immediate impact for the team.
In his rookie year, Hill played in 77 regular season games and four out of the team’s five postseason games. His playing time actually increased from 16.5 minutes per game to 19.0 from regular season to playoffs thanks in most part to his defense.
After year one, Hill was officially a key member of the team, playing nearly 29 minutes a night in his other two years with the Spurs, including 33.3 minutes a game over two more playoff runs. His numbers increased with his minutes, going from 5.7 points per game his rookie year (5.8 in playoffs) to 12.0 points per game in years two and three (12.8 in playoffs).
Hill was always a key defensive player, often guarding the opposing team’s bigger wings as San Antonio’s third guard thanks to his length and defensive skills. Offensively, he came alive in years two and three as a three-point marksman from the corner. Nearly 70 percent of his three-point attempts came from the corner, and he was making them at a 43 percent rate (up four points from his total three-point percentage).
This new role came in Bruce Bowen‘s first season off the team. Hill was a rookie during Bowen’s final year in the league, and took over his corner assassin/pesky defender role following his retirement.
The San Antonio Spurs never made it out of the second round while Hill was on the team. But like Dawkins, the short-lived success during his time in San Antonio provided some good moments for this selection. But perhaps the most important part of Hill’s time with the club came at his departure, when he was traded in 2011 for another great Spurs draftee.