5 NBA players who could’ve starred in Space Jam 2 before LeBron James
By Amaar Burton
![(Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/GettyImages) (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/GettyImages)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/811af4b37d4ef87e377e378da1a47c87ccfafe4caa0e2c424fc4c397d2c26ebc.jpg)
4. Grant Hill
Before his career was severely altered by an ankle injury, Grant Hill was on pace to perhaps become the next Michael Jordan both on and off the court.
In his first six years in the league prior to the injury, Hill averaged 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game for the Detroit Pistons. He was a nightly triple-double threat who was a staple on the All-NBA and All-Star teams. He was undeniably one of the best players and biggest stars of the 1990s.
Off the court, Hill was a marketing force of nature. He had a squeaky-clean image and a well-educated persona, but he was still cool and not nerdy. He was also a natural in front of the camera. Hill had a ton of endorsements and would’ve been a solid pick to headline a major Hollywood studio project like Jordan had done previously.
If Warner Brothers wanted to strike while the iron was hot and crank out a Space Jam sequel shortly after the original dropped, Hill would’ve been as good of a selection as anyone in the late-90s to assume that role.
The ankle injury ultimately robbed Hill of what could’ve been an all-time great career, but he still managed to play until he was 40 years old and he was eventually voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
He also succeeded off the court, working as a TV analyst following his retirement and becoming a part-owner of the Atlanta Hawks.