When Grant Hill entered the NBA in 1994, he wasn’t just another highly drafted prospect — he was seen as the league’s next bridge from the Jordan era to whatever came next. Coming out of Duke with two NCAA titles, Hill had a rare mix of polish, maturity, and charisma that made him feel NBA-ready from the moment he shook the commissioner’s hand.

Detroit fans hadn’t seen a true star in the making since the Bad Boys broke up, and suddenly here was Hill: a 6’8” point-forward with smooth handles, highlight-reel finishes, and an off-court presence that sponsors loved. In a league transitioning from bruising 80s physicality to 90s finesse and athleticism, Hill fit perfectly. By midseason, he wasn’t just a standout rookie — he was one of the most popular players in the entire NBA, famously tying Michael Jordan in All-Star fan voting during his first year.

Hill played with an effortless style: gliding more than sprinting, slicing into defenses with maturity well beyond a rookie, and racking up triple-doubles with a calm that almost felt casual. He finished his debut season Co-Rookie of the Year with Jason Kidd and quickly became the Pistons’ franchise centerpiece.

Grant Hill came into the league not just as a great rookie, but as a superstar-in-waiting — the kind of player who made fans feel like the NBA’s future had arrived.

NBA All-Star Cade Cunningham. 😤

Nat Clifton was one of the NBA's first African-American players making his debut with the New York Knicks in 1950. He was also an excellent baseball player - appearing in the Negro Leagues, as well as playing two years of minor league ball, where he hit .307 with 23 home runs.

Before joining the NBA, Clifton played for the New York Rens and the Harlem Globetrotters. He also served 3 years in the US Army, fighting in Europe during WWII.

Detroit Pistons and The Dream Team

The 1986-87 Fleer basketball set is iconic. Mostly because no major brand had produced NBA trading cards for quite some time, there are an abundance of rookies in the set. Clearly, the most famous card in the set is the iconic Michael Jordan rookie card however the set also contain rookie cards of Isaiah Thomas, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde, Drexler, Dominique, Wilkins, Chris Mullen, Danny Ange, and many others. Thomas was a national championship-winning point guard for my Indiana Hoosiers and went on to have a Hall of Fame career has the starting point guard for the Pistons.