“Grant Hill, You Were Alive.”

The American pro-basketball (NBA) has started its long journey on the 30th.

The LA Lakers and the Sacramento Kings, who is considered to be the `Big 2,` had their season openers with the San Antonio Spurs and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Philadelphia Seventy Sixers, who seeks for resurrection in 2 seasons, faced the Orlando Magic.

However, the hero of the 3 season openers was not Shaquil O`Neal (LA Lakers), Chris Weber (Sacramento), nor Tim Duncan (San Antonio). The hero of the day was the `noble man on the court` Grant Hill (Orlando), who resurrected from long injury.

The top class forward Hill, who has been selected as an All-Star for 5 times since the Detroit Pistons, signed the 7-year contract with Orlando for 93 million dollars after finishing the 99~2000 season. However, the ankle injury that he got during the second half of the 99~2000 season has constantly bothered him. Although he went up to the operation table for the 3rd time in the beginning of the last season, he played only 18 games from the 2000~2001 season to the 2001~2002 season.

Hill, who is being forgotten by the fans, resurrected miraculously at the season opener. Hill played 33 minutes that day, which has been almost a year since last November, and led the team`s 95-88 victory with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists.

The play that he showed that day was exact same play as his peak time, when he managed all three parts of the game including points, rebounds, and passes. Hill pledged after game saying, “My physical condition is very good. Although it`s difficult mentally, but I will clear that out as I go along.”

Sang-Ho Kim hyangsan@donga.com