CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Cavaliers point guard George Hill spent five productive years with the Indiana Pacers, but with his current and former teams meeting in the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs, no personal connections are going to prevent him from preparing for the tasks at hand.
For Hill, a 10-year NBA veteran, the mission is simple, help the Cavaliers take a lead in the best-of-seven series tonight at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
“It’s a business,” Hill said. “Those guys are still friends of mine off the court. I wish them luck, just like they wish me luck, but we have a job to do.”
A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, and product of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Hill averaged 12.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.0 steals over 31.7 minutes of play in 319 games for the Pacers, whom he joined ahead of the 2011-2012 season and remained with until the summer of 2016.
A starter in 55 playoff games during his five years with the Pacers, Hill averaged 13.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals per contest.
“That’s true, it’s a plus-minus,” Hill said. “You’ve got your family and friends. Then, you’ve got everybody who wants something. Everybody thinks you owe them something. It was fun in that aspect of being there with my family and friends, playing for a team that I grew up watching as a kid.
“Going to Market Square Arena back in the day where Mark Jackson and those guys, Dale Davis, Aaron McKee and all those guys were playing. I fulfilled that life-long dream as a kid. I had five great years there with the fans and my family and friends and the coaching staff and teammates. It was a true blessing.”
Although Hill enjoyed the time with his hometown team, he said it “wasn’t a big deal” and that he “wasn’t going to lose sleep over” not re-signing with the Pacers.
Now, his focus is on playing well enough to defeat his former team and advance in the 2018 NBA Playoffs, especially after spending much of the year with the Sacramento Kings, who finished 20 games out of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.
“A win is a win,” Hill said. “I don’t hold any animosity with any team, any organization that I’ve been with. I wish that organization the best of luck. I’m happy that they’re having a hell of a year. It just so happens that we’re playing them. It’s no disrespect, but I want to win just as bad as they do.”
