“The standard for what a complete player and a complete person can and should be.” Former Duke men’s basketball assistant coach Jay Bilas’ words for Grant Hill reflect that he is a person for youngsters to idealize. So when he imparts something, you receive it with open arms. And the former NBA star did exactly that: guide the young minds present at the 2025 Commencement Ceremony. The very occasion where Bilas was all praises for Hill. But apart from Jay’s word for it, what’s it that makes Grant Hill one of the most qualified candidates for guiding the emerging talents from Duke?

Well, there’s his stellar NBA resume, reflecting success at one of the highest levels. 1995 Rookie of the Year, 7x All-Star appearances, and more are not just accolades but a reflection of commitment at the highest level. What’s even more impressive? All of this came in a game defined by its cut-throat competitiveness while Hill was displaying high standards of the ideals of sportsmanship on the court with ethical behavior, fair play, and integrity, for which he was awarded with NBA Sportsmanship Award, thrice. And he has been very successful off the court, too, particularly in the realm of business and philanthropy. Take his co-ownership in teams—Atlanta Hawks, Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride, and Baltimore Orioles—whose net worth amounts to over $6 billion, for instance. So when he had words of guidance, they held a certain value.

However, the source of Grant Hill’s wisdom? His mother. “My mom… Number seven on her set of principles reads, Don’t be a passenger in life. You see, she knew that values aren’t ideas. Values are verbs to respect. Means that we give others grace, even if we disagree to include means that we pull more chairs up to the table. We don’t fear different voices. To excel means doing the work, not just talking about the standards,” he said.

The former NBA star further explained it as performing at the same high level that the graduates went through during their time at Duke. And the most enduring lesson for the students from their Duke experience? Once again, the values that the students have come to identify with.

However, this was not it from Grant Hill’s pearls of wisdom. There was yet another lesson from his mom that he shared with the students. “These are the first three words of her ‘Don’t fear failure.’ Yes, it’s inevitable. Yes, it’s how you grow. But there’s another reason my mom asked us to do this. Don’t fear failure, she said, because success is far more dangerous to the human condition,” he said. What exactly did she mean by that? Grant Hill explained it to be the understanding that success without gratitude could make us too comfortable, and that success without fortitude can make us corruptible.

“Duke students know how to grind. You hustle, you are super achievers. But if all you’ve known is success, or if you’ve forgotten what it took to achieve it, you risk becoming obsessed with accomplishments and affirmation,” Hill said. And if you’re assuming it’s easier to lay this wisdom on young minds when you have lived 52 years of his life, well, he was an achiever from his college days themselves.

Grant Hill was exceptional from his Duke Blue Devils days

When you think about greatness that goes beyond the game, Grant Hill’s name stands tall—and it all began with the Duke Blue Devils. During a heartfelt tribute, President Vincent Price introduced Hill as “far more than a star athlete and teammate.” That’s not just praise—it’s a reminder of the kind of legacy Hill has built. Price captured the essence of Hill’s journey, praising how he blended his extraordinary athletic skills with a top-tier education.

It’s no wonder Jay Bilas, former Duke assistant coach, called him “the standard for what a complete player and a complete person can and should be.” And that wasn’t just talk. Hill’s time on Duke’s basketball team is etched in history. He played a key role in the Blue Devils’ back-to-back NCAA championships in 1991 and 1992—moments that still give Duke fans goosebumps.

Then came the reference to the assist that basketball fans can never forget. Price recalled how Hill delivered “the most famous assist in basketball history” to Christian Laettner, setting up The Shot that crushed Kentucky’s hopes and sent Duke to the 1992 Final Four. Hill himself summed it up perfectly: “Nothing gives me greater joy than being back on this campus. Of all the places I’ve played and all the jobs I’ve had, I am most [proud] to be known as a Blue Devil.” No wonder he wants nothing but great things for the graduates of this batch.