"Grant Hill gets no time to feel his age. He was busy starting last season for the Suns' conference finals run, taking the top defensive assignments and playing in all but one game over the past two seasons. But at Tuesday's shootaround for the preseason opener at Sacramento, Hill will be reminded about turning 38 when the Suns rookies sing "Happy Birthday." Three were born when Hill was in high school. Hill is near the top on a list of oldest active NBA players, being just a day younger than Chicago's Kurt Thomas and seven months younger than Boston's Shaquille O'Neal. But he is not near the end, expecting to play beyond this final season of his second Suns two-year contract. "I know I'm 38 chronologically but I don't feel it," Hill said. "I don't buy into the fact that I'm a certain age and supposed to be doing certain things. I feel great. "I'm smarter. I learned a lot in the last 12 to 18 months about taking care of myself, helping myself recover, rest and nutrition. Last year was a big step and my body feels good." Hill averaged 11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in 30.0 minutes last season. He has played 233 games in three Suns seasons after logging 200 in seven Orlando seasons. New Suns teammate Hedo Turkoglu was in Orlando for Hill's final three Magic seasons, seeing Hill endure the last of his five ankle surgeries. The final one in 2003 reshaped Hill's heel and put five 3-inch screws in his left ankle. Turkoglu said Hill's comeback inspired him. He is taking to the Suns athletic trainers' ways, staying late at training camp to learn new exercises." Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...101004phoenix-suns-grant-hill-defies-age.html
