It is impressive, but if I'm looking at which is more, then it is Hill. Hill's had I think five surgeries on his left ankle. You kind of need your ankles to play basketball. If Rivera had recovered from Tommy John's surgery and done all of this, then it would be more impressive.
Don't get me wrong, it's extremely impressive what Mariano Rivera has done and is still doing, but I'm more impressed with Grant Hill who overcame surgery after surgery and is still playing well at 38 years old.
Kevin Willis averaged less than 10 PPG in every season passed his 36th birthday
Robert Parrish's stats declined every year after he was 36.
John Stockton averaged 10.5 APG for his career, but never topped 9 after he was 35.
Karl Malone is an exception up until his final season with the Lakers.
Reggie Miller dropped off after he was 36 and didn't shoot his career average again after he turned 32.
Patrick Ewing was never the same after he turned 34.
Hakeem Olajuwon dropped off significantly after he turned 36.
Alonzo Mourning played with one kidney, but was never the same.
Grant Hill's numbers look the same for the last five years. Those players played until they were those ages, but they didn't produce on near the same level as they previously had, with Karl Malone being the exception.
Saying that Hill "basically rested his body during those years without knowing it" is completely and utterly untrue. He didn't take the beating of a full NBA season, but he took the beating of going through four different surgeries and having to rehab from all four of them.
The fact that Hill went through all of that and was able to come back from it and play well at 38 years old is more impressive than a 41 year old pitcher that throws 65 innings a year.
Right has the better pick and argued his case better.
The fact that Hill has recovered from all of the injuries and is a solid starting player in the NBA is impressive, especially since he has no ankles.
Robert Parrish's stats declined every year after he was 36.
John Stockton averaged 10.5 APG for his career, but never topped 9 after he was 35.
Karl Malone is an exception up until his final season with the Lakers.
Reggie Miller dropped off after he was 36 and didn't shoot his career average again after he turned 32.
Patrick Ewing was never the same after he turned 34.
Hakeem Olajuwon dropped off significantly after he turned 36.
Alonzo Mourning played with one kidney, but was never the same.
Grant Hill's numbers look the same for the last five years. Those players played until they were those ages, but they didn't produce on near the same level as they previously had, with Karl Malone being the exception.
The fact that Hill went through all of that and was able to come back from it and play well at 38 years old is more impressive than a 41 year old pitcher that throws 65 innings a year.