MIAMI — When Grant Hill showed up in Phoenix in 2007, he thought he would play two more years and retire.
So much for that plan.
Hill, 39, is in his fifth season with the Suns, and the seven-time All-Star said he plans to be back next season.
"I definitely think I can go another year, maybe two," Hill said before scoring a team-high 19 points in Tuesday's 99-95 loss to Miami at AmericanAmerican Arena. "If the season were to end right now, and I would sort of evaluate the season, I would definitely want to come back and play next season."
Hill, averaging 10.6 points, signed a one-year, $6.5 million deal before the season. He hopes to end his career with the Suns and says "Hopefully, they feel the same way."
Hill turns 40 on Oct. 5, making him the second-oldest player in the NBA after Portland's Kurt Thomas, who is one day older. Hill's longevity is pretty impressive considering he was devastated by ankle injuries when playing from Orlando from 2000 to 2007, and didn't figure he would stick around Phoenix too long after playing his first game for the Suns at 35.
"I didn't anticipate being healthy and feeling this good and still enjoying playing," he said. "I'll keep going until I can't go or it's not fun any more. But it's still a lot of fun."
So Orlando fans can be assured that Hill's six-point performance in Wednesday's 103-93 loss to the Magic won't be his last game at Amway Arena.
"It's still where I live in the summer," Hill said of Orlando. "I played with some of their guys, Hedo (Turkoglu), Jameer (Nelson) and Dwight (Howard) when they were young players when I was there. So I enjoy going back."
Marcin Gortat, another former Magic player, says he has learned from Hill in the 15 months he's spent in Phoenix.
"He's a true professional," Gortat said. "He's a true role model. He's the first guy in the gym and the last to leave."
All that hard work is why Hill has a chance to go where no perimeter player has in NBA history. While big men Kevin Willis, Robert Parish and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar all played past their 42nd birthdays, no perimeter player has made it that far.
Guard John Stockton lasted until one month past his 41st birthday. So Hill would have to play in 2013-14 to top Stockton, which Hill believes is possible.
"I've just learned to take care of myself, eat right and make the sacrifices necessary to go out and play," Hill said. "I saw (former teammate Detroit teammate) Joe Dumars the other day. I used to look at him as old at 33. So I must be really, really old. But I enjoy it. It keeps me young. I still compete. I can't do what I could in my early 20s, but I still can go out and help the team and be productive."
Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com or on Twitter @christomasson
