Rix Sports Bar and Grill, tucked between the hallway to the practice courts inside the Coronado Springs resort and the hallway to players’ rooms, has become the unofficial hangout spot inside the bubble. “It is tough when you’re in your room 24/7 other than when you’re in practice,” Bucks guard George Hill said, when asked about Rix. “So, just to get out and sit in some regular chairs to kind of make it feel like it’s just [normal] life itself still, that’s what we’re trying to do.” By 7:30 every evening, the dark bar is buzzing with players, coaches and trainers. Starting Sunday, the place was open only to NBA players and personnel.
George Hill Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: G
Born: 05/04/86
Height: 6-3 / 1.91
Weight:180 lbs. / 81.6 kg.
Salary: $10,133,907
Born: 05/04/86
Height: 6-3 / 1.91
Weight:180 lbs. / 81.6 kg.
Salary: $10,133,907
Zora Stephenson: “I just want to see smiles and opportunity” .@George Hill at the ribbon cutting of the @himbyher school he helped open in his hometown of Indianapolis. A charter school w/ after school programs, breakfast, lunch, & dinner for the kids too. Learn more: http://Himbyherschool.org
WNBA star and current Indiana Fever general manager Tamika Catchings joined the demonstration along with former Indiana Pacers player and Broad Ripple High School graduate George Hill and current Butler basketball head coach LaVall Jordan. Catchings says it is important for public figures to encourage people to vote. “But you’re going to be the ones that are going to lead this charge and lead us into that next generation, and we need you guys to step up,” she says.
Why does Hill want to speak up right now? Why won’t he “shut up and dribble,” as journalist Laura Ingraham told LeBron James to do in 2018 when he spoke about politics. “Some may be different to others based off of situations that they experienced in their life, but there’s no amount of money that can get me to just shut up and dribble,” Hill said. “No, I’m not going to do that. I have a voice and I have a platform for a reason. “God just blessed me with a talent to play basketball. If I didn’t have that talent, I possibly would’ve been that George Floyd.
He took a long pause and covered his face. The host, Amp Harris, started to say something, then trailed off. Hill started to explain about his cousin. “I’m scared to go back home all the time because I’m scared for my life,” Hill said. “I’m scared to have my kids with me. (I’m scared I’ll) get a bullet for something that I don’t even know. Let alone, we have police officers doing the same crime as black on black is doing, but we’re supposed to call them for protection. “And now, after you see all this, you’re like, I have to protect myself. I can’t wait on them to protect me. I see what they’re doing. They don’t give two (expletive) about us.”
George Hill, 34 and envisioning life after basketball, is pouring his time away from the court into learning more about animal care, overseeing projects — expanding a lake and building a “barndominium” are currently underway — and watching over his vast, 850-acre ranch and its exotic residents.
In August 2017, he purchased the massive plot of land here in Texas Hill Country, a 35-minute drive north of his family’s offseason home in San Antonio. Over time, the property has been bulldozed, sculpted and preened into a sprawling ranch. Normally an offseason retreat, the ranch has become a getaway during the league’s coronavirus suspension. Soon after the announcement that games would be put on hold on March 11, Hill, his wife, Samantha, and their 4-year-old son, Zayden, and 2-year-old daughter, Zoe, flew to Texas from Milwaukee.
FALLOW DEER WERE the first animals Hill introduced on his land. Then he added sables — 500-pound brown-and-white antelope that are native to Africa. Now, he has dozens of different animal species. Hill owns scimitar oryx — tan-and-white creatures that also are in the antelope family, with curved, pointy horns and big bellies. He has Arabian oryx and red lechwe. There are New Zealand red stag, kudu and ostrich, too. Hill bought the majority of his animals three years ago, but in early May he added another zebra to his herd. “For my birthday,” Hill says.
Hill says he purchases his animals from Texas-based licensed specialty breeders. According to Lonesome Bull Ranch — an exotic wildlife breeder in Corpus Christi — zebras run anywhere from $3,950 to $5,750. The most expensive animals on Hill’s property are the female sable antelope and kudu, which cost $20,000 to $25,000 apiece. He only keeps herbivores that can nibble on the grass, roots and shrubs.
Mixed into the congratulatory comments — “nice kill brother” and “glad to see some hunting content back on your page” — are people calling him “cruel,” “disgusting” and telling him to “shoot baskets not animals.” “I don’t really pay that no attention,” Hill says. “Most people that always have something against hunting are the same ones that go out to a restaurant to eat a steak or order a burger. So I always say, if you really see all those animals [get] to your plate, you’d probably think differently about hunters. “If you’re hunting just to kill s—, you have a problem.”
Hill, 34 and envisioning life after basketball, is pouring his time away from the court into learning more about animal care, overseeing projects — expanding a lake and building a “barndominium” are currently underway — and watching over his vast, 850-acre ranch and its exotic residents. In August 2017, he purchased the massive plot of land here in Texas Hill Country, a 35-minute drive north of his family’s offseason home in San Antonio. Over time, the property has been bulldozed, sculpted and preened into a sprawling ranch.
Hill says he purchases his animals from Texas-based licensed specialty breeders. According to Lonesome Bull Ranch — an exotic wildlife breeder in Corpus Christi — zebras run anywhere from $3,950 to $5,750. The most expensive animals on Hill’s property are the female sable antelope and kudu, which cost $20,000 to $25,000 apiece. He only keeps herbivores that can nibble on the grass, roots and shrubs. Just a few have names. A baby zebra born last summer is named Suki after the Bucks’ strength and conditioning coach, Suki Hobson, who visited the ranch days after it was born. Zayden named one of the kangaroos “Hoppy.”
In Texas, owning exotic animals such as zebras and kangaroos is legal. Texas residents, according to the state health and safety codes, need a permit for “dangerous wild animals,” such as lions, tigers, cougars, leopards and cheetahs, among others. The Texas Animal Health Commission, in an email to ESPN, explained that there are only regulations for moving zebras into Texas from another state, requiring the zebras to have a certificate of veterinary inspection and a permit.
Former San Antonio Spurs guard George Hill continues to give back to the San Antonio community during the COVID-19 pandemic but the virus has struck a family member. In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Bucks guard (who is currently in San Antonio during the NBA’s hiatus) said his wife’s 85-year old grandmother contracted the coronavirus but fortunately, she is recovering. “You know, my wife’s grandmother just had the coronavirus,” said Hill. “She is 85 years old and by the grace of God, she beat it but who knows if that happens again.”
How optimistic, pessimistic are you of the possibility of the season resuming? George Hill: I’m a little 50-50. I really don’t know what’s going on. I can’t predict it. But what I say is I think life itself is bigger than the money aspect of the game. Yes, as competitors and athletes we want to play this season, but I feel like if more lives are in jeopardy than I could care less about the season. I’d rather help keep everyone safe and sound, all our families, our kids, our wives, our mother-in-laws, our grandparents and things like that.
Eric Woodyard: Bucks’ George Hill, Marvin Williams pick safety over NBA return amid the #coronavirus pandemic. Hill: “I think we had something special going and would love to finish it, but life itself is way more precious than this game that we’re playing and I just want everyone to stay safe”
Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill says his wife’s 85-year-old grandmother recently battled the coronavirus. “By the grace of God, she beat it,” Hill said. Hill has been in San Antonio during the NBA’s pandemic-imposed hiatus. Hill says he hasn’t been staying with his wife’s grandmother, though he was able to detail what she endured.
Former San Antonio Spurs guard George Hill is once again doing his part to thank San Antonio essential workers fighting the COVID-19 virus. The Milwaukee Bucks guard is pitching in on a $1,000 tab at Fralo’s restaurant for essential workers in San Antonio who been battling the corona virus.
Although George Hill no loner competes with the San Antonio Spurs anymore, the Milwaukee Bucks player is showing the Alamo City some love during the coronavirus pandemic. Hill, who was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2008 NBA draft, partnered with Tony Cain, the owner of Bush’s Chicken, to provide meals to those on the front lines in the battle against the spread of the virus.
This week, Hill and Cain stopped by Baptist Health System to deliver about 100 meals of Bush’s Chicken to the hospital’s employees. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the San Antonio hospital thanked the two for their “generous donation” and for “filling their hearts and tummies.” Hill and Cain did the same for a San Antonio Police Department station, according to a Facebook post Friday from the San Antonio Police Association.
Matt Velazquez: In addition to Giannis being out, Bud says George Hill (right adductor contusion) will miss tonight. It’s the same injury he suffered in Miami and they don’t want to push him on a back-to-back. Eric Bledsoe likely won’t play with a right knee issue he’s been managing for awhile.
Eric Nehm: George Hill will be available today, per Budenholzer.
Matt Velazquez: George Hill (groin contusion) and Kyle Korver (back soreness) are OUT for tonight’s Bucks-Pacers game. I’ll continue to ask for updates on Korver tonight. So far, every update has been that he’s progressing and they’re hoping it’s a short-term thing. He’s missed nearly a month.
Kane Pitman: George Hill makes the latest injury report with a groin contusion. He’s listed as probable but that knee he took from Dragic last night was no joke.
Matt Velazquez: Bud says he hasn’t gotten confirmation from the medical folks, but his hope and general expectation is George Hill (strained left hamstring) will be ready to return to action coming out of the all-star break.
Matt Velazquez: Bucks injury report for tonight Giannis – OUT (personal reasons 👶) George Hill – OUT (left hamstring strain) Kyle Korver – OUT (back soreness) Both Bucks two-way players are also out since they’re with the Herd.
Kane Pitman: No Giannis Antetokounmpo (personal/dad duties), Kyle Korver (back soreness) or George Hill (hamstring) tonight v Pacers. However, a Marvin Williams Bucks debut is on the cards.
Matt Velazquez: Latest NBA injury report is out and George Hill is back on it. He won’t play tonight due to a left hamstring strain. Makes Bud’s comments the other day about Hill’s status make a lot more sense.
Justin Garcia: Coach Budenholzer says George Hill’s injury is one that will keep him out at least a few games
Kane Pitman: As Giannis indicated earlier, he is available for tonight. Donte DiVincenzo and George Hill are both out for Milwaukee. Denver will be without Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, Paul Millsap, Mason Plumlee and Adequate Sleep.
Kane Pitman: Injury updates for tomorrow v Denver: Giannis Antetokounmpo – Questionable (right shoulder soreness) Donte DiVincenzo – Questionable (left ankle sprain) George Hill – Out (left hamstring strain)
George Hill: This news today was gut wrenching. @Kobe Bryant you were our Jordan of our generation. Thank you for the memories and for all that you instilled in today’s game. R.I.P. To you and everyone else involved today. Prayers to your wife and your family and kids.. #MambaForever
30 Dec 19
Antetokounmpo, his older brother, Thanasis, and other Milwaukee teammates Sterling Brown, Kyle Korver, George Hill, Pat Connaughton and D.J. Wilson traveled about 30 miles south of Milwaukee to the prison to take part in the “Play for Justice” initiative, which brings together NBA teams and inmates at correctional facilities across the country.
Matt Velazquez: Bud says Khris Middleton won’t start tonight and will probably come off the bench for a game or two. Didn’t reveal Middleton’s minutes restriction. Also confirmed that George Hill is out tonight with back soreness.
Eric Walden: Bucks PG George Hill: “I love Utah. … My teammates was an awesome cast to play with. … I felt like I was going to be here, but it didn’t work out. That’s no knock to the organization, ‘cause they have my utmost respect. Dennis Lindsey and Quin Snyder, I love them to death.” pic.twitter.com/tn7mZUYPIQ
27 Oct 19
3d
“George is a consummate pro and an important part of our team,” said Bucks General Manager Jon Horst. “His veteran leadership and steady guard play were instrumental to our success last season, both during the regular season and the playoffs. We are thrilled to have him back with the Bucks.”
Matt Velazquez: Per source, George Hill’s 3-year, $29 million deal has a partial guarantee for the third year.
Bucks bring George Hill back
Shams Charania: Free agent guard George Hill has agreed to a three-year, $29M deal to return to Milwaukee, league sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium.
