An Exclusive Interview with New York Knicks Rookie Jordan Hill

Ysponder

By Tracy Hackler  
10/5/2009 2:34:38 PM

  
New York Knicks rookie and Panini-exclusive spokesman Jordan Hill may be a newcomer in the NBA, but he’s savvy beyond his years when it comes to the intricacies of sports card trading.
          
The 6-10, 235-pound forward from the University of Arizona understandably possesses a deep voice, but he has an even deeper understanding of what it takes to be successful in the trading card market.

“I used to collect basketball cards and I tried to get the best ones to sell to the other kids,” says Hill, a First Team All-Pac-10selection and the eighth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. “I collected cards of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett; some of those high-caliber players whose cards were worth something. I always tried to go for the big bucks.”


To be sure, the Atlanta native fared pretty well back in the day. He ended up selling every last card in his collection.

Not to worry, Hill’s already started a new collection – one that includes a handful of cards featuring a player he never dreamed of being able to collect: Himself.

In this exclusive interview on the eve of Panini America’s historic first basketball release, Hill flashes some hobby smarts, discusses his favorite card photography and even tackles the great sticker vs.on-card debate.

What goes through your mind when you think about appearing on your own NBA trading card?
It’s crazy. I just never pictured myself being on any kind of card. It feels kind of shocking. It was kind of funny, though. It was crazy when I first saw it.

As a young kid growing up, is having your own trading card anything you ever dreamed about?
Never . . . never. And I used to trade cards. But I never pictured myself ever being on one. That probably was the funnies part about it, just how crazy that was seeing my first card.

You took part in the NBA Rookie Photo Shoot with Panini a few weeks back.Did you ever envision that the process of making a trading card was so involved, where you’d go and spend a whole day posing for photographs,doing interviews, the whole nine?
I definitely didn’t think it was that involved. I thought it was just like a couple of photos and you’re out; and then they just figure out which photos they’d like to have on the card. But it was definitely . . . you have to do a lot of photos. Some of the photos I did you’ll probably never see them on a card, so that was kind of crazy. But I’m glad Panini gave me the opportunity and let me be one of the participants.

When you see a trading card of Jordan Hill, do you prefer to see an action shot or something more like a portrait or posed shot?
Definitely an action shot. I want a card with me dunking on Shaquille O’Neal or Amare Stoudemire or something like that; definitely an action shot.

When it comes to signing autographs for trading card manufacturers vs. signing the stickers, which one do you prefer?
Probably the stickers. Because if they give me a whole bunch of cards, there’s no telling, they’ll probably have bends in them and dents and all that stuff [after I’m done signing them]. Stickers are fine. Really, either is fine.

What’s your thought process like when someone approaches you and asks for an autograph?
That I have fans and that people know who I am now. My first autograph probably was in high school, but people didn’t know who I was. They just thought I was a basketball player and they just wanted a basketball player’s autograph. In college people started to know who I was and wanted pictures and autographs and I was like, “Man, is this really happening?” So I just figured I made something of myself and people realized that I’m a good basketball player and they want to treasure [my autograph].”

What do you as a hobby away from the court?
I try to just have time to chill, relax and get some rest for the season. Or try to catch up with my family to see how they’re doing. I have a 4-year-old son, Jordan.

What one NBA city are you most looking forward to playing in as a rookie?
Probably Atlanta or Charlotte just because those are the closest cities to where I’m from and I just want to be close to my family so they can come to the games and be there for my first NBA games as a rookie. I just want to cherish that with them.

What’s your favorite room service meal?
Oh, definitely steak. A rib eye. With loaded mashed potatoes and some mixed vegetables. And water. I usually drink water, but if I don’t have a taste for water I’ll have a Sprite.

What’s your favorite movie?
My favorite movie is “Coming to America.” It’s hilarious.

When’s the last time you saw it?
Last night. It came on Bravo in the hotel room. I was kind of amazed.

What’s your favorite song to get you hyped up for a game?
My favorite song is by Gucci Mane, a song called “Wilt Chamberlain.”

What’s the one artist or iTune playlist you can’t get on an airplane without?
Gucci Mane, definitely, and Young Jeezy.

Is there any significance to the name “Jordan?” Is there any chance that you were named after another great “Jordan?”
No. Nobody’s told me anything. I’m the youngest, I’m the baby.I have an older brother and his name is James Curtis Hill and my sister’s name is Janet Cathy Hill. And mine is Jordan Craig Hill. So[my parents] just tried to pick a name to keep the JCH initials in it.

I’m going to have you be the Beckett Price Guide analyst for just a minute. What should the value of your Panini Rookie Card be right now, and what will it be at the end of the season?
The value of my Rookie Card right now? I’d probably say 200 bucks. At the end of the season, if I get a lot of playing time, the value should go up to at least $600. If I don’t get a lot of playing time, it depends on how I do, but probably an extra hundred from the $200. So$300.

What’s it like for you so far in the bright lights and big city of the Big Apple?
It’s kind of coming all too fast for me so I’m just trying to get the hang of it all. New York is definitely the spotlight city so I just have to get used to it and just go out there and work hard.