Millionaire hunks of the NBA

Ebony, April, 1996

THEY fascinate us with their on-the-court finesse and charm us with good looks and innocent antics before slipping by opponents to deliver in-your-face slam dunks.

To some, this new group of NBA stars--who are attractive, awesomely talented and well heeled (many are multimillionaires)--are just overzealous youngsters, waiting to make their mark as the league's next marquee stars. Yet, the players listed here--including heartthrobs Anfernee Hardaway of the Orlando Magic, Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons and Chris Webber of the Washington Bullets--are among the well-adjusted talents of today who try to fit multimillion-dollar contracts and endorsement deals into everyday, normal fives.

Not surprisingly, they are greatly sought--after bachelors who thrill and enthrall women of all ages and races, women who dream of one day meeting--and catching the eye and heart of--these young millionaire hunks.

On the court, these muscular athletes are fierce competitors, vying for the night's top honors in assists, rebounds and slam dunks. But off the court, they are compassionate, community-minded men determined to make a difference in the world around them.

And after a tough game or season, these gorgeous, young stars say you can find them relaxing with friends or their special ladies at posh mansions and condos, playing video games or pool and listening to music.

Several of the guys admit having reservations about their new celebrity status. "I tried to go out to a club the other night, and it was unbelievable, everybody surrounding me, especially the women," Grant Hill has said. "I thought, "Where were you all when I needed a date at Duke?' "

On these pages, Hill and seven other of the NBA's most exciting bachelor stars talk about their lives on and off the court.

CHRIS WEBBER

Standing 6 feet 10 inches tall, power forward Chris Webber of the Washington Bullets dominates on the court. The 23-year-old Detroit native was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1993 NBA lottery. Already, he has survived a few bumpy roads. He was first selected by the Orlando Magic in '93 and traded to the Golden State Warriors on draft day. In 1994, he was traded again, this time to the Bullets with a hefty $58.5 million contract deal over six years. That same year, Webber was chosen as the Rookie of the Year. (He was the second youngest in the league to get the honor.) Known for his agility--and darling smile--Webber sees his greatest on-the-court strength as being fearless. "I know that there might be people better than me, but I just have confidence in myself," he says. If he had not made a career of slam-dunking, Webber, who collects slavery memorabilia and historical manuscripts, says he would like to be a teacher and "maybe even start a chain of schools" in his old Detroit neighborhood one day. Presently unhitched, Webber says he likes "a sexy, confident and spiritual woman" who is "down" for him and who "will work with him." For fun, Webber gets together with friends and listens to music.

GRANT HILL

Pegged by some of the NBA's best all-around players. All-Star Grant Hill is a power to be reckoned with. He is rich, talented, attractive and single. The young star says the woman of his dreams is "fun, intelligent and beautiful inside and out." The Detroit Pistons' 6-foot-8 forward attended Duke University before being swept up by the Pistons as the third pick in the 1994 NBA draft. Last year, Hill, who led his team in scoring, shared the Rookie of the Year honor with Dallas Mavericks' Jason Kidd. He was also the first rookie in NBA history to be the No. 1 vote-getter for an All-Star Game. Today, he cites his selection to the 1996 Olympic Dream Team as his greatest accomplishment. Hiss, who signed an eight-year, $45 million contract with the Pistons, takes pride in his game and says his versatility is his strongest on-the-court trait. "I've been lucky. A lot of things have been good for me in my life and that's because a lot of people have helped me along the way," he says. "I want to be able to help others who are less fortunate. If I can do that, then I'll be satisfied in whatever I do." One thing Hill would like to do eventually is go to graduate school. "A goal of mine is to go to law school and become a lawyer," says Hill, who holds a bachelor's degree in history. When there is time to relax, Hill plays the piano, the bass, the trombone or the drums. The talented musician, athlete and author (Hill recently released a book on his NBA experience) has other interests as well. "I like to do things that take my mind off basketball," he explains. "So whether it is watching television, reading, listening to music or hanging out with my friends, I just consider myself a normal, 23-year-old man."

GEORGE LYNCH

Los Angeles Lakers' George Lynch doesn't ask for much. All the small forward from Virginia wants out of life is to be a success. Already, it appears that Lynch, a first-round pick in the 1993 draft, is well on his way to meeting that goal. During his rookie year, he averaged career-high figures in scoring, rebounding and steals. The 25-year-old ballplayer, who has a five-year, $7 million contract with the Lakers, says his greatest achievements so far have been graduating from the University of North Carolina with a bachelor's degree in Afro-American studies, "making it to the level that I have in the NBA and being a successful and important member of the Lakers." Each summer, he conducts youth camps. One day, he says, he would like to work even closer with teenagers as a sports coach or probation officer. For relaxation, Lynch plays pool and spends time with his girlfriend, whom he lauds as being "genuine, down to earth and a good cook."