The NCAA said they posted the video to commemorate Grant Hill’s journey to Team USA Basketball, but Duke basketball fans know there’s never a bad time to relive Christian Laettner’s 1992 buzzer-beater against Kentucky.
The NCAA shared a minute-long video of Hill reminiscing on the all-time moment, the shot that sent the Blue Devils to the Final Four. Laettner may have hit the shot, but Hill credited legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski for keeping the team in the moment.
“The feeling of ‘We’ve lost’ with 2.1 seconds left,” Hill said. “And having a huddle with Coach K and how he took command of that huddle and had us believe that we had a chance.”
Hill heaved the inbound to Laettner all the way at the free throw line, and the Duke big man unthinkably took the time for a single dribble before lofting up a shot. It found the net, giving Duke a one-point victory and continuing the march to a second consecutive national title.
“We were kids,” Hill said. “And we didn’t understand the magnitude of the moment. We didn’t understand that that would be an iconic moment that people would relive.”
Reliving the iconic @DukeMBB experience that led @realgranthill33 to @teamusa! 🏀#OlympiansMadeHere pic.twitter.com/JYOqRK1yeG
— NCAA (@NCAA) July 27, 2024
Hill and Laettner both won a gold medal at the Olympic Games with the United States, Laettner first in 1992 before Hill won his in 1996. Hill now oversees Team USA Basketball as the managing director, and he and Jayson Tatum both seek another gold medal in Paris.