Beyond the Arc: The Greatest Shooters in NBL History
June 22, 2026
Joe Hillman
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 12/08/66
- Place of Birth: Glendale, California (USA)
- Position: PG
- Height (CM): 188
- Weight (KG): 88
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Indiana (1984–1989)
- NBL DEBUT: 30/03/90
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 14/10/90
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 24
- NBL History: North Melbourne 1990
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Hillman starred at Hoover High School in Glendale, California where as a senior he averaged 41.4 points per game and 26.6 points per game for his three-year high school career.
He was a extra in the film 1994 film Blue Chips starring Shaquille O’Neal, Anfernee Hardaway and Nick Nolte.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Joe Hillman made his NBL debut with the North Melbourne Giants at 23 years of age. He scored 15 points in his first game.
After graduating college and failing to make a NBA roster in 1989, Hillman finished out the baseball season with the Modesto A’s, a minor league baseball team in California, a season which would prove to be his last attempt at pro baseball.
He signed a contract to play for the North Melbourne Giants where he impressed during his one and done season here but was not offered a contract in 1991.
Joe Hillman played one season in the NBL. He averaged 22.7 points, 4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in 29 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 19th in assists per game.
– 22nd in steals per game.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 24 | North Melbourne | 20-6 (1) | 29 | 1,223.0 | 661 | 116 | 185 | 42 | 74 | 67 | 3 | 58 | 66 | 265 | 476 | 56% | 59 | 125 | 47% | 72 | 123 | 59% | 62% | 62% | 35 | Totals | 29 | 1223 | 661 | 116 | 185 | 42 | 74 | 67 | 3 | 58 | 66 | 265 | 476 | 55.7% | 59 | 125 | 47.2% | 72 | 123 | 58.5% | 62% | 62% | 35 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 24 | North Melbourne | 20-6 (1) | 29 | 42.2 | 22.8 | 4.0 | 6.4 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 9.1 | 16.4 | 56% | 2.0 | 4.3 | 47% | 2.5 | 4.2 | 59% | 62% | 62% | 35 | Total | 29 | 42.2 | 22.8 | 4.0 | 6.4 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 9.1 | 16.4 | 55.7% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 47.2% | 2.0 | 4.3 | 58.5% | 62% | 62% | 35 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 35 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
Following the close of his college basketball career, Hillman was not drafted in the 1989 NBA draft. He paused his minor league baseball career to try out for the National Basketball Associations Utah Jazz.
He played for the Jazz in summer league and earned an invitation to Jazz training camp, but ultimately did not make the team.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- England - Manchester (1993)
Hillman joined the Manchester Giants for the 1993 Budweiser League (British Basketball League) season, playing his first season in England.
During Manchester’s 1993 campaign following the club’s purchase by Cook Group Inc., Hillman was one of the Americans brought in through those new ties alongside fellow Indiana graduate Mark Robinson, and he played in a roster that also featured import big man Trevor Gordon and guard Curt Samuels.
In early-season Budweiser League action, Hillman scored 25 points against Worthing in a 107–102 game that also included a technical foul assessed to Manchester coach Jeff Jones, and he later produced a 32-point night in a 121–80 win over Leicester City Riders when Gordon was suspended.
Manchester continued to feature in high-profile fixtures during the season, including a World Invitation Club tournament run at Crystal Palace where Hillman scored 25 points in a semi-final win over Worthing Bears with Gordon adding 28, setting up a final against Latvia’s Broceni Riga.
Hillman’s scoring remained a key factor deep into the schedule, including a 33-point performance in a 99–85 win over Birmingham Bullets that also saw Gordon score 24, and he added 25 points in a 90–88 win over Birmingham that secured Manchester’s place in the play-off finals at Wembley, with Samuels sealing the tie late at the line.
COLLEGE
Hillman played college basketball at Indiana, debuting in the 1984-85 season. As a freshman he played 21 games with 1 start, averaging 7.0 minutes and 1.5 points per game while totaling 31 points, 18 rebounds (0.9 per game), and 20 assists (1.0 per game) with 13 steals, 2 blocks, and 31 turnovers, and he shot 36.1% from the field and 62.5% at the free throw line.
Hillman arrived at Indiana University in 1984 as the first player from West of the Mississippi River to be recruited by Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight.
Hillman played sparingly as a freshman, averaging 7 minutes and 1.5 points per game, and Knight chose to redshirt him for the 1985–86 season.
Indiana went 19-14 overall in 1984-85 and reached the National Invitation Tournament title game.
Hillman did not play in games during the 1985–86 season after being redshirted, while Indiana finished 21-8 overall and played in the NCAA tournament.
Hillman returned for the 1986–87 season and was able to earn 13 minutes per game backing up starters Steve Alford and Keith Smart as the team's third guard.
In 1986-87 he played 32 games with 5 starts, averaging 13.0 minutes and 2.5 points per game while totaling 80 points, 37 rebounds (1.2 per game), and 66 assists (2.1 per game) with 29 steals, 11 blocks, and 80 turnovers, and he shot 48.3% from the field, 20.0% on three-pointers, and 74.2% at the free throw line.
The Hoosiers won the NCAA title that year, defeating Syracuse in the championship game with Hillman collecting 6 assists, tied for team high.
Indiana finished 30-4 overall in 1986-87 and won the national championship.
In addition to his play on the hardcourt, Hillman also played baseball for the Hoosiers.
In 1987-88 he played 27 games with 16 starts and averaged 26.0 minutes per game while producing 192 points (7.1 per game), 69 rebounds (2.6 per game), and 105 assists (3.9 per game), adding 32 steals and 23 turnovers while shooting 57.6% from the field, 20.0% on three-pointers, and 84.1% at the free throw line.
Indiana finished 19-10 overall in 1987-88 and played in the NCAA tournament.
He was selected by the Oakland A's in the 25th round of the 1988 Major League Baseball draft and signed with the A's, reporting to their A affiliate, the Southern Oregon A's for the 1988 season.
As a first baseman for Southern Oregon, he hit .310 in his first professional season.
He decided to return to Indiana for the 1988–89 season for his final remaining season of basketball eligibility, working with Coach Knight to allow him to finish his baseball season before returning to IU.
In 1988-89 he started all 34 games, averaged 32.0 minutes per game, and led Indiana in scoring at 12.6 points per game while totaling 430 points, 117 rebounds (3.4 per game), and 132 assists (3.9 per game), adding 52 steals and 42 turnovers with 2 blocks, and he shot 53.5% from the field, 58.1% on three-pointers, and 80.6% at the free throw line.
In that redshirt senior season, Hillman became a key player for the Hoosiers, averaging 12.6 points per game and serving as captain of the eventual Big Ten champions.
Indiana finished 27-8 overall in 1988-89, won the Big Ten at 15-3 in conference play, and reached the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament.
Despite his somewhat modest statistics, Hillman's importance to the team was recognized by opposing coaches, some of whom championed his candidacy for Big Ten Player of the Year (eventually shared by teammate Jay Edwards and Glen Rice of Michigan).
He was named second-team all-conference and a honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press.
He earned first-team Academic All-America recognition in 1989 while completing his Indiana career.
Across his four playing seasons at Indiana, Hillman appeared in 114 games with 56 starts and finished with 733 points (6.4 per game), 241 rebounds (2.1 per game), and 323 assists (2.8 per game), along with 78 steals, 4 blocks, and 126 turnovers, while shooting 52.8% from the field, 46.0% on three-pointers, and 79.6% at the free throw line.
AWARDS
- 1x All-NBL Second Team- NCAA champion (1987)
-
AP Honorable mention All-American (1989)
-
First-team Academic All-American (1989)
-
Second-team All-Big Ten (1989)
Related
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