But, as Hill told Sporting News this week, he has gotten a number of calls from teams this season hoping to coax him back into uniform.

His response: No, thanks.

“Oh, yeah, I have gotten a few calls here and there about coming back,” Hill said. “I won’t say who. But I, without a doubt, have no desire to come back and play. I remember someone telling me, play until the wheels have fallen off. The wheels are off.

"I appreciate my role being around the NBA, around the game. That right there is enjoyable for me. But there’s no desire to play. You always want to play, but being on an NBA team, I have no desire to do that. Zero regrets.”

Hill played for the Clippers last season, but had trouble staying healthy, playing in just 29 games and averaging 3.2 points in 15.1 minutes. Prior to that, Hill spent five productive seasons with the Suns. He turned 41 in October and, if he were tempted out of retirement, would be the oldest player in the league.

Instead, Hill has been working as a broadcaster with TNT and NBATV, and is gearing up for his first post-career All-Star weekend, which he will help cover.

“It will be a little weird, a little different than what I’ve done before,” Hill said. “But it will be, I think, a lot of fun. I went in ’89 as a fan, and obviously over the years, I was a participant. Covering it will be great. I will be running around, doing different things, calling my first game in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge. This will be the first time I really worked hard during the All-Star break.”

And, given Hill’s no-regrets policy on his retirement, probably not the last time.


ROSE PLAN


Although he is out for the season, Derrick Rose is always around the Chicago Bulls. He travels with the team, he is constantly in the gym and he continues his rehab to recover from a torn meniscus.

But while Rose has shown a commitment to the Bulls, he is unlikely to practice with the team this season, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Bulls center Joakim Noah is aware that Rose won't play any part in what happens on the court for the Bulls, but he appreciates his presence.

"He’s working really hard," Noah said. "He’s always around the team, being a great leader, showing support to his teammates. Just watching him work every day I think is extra motivation for us to go out there and go harder."

For a team rooted in hardwork, Rose's continued effort to rehab his torn meniscus serves as an reminder of what it stands for. 

"He’s in the gym non-stop, just working on his body getting better," Noah said. "That’s what it’s all about. He’s a big part of this team. He has that mentality of having no regrets. Just give it everything you got. If you can go, you can go. If you can’t, you did everything you could to make it."


BLEDSOE OFFERS


In 24 games played, Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe proved enough to the team that it is prepared to match any offer that might come the restricted free agent's way this offseason.

Speaking to Doug and Wolf Show in Arizona on Tuesday, Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said the team is sure it will do what it needs to in order to keep Bledsoe.

"I think our answer to that is yes, that we know enough about Eric as a player," Babby said. "Even more importantly, we've lived with him now for almost a year as a person. We like everything about him. Like him as a teammate, like him as a representative of our franchise and everything that he stands for.

"He's got a tremendous future."

Before suffering a torn meniscus, Bledsoe averaged 18.0 points, 5.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game and teamed with Goran Dragic to create one of the best backcourt tandems in the NBA.

Bledsoe's first season with the Suns was his first experience as a full-time starter. The success he found in that initial experience should instill confidence within the Suns. Prior to this, Bledsoe performed well as Chris Paul's backup with the Los Angeles Clippers, but it was clear that he would not remain in that role for much time.

There were offers coming in for Bledsoe back then, and there are sure to be more coming now that he is facing restricted free agency. There is no need to prepare a package or appease a team. It's just about coming with a monetary offer that could entise Bledsoe.

Ask Babby, however, and he'll tell you there is no way they'll let Bledsoe leave. Phoenix has the ability to match any offer that comes in for Bledsoe, and Babby reiterated that he is willing to match whatever comes from the market.

"Yes," Babby said, "If you ask me today, I would say absolutely we are going to match any offer, but I hope it doesn't come to that. I hope Eric has developed enough of a feeling, and my instincts are that he likes it here."


THE MASK


J.R. Smith will play through a small fracture suffered in his left cheekbone when the New York Knicks played against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, according to the New York Daily News.

To protect the injury, Smith will wear a face mask, starting in New York's Wednesday game against the Sacramento Kings.

Smith was hurt when he attempted a layup and came down awkwardly, with the left side of his head smashing into the leg of Kevin Durant. Smith lay on the ground for a moment and was treated by team personnel, before heading to the bench and spending the remainder of the game on the sideline.


 


JORDAN'S TWINS


Michael Jordan has more to be happy about than just the improved play of his NBA franchise.

His wife, Yvette, has given birth to the couple's identical twin daughters, Jordan's spokeswoman Estee Portnoy told The Associated Press.

Portnoy said Tuesday night Yvette Jordan, 35, gave birth to Victoria and Ysabel on Sunday in West Palm Beach, Fla.

"Yvette Jordan and the babies are doing well and the family is overjoyed at their arrival," Portnoy said.

Jordan is the owner of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats, who are currently the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and have a chance to make the postseason for the first time since he took over as majority owner in 2010.

Jordan, who turns 51 next Monday, married former model Yvette Prieto on April 27 of last year in Palm Beach, Fla. The reception took place at a private golf club in Jupiter, Fla., designed by Jack Nicklaus. Jordan owns a home near the course.

The couple met six years ago.

Jordan has three children — two sons, Jeffrey Michael and Marcus James, and a daughter, Jasmine — with former wife Juanita Vanoy. They divorced in 2006.

Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and was a 14-time All-Star and five-time league MVP.

Contributors: DeAntae Prince, Sean Deveney, The Associated Press