Already, Hill Rates Star Quality

Detroit’s Grant Hill is the fans’ favorite in NBA All-Star balloting, becoming the first rookie to lead the voting.

Receiving 1,289,585 votes, Hill edged Orlando’s Shaquille O’Neal in final results of fan balloting Thursday even though he’s played in only 25 pro games.

“Leading the entire NBA in AllStar voting makes me feel awestruck,” said Hill.

“I looked forward to making the rookie game this year, and maybe playing in an All-Star game sometime in the future. And now here I am, starting in the All-Star game. To me, it is an honor that should be bestowed upon someone like (teammate) Joe Dumars, not one of the league’s rookies.

“But I am thankful to everyone that voted for me. I know it will be an unbelievable experience.”

Joining Hill, a forward, as Eastern Conference starters for the Feb. 12 All-Star game at Phoenix are O’Neal at center, Chicago’s Scottie Pippen at the other forward and Orlando’s Anfernee Hardaway and Indiana’s Reggie Miller at guards. Among the Western Conference starters is one player who doesn’t even start for his own team - Phoenix guard Dan Majerle. The Suns’ Charles Barkley and Seattle’s Shawn Kemp were voted in at forward, Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon at center and Golden State’s Latrell Sprewell at the other guard.

The reserves will be announced Jan. 31.

Pippen $32,000 in the hole

Scottie Pippen, the disgruntled star of the Chicago Bulls, drew a onegame suspension and $6,000 fine from the league for his chairthrowing tantrum earlier in the week.

As a result of the suspension, Pippen missed Thursday night’s game at Orlando and the $26,000 salary he makes per game.

Pippen was disciplined for an angry outburst during the second quarter of the Bulls’ game against San Antonio on Tuesday night. Slapped with a technical by referee Joe Crawford after he complained about the lack of a 3-second call against the Spurs, Pippen then became irate over the technical and was ejected. He threw a chair on his way out.