Hillman graduated from Hiram W. Johnson High School.\n', '

The 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) forward played college basketball at San Jose State University. Hillman was selected in the first round of the 1971 NBA draft (the 8th pick overall) by the Golden State Warriors, but opted instead to play for the Indiana Pacers of the American Basketball Association.\n', '

Hillman played six seasons for the Pacers, who joined the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the ABA–NBA merger in June 1976. Hillman earned a reputation for his stylish slam dunks and oversized afro hairstyle. He would even be named the winner of the NBA\'s Slam Dunk Contest in the 1976–77 season, which was a precursor to the event that\'s known today, although he wouldn\'t be give an official trophy for it until March 8, 2017 In the final of that contest, which took place at halftime of Game 5 of the 1977 NBA Finals Hillman defeated Larry McNeill of the Golden State Warriors. At the time of the final, Hillman\'s rights had been traded to the New York Nets, but he had not yet signed a contract. Since he was not officially a member of any NBA team, instead of wearing a jersey, he competed in a plain white tank top. Then for the post-competition interview, Hillman donned a shirt with the words "Bottle Shoppe" – the name of an Indianapolis liquor store, which is still in existence, and was the sponsor of a city parks softball league team for which Hillman played left field (and the only team he was a member of at the time).\n', '

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