He also was a member of the San Diego Conquistadors, Kentucky Colonels, and Indiana Pacers in the American Basketball Association (ABA).

Growing up in rural Alabama under Jim Crow laws, he practiced his basketball shot using a tennis ball and a cutout five-gallon bucket as a makeshift rim.

[2] Grant accepted a basketball scholarship from NAIA Kentucky State University, because of his relationship with head coach Lucias Mitchell, turning down other offers.

[2] Grant graduated as the all-time/all-division scoring leader in college basketball history with 4,045 points (378 more than Pistol Pete Maravich).

As a rookie, he was part of a team that included Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich and Pat Riley.

On October 30, 1973, he was waived to make room for the recently acquired power forward Connie Hawkins.

[9] On November 22, 1973, he signed with the San Diego Conquistadors in the American Basketball Association, reuniting with Chamberlain, who was initially going to serve as a player/coach.

[2] On October 2, 1975, he was traded to the Kentucky Colonels in exchange for cash considerations and a third round draft choice.

On January 12, 1976, he was traded to the Indiana Pacers, in exchange for cash considerations and a future draft choice.

[12] In 1976, the Indiana Pacers acquired Grant to provide depth after their leading scorer Billy Knight was lost to an injury.