Richard Hamilton (basketball)
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| Position | Shooting guard |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Rip |
| Height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Weight | 193 lb (88 kg) |
| Team | Detroit Pistons |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Born | February 14, 1978 Coatesville, Pennsylvania |
| College | University of Connecticut |
| Draft | 7th overall, 1999 Washington Wizards |
| Pro career | 1999 – present |
| Former teams | Washington Wizards (1999–2002) |
Richard Clay "Rip" Hamilton (born February 14, 1978 in Coatesville, Pennsylvania) is an American National Basketball Association player for the Detroit Pistons. He is 6 ft 7 in, 193 pounds (2.01 m, 87.5 kg) and plays shooting guard and small forward.
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[edit] Playing career
Hamilton hails from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and played college basketball at the University of Connecticut from 1996-99. He was named the 1999 NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after UConn's run to that year's national title.
Hamilton was a lottery pick in that year's NBA draft and played for the Washington Wizards for his first three seasons as a professional. Hamilton was then traded to the Detroit Pistons for Jerry Stackhouse. Since the trade, Richard has become one of the NBA's top shooting guards, and helped the Pistons win the NBA Championship in 2004.
After fracturing his nose twice in the 2003-04 season, Hamilton began wearing his now-trademark protective mask to preserve his ability to participate in the 2004 NBA Playoffs. He has continued to wear the mask in the wake of three reconstructive surgeries which are said to have left him without nose cartilage and vulnerable to a career-ending injury. He also told ESPN reporters that he wears the mask for good luck.
Hamilton, one of the NBA's best players without the ball, can wear down opponents with constant movement. He frequently curls off screens and picks and is one of the deadliest catch-and-shoot players in the league. He is highly regarded by NBA analysts as one of the best mid-range shooting players, a rare skill in the league.
On February 9, 2006, Hamilton earned his first selection to the 2006 NBA All-Star Game in Houston as a reserve guard for the Eastern Conference.
[edit] Trivia
- Hamilton got his nickname Rip from his dad who got the same nickname as a child because he ripped his diapers.
- In the 1990s, Hamilton regularly spoke at his former Elementary School, encouraging the students to stay away from drugs and gangs.
- Rip has his own clothing line and own organization called Rip City.
- "Yessir!" has become a popular catchphrase of Hamilton's. This originated after he repeatedly exclaimed it at the Pistons' 2004 championship rally. After scoring, "Yessir!" is often played through the speakers at home games. [1]
- Hamilton is known for wearing a face mask while on the basketball court.
- Hamilton was known for his trademark braids; he recently cut his hair.
- Hamilton is also a part of Team Jordan.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
1 Billups (Finals MVP) | 3 B. Wallace | 7 James | 8 Ham | 10 Hunter | 13 Okur | 22 Prince | 31 Miličić | 32 Hamilton | 34 Williamson | 36 R. Wallace | 41 Campbell | Coach Brown
| Preceded by: Jeff Sheppard |
NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player (men's) 1999 |
Succeeded by: Mateen Cleaves |
