May 30, 2008
Game 6 - NBA Eastern Conference Final
May 28, 2008
Game 5 - NBA Eastern Conference Final
May 26, 2008
Game 4 - NBA Eastern Conference Final
May 22, 2008
Game 2 - NBA Eastern Conference Finals
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.
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, Hubert
Davis and Bobby Simmons were then traded to the
Detroit Pistons for Jerry Stackhouse, Brian Cardinal
and Ratko Varda. Since the trade, Richard has become
one of the NBA's top shooting guards, and helped the
Pistons win the NBA Championship in 2004. Also,
Hamilton was and still is the leading scorer on the
team.
After fracturing his nose three times in the
2003-2004 season, Hamilton began wearing a
protective mask. He has continued to wear the mask
since it has become a symbol of strength. Hamilton
says "It's like my Superman cape."
On February 9, 2006, Hamilton earned his first
selection to the 2006 NBA All-Star Game as a reserve
guard for the Eastern Conference.
On December 27, 2006, Hamilton scored a career-high
51 points with a personal best 19-for-37 field goal
shooting in a 151-145 triple-overtime Pistons loss
to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
On January 9, 2007, Hamilton surpassed 10,000 career
points with 22 points in a victory over the
Philadelphia 76ers.
He represented the Eastern Conference for the second
time at the 2007 NBA All-Star Game.
On February 17, 2008, Hamilton represented the
Eastern Conference for the third consecutive season
at the 2008 NBA All-Star Game.
On February 6, 2008, Hamilton was selected to be a
part of the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout, to be
held on February 16, 2008 during All Star Weekend in
New Orleans. He was defeated, however, by defending
champion Jason Kapono.
On May 13, 2008, Hamilton surpassed Isiah Thomas as
the all-time Piston leading scorer in the playoffs.
On October 31, 2007, Hamilton's girlfriend TJ Lottie
gave birth to Richard Clay Hamilton III.
Early in the 2003-2004 season, Hamilton suffered a
fractured nose. His nose was fractured again in late
February and underwent nasal reconstructive surgery.
He now wears a protective mask so as to prevent
further injury.
