Richard Hamilton (basketball player)
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Richard Clay Hamilton (born February 14, 1978 in Coatesville, Pennsylvania) is an NBA player for the Detroit Pistons. He is 6-foot-7, 210 pounds (2.01 m, 106 kg) and plays guard and small forward. His nickname is "Rip".
Hamilton hails from Coatesville, Pennsylvania and played college basketball at the University of Connecticut. He was named Most Outstanding Player when UConn won the NCAA tournament in 1999.
He played for the Washington Wizards of the NBA for his first three seasons, then was traded to Detroit in 2002 for Jerry Stackhouse. He has settled in to become one of the NBA's top shooting guards, which helped the Pistons win the NBA Championship in 2004.
Having suffered a fractured nose early in the season, Hamilton suffered yet another in late February, which led to nasal reconstructive surgery. If he had any hope of remaining on the active roster for the NBA playoffs, with protection from further injury, he had to wear a protective mask.
Hamilton is a very well-conditioned player who posesses excellent stamina. Furthermore, he possesses a deadly mid-range jumpshot and is a good defender. His only drawback is his three-point shooting, which is somewhat inconsistent for a guard.
Hamilton got his nickname Rip from his Dad who got the same nickname as a child because he ripped his diapers.