Richard Hamilton (basketball)
Richard Clay "Rip" Hamilton is an American former professional basketball player and current basketball analyst for CBS Sports HQ. Hamilton played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and is best known for his nine-year stint with the Detroit Pistons, where he was a three-time All-Star. He helped lead the Pistons to six straight Eastern Conference Finals appearances, back to back NBA Finals appearances, their best record in franchise history and the 2004 NBA championship.
Hamilton speaking at a USO event in 2018
Hamilton began wearing a face mask in 2003 that became his trademark.
Hamilton led the Pistons in scoring for eight consecutive seasons.
Hamilton dunks the basketball in 2008
The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at Little Caesars Arena, located in Midtown Detroit. The team was founded as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, a semi-professional company basketball team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1937. The club would turn professional in 1941 as a member of the National Basketball League (NBL), where they won two NBL championships: in 1944 and 1945. The Pistons later joined the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1948. The NBL and BAA merged to become the NBA in 1949, and the Pistons became part of the merged league. In 1957, the franchise moved to Detroit. The Pistons have won three NBA championships: in 1989, 1990 and 2004.
Dave Bing joined the team in 1966, scoring 1,601 points in his rookie year.
Isiah Thomas against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 1985.
Chuck Daly, coach of the 1989 and 1990 NBA champions.
A ticket for Game 1 of the 1988 NBA Finals at The Forum.