LeBron James Reacts To Rip Hamilton Draining Halfcourt Shot
Just in case fans questioned why former Connecticut guard Richard Hamilton had his jersey retired Saturday, he provided the proof.
Hamilton hit a halfcourt shot in front of fans in attendance for an ESPN's College Gameday. It was a few hours before Hamilton had his No. 21 jersey retired. After making the shot, Hamilton raised his arms in front of the packed house.
The shot even grabbed the attention of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James. He tweeted, "RIP CITY!!!! Love Rip! Nailed that joint like it was nothing!
Hamilton, who entered the NBA with the Washington Wizards in 1999, was one of the league's most versatile swingmen during his playing days. He was known mostly for his midrange game.
He had his best years with the Detroit Pistons during the 2000s. He helped them win a title in 2004, defeating the Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant Lakers in the Finals. He was also a three-time All-Star from 2006-08.
In college, Hamilton led UCONN to an NCAA title. He became just the second player in school history to have their jersey retired, joining NBA Hall of Famer Ray Allen. Hamilton, now an analyst for CBS, retired from the NBA in 2015.
“We play for banners," Hamilton said. "As a kid growing up and watching the game and being inspired by all the greater players, you just look up in the rafters and you see conference finals, you see NBA finals. Same thing when I came here [to UConn],” he said. “What we didn’t have at the time was a national championship and I wanted to do it for coach (Jim) Calhoun.”
Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Back In The Day NBA. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com
