Detroit Pistons to Retire Richard ‘Rip’ Hamilton’s Jersey

The Detroit Pistons said Friday that the No. 32 jersey worn by Richard “Rip” Hamilton, the shooting guard who led the NBA team in scoring during eight of his nine seasons, including the 2004 championship season, will be retired. Hamilton will be honored during the halftime ceremony when the Pistons host the Boston Celtics at The Palace at Auburn Hills on Sunday, Feb. 26.

“Our franchise has a great legacy and it’s important to recognize the players who made our organization successful both on and off the court,” Pistons owner Tom Gores said in a statement on the Pistons’ website. “Rip’s numbers speak for themselves. He was a top performer year in and year out, from the regular season through the playoffs and especially during the championship run of 2004. He was relentless on the court and equally passionate about his teammates and the community. We are excited to honor his success.”

Hamilton, who played 631 games for Pistons from 2002-2011, is one of only six players in the history of the franchise to reach the 11,000-point plateau and one of five players to score 50-plus points in a game, an accomplishment he reached at New York on Dec. 27, 2006, when he scored 51 points.

“Detroit is where I celebrated the greatest achievements in my pro basketball career and to be recognized by the organization in this way, I’m honored,” Hamilton said. “I look forward to sharing this experience with all the fans who supported me throughout my years as a Piston and look forward to celebrating in The Palace one final time. Yessirr.”

Hamilton played for the NBA for 14 years, including stints in Washington and Chicago. He is the third member of the 2004 championship team to have their jerseys retired, joining Chancey Billups and Ben Wallace, who were honored last season.

Read more about him on the Pistons’ website.
Photo by Keith Allison via Flickr Commons