Word to the face mask and headband. Shout out to the arm sleeve. Big-ups to all the shooters who run around like crazy and curl off screens.
Good news, Richard Hamilton fans of the world: The Detroit Pistons will retire Hamilton's No. 32 Feb. 26 against the Boston Celtics, sending the sharpshooter's jersey to the rafters.
OFFICIAL: The #Pistons will honor and retire @ripcityhamilton's jersey on February 26! #DetroitBasketball #Yessir pic.twitter.com/68kHon4U50
“I’m honored and I look forward to sharing this experience with all the fans and who supported me throughout my years as a Piston and look forward to celebrating in The Palace one final time,” Hamilton posted on Instagram.
This was to be expected. Hamilton, now 38, was a crucial part of the Pistons' 2004 NBA Championship roster.
He was the Pistons' leading scorer that year (averaging 17.6 points per game), as Detroit pulled off a massive upset over Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone, Gary Payton, and the Lakers in the Finals.
Hamilton was also a three-time All-Star (2006-08) and an NCAA champ (with UConn in 1999). Though Hamilton started his career with the Wizards and later played for the Bulls, he is most known for his time as a quick-release shooter with the Pistons.
The Pistons will now have retired the jerseys of three members of the 2004 team's starting five: Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace, and Hamilton. The other two, yet to have had their numbers honored: Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince. We'll wait and see if their time will come.
