It’s been more than 20 years since Richard “Rip” Hamilton came to the Detroit Pistons. The relatively young and untested forward from the University of Connecticut landed in the right place at the right time. Along with Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, Chauncey Billups, and Tayshaun Prince in what would become known as the “Goin’ to Work” line, Hamilton and the Pistons stormed their way to a surprising championship win in 2004 and dominated the NBA for much of the 2000s.
Basketball history may not repeat itself, but it does sometimes rhyme, and Hamilton is hoping for that magic again. Hamilton might see a lot of his younger self and his teammates in this embattled Pistons team. They’ve had to work hard, against stiff odds, to make it to the playoffs. They’ve faced some dubious calls that have only reinforced their underdog status. The deck may be stacked against them, but Detroiters are used to that. This year’s Pistons are a young and relatively untested team and have proved they’re willing to scrap for each point. They might not take it all this year, but they’re a team to watch.
Although he no longer lives here full time (he’s in California), Hamilton returned to Detroit in April for the Pistons’ first playoff appearance since 2019 and continues to have ties in the city. He was eager to talk about the camaraderie he shared with his teammates, their work ethic, his foundation, and especially his love for Detroit.
What was it that jelled in that Pistons line that you were on?
We all came in with this “me against the world” type of attitude because we were kind of pushed to the side from other teams’ organizations. It was always someone telling me I was too skinny, I couldn’t play at this level. Same thing with Chauncey [Billups] being traded for four or five teams prior to that and Ben [Wallace] not being drafted.
We knew we had to do it by committee. Our ultimate goal was to win a championship. If we did all our individual things that we’d done in our careers, that would come, but it would come on the back of team success. We did everything together. We did it as one, and we understood that we couldn’t accomplish what we wanted to as professional athletes unless we’d done it together.
How is that reflected in what you’re seeing happening in Detroit today?
When you look at Detroit, it’s always been about the people. It’s a hardworking town. The city is always going to respect guys that come out and lay it on the line each and every night.
Between the NFL Draft last year and the Pistons’ playoff run now, we’re having a moment in Detroit. What is it about this moment in Detroit that is finally getting us on the national stage, do you think?
People in the city of Detroit always feel like they’re being overlooked and not valued, the same way that we were as players.
Now that the teams are starting to win again, we’re on this roller coaster ride. You have your ups and downs. When the Red Wings were playing great, the city was pumping. It was the same thing during our ’04, ’05 run, with Isaiah [Thomas] and Joe [Dumars]. Now, the Lions are playing really well, too.
Now, national media is really starting to get behind it. When you look at the fans and the people that have been there and been around it, this is a long time coming. When our teams don’t win for four or five years, we’re like, ‘Yo, we need our team back!’
What has kept you connected to Detroit? Why keep coming back?
It’s home away from home. I’m big on community. Detroit welcomed me with open arms. In my foundation, I did the same thing when I came to Detroit, giving back to the community, being around the kids, feeding the homeless, adopting different schools, building learning centers there, because I didn’t have that as a child in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. We didn’t have resources.
Can you talk a little bit more about the Rip City Foundation and the work you do to enhance young people’s lives?
I started the foundation in 1999 with my mother and my sister and my [high school] coach, Richard Hicks. Rick was the guy that understood that we didn’t have any resources. He was the guy that took 30 kids to work out at 5 o’clock in the morning. He was the guy that was getting them school clothes. Some guys on the team couldn’t eat. He was the guy that was providing that for them. He is the focal point, from a leadership standpoint, to help me and my sister and my mother. I was that kid at one point in time.
You’ve done your work here, for sure. We consider you a Detroiter now. So what makes a Detroiter a Detroiter?
Hard work. A “me against the world” type of attitude. If it ain’t rough, it ain’t right. We don’t want no handouts. We’re willing to go out and work for ours. That’s what describes the Detroiter, in my opinion. A lot of grit. If you’re not giving us respect, we’re not going to respect you. Respect is earned around a Detroiter.
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