Richard Hamilton

Richard Hamilton is a shooting guard/small forward for the NBA's Detroit Pistons. As of 2008, he is a three time NBA All-Star, and has won a NBA Championship with the 2004 Detroit Pistons. He is widely regarded as one of the best shooting guards in the National Basketball Association, inviting favorable comparisons to NBA legend Reggie Miller.

Richard Clay Hamilton was born in Coatsville, Pennsylvania on February 14, 1978. He would attend the University of Connecticut where he would lead the team to the 1999 NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship, along the way he would pick up the the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award.

On November 3, 2008, Hamilton signed a three year extension with the Pistons for $34 million dollars. Two years of the contract are guaranteed, with the third year being a partial guarantee. ESPN.com: [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3680959 Source: Hamilton's new Pistons contract worth $34 million dollars

Hamilton played only 46 games in an injury-riddled season. He started all 46 games, averaging 18.1 points and 4.4 assists in 33.7 minutes per game. Hamilton's season was shorted by both injury and illness, battling ankle issues and sickness. His best game came in a 110 to 104 win against the New Orleans Hornets. He recorded a double-double, scoring 32 points with 10 assists.

Hamilton was selected with the 7th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards. He would establish himself a promising shooting guard in the next several years, playing alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan. In 2003, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons with Hubert Davis and Bobby Simmons for Jerry Stackhouse, Brian Cardinal and Ratko Varda. In Detroit, he would establish himself as All-Star Shooting Guard. In 2004, with Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace Hamilton would lead the Pistons to the 2004 NBA Championship, over the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers.