Richard Hamilton: Latest News, Rumors, Speculation Surrounding Free-Agent SG
Retired shooting guard Richard Hamilton may be making a return to the NBA for the first time since 2013.
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Hamilton to Undergo Intense Training, Re-Evaluate NBA Future
Tuesday, July 12
Hamilton told CBS Sports on Tuesday that he's giving himself an ultimatum of sorts to see if he can give it another go at age 38, per CBSSports.com's Ananth Pandian:
"I'm giving myself thirty days where I am really hitting the gym. I'm working on my game. I'm in the weight room. I'm running my two, three miles a day. And I'm trying to see if my body can hold up. If my body can hold up after these thirty days, I will be making a comeback.
If I get the opportunity where I can come in and earn my minutes. I think that I will be able to make an impact on someone's NBA team.
"
The three-time All-Star was drafted seventh overall in the 1999 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards.
Hamilton played most of his career with the Detroit Pistons, where he won a championship in 2004 before wrapping up his playing days with the Chicago Bulls from 2011 to 2013.
More of a throwback 2-guard with an excellent mid-range game, Hamilton averaged 17.1 points per contest to go with 3.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds through 921 regular-season games. "Rip" isn't the type of lethal three-point shooter many of the NBA's current top-tier guards are, so his fit in the modern game is questionable.
Given the combination of Hamilton's age, diminished physical skills and relatively slender build, the possibility of a comeback seems remote. A month of working out isn't likely to have him fit enough for the 2016-17 season.
That's probably why he appears interested only in joining a team with a realistic chance at the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
"I'm actually doing it for [my kids] and for myself, too, to get an opportunity to make one more run at it," Hamilton said, per Pandian. "And if there's an opportunity, where I could go out and win another championship, I'm all for it."
One can't blame Hamilton for at least trying to get back into the game. Setbacks mired his stint in Chicago, and a "freak foot injury" suffered in October 2014 was what ultimately led him to announce his retirement in February 2015.
Hamilton could at least garner a training camp invitation if he deems himself fit enough following his 30-day regimen. If Rip does make an NBA roster, he'd be a great veteran for any locker room to have and could probably be had at the veteran minimum.
