The End of an Era

The dismissal of Richard “Rip” Hamilton is more than just an aging player being let go by his “career” team; it is the end of the Detroit Pistons glory days. With Richard let go now only two players, Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace, remain from the 2004 NBA Championship team. After seeing what this team has become, it makes me long for those days of the Wallace duo (not just because I share the same last name), Mr. Big Shot (Chauncey Billups), Dangles (Tayshaun Prince), and Rip tearing up the league and showing people that teamwork wins more than individual ability. So with this reminiscing, I want to show what the careers of the two most disrespected players from that starting five, Chauncey and Richard, have been like since they reached the top of the NBA Mountain.

            Chauncey Billups was the best point guard in the league from a leadership standpoint and also as a player. He was known to be able to win the game in the clutch, his professionalism, and for his calm demeanor, no matter what the situation. In 2008 he was traded to his hometown Denver Nuggets and continued with the success that he had with Detroit, helping them get back to the conference championship and become contenders. Billups’ time with the Nuggets was cut short however because of a trade demand by Nugget All-Star Carmelo Anthony, as he and Chauncey were soon shipped to the New York Knicks in early 2011. While with the Knicks he assisted into their return to the playoffs, but came down with an injury late in the first game of the playoff series and would not return. At the beginning of the 2011-2012 season Billups was again affected by a All-Star trade demand, this time by point guard Chris Paul, and was offered for a deal with the Hornets that would send him to New Orleans. This deal fell through however and has since been waived by the Knicks. He is currently looking for a new team that will help him return to dominance.

            Richard Hamilton was one of top shooting guards of the 2000’s with the Pistons, able to come off a screen and hit the jumper, or drive to the basket and finish with contact. This has been overshadowed in recent years by injuries, trade talks, benchings, and public feuds with a head coach. His role with the team had been shortened because of new “better” shooting guards that joined the team, but Rip continued to outperform them. Finally after years of being under valued Richard has a chance to join a contender and win his second championship and finish his career on top.

            Even though they are so great, they are disrespected beyond a shadow of a doubt. I hope they find a place where they can finally win either separately, or together to reform the dynamic duo that they were. Right now we have no way of knowing where they will go, but we will always know how good they were and how they brought joy back to D Town.