Detroit Pistons legend and NBA icon Rip Hamilton has just come out with a bold claim pertaining to how he revolutionized the game — from a fashion perspective.
Hamilton responded to a survey posted by ESPN about who wore the protective face mask (nope, not the one we're all using now to prevent the spread of COVID-19) best, and unsurprisingly, Hamilton picked himself.
I have to admit that I wore it the best.. Trust and believe that I made the mask cool and fashionable for everybody after me. #JustAskThem #Holdat #maskup #maskman #BigFacts https://t.co/nGB4jjlNQy
— Rip Hamilton (@RipHamilton32) July 12, 2020
To be fair to Hamilton, he was the first NBA player on the above list to wear the mask. Unlike the other players, Hamilton embraced the masked look and it became more of a trademark for him, as opposed to a temporary inconvenience for most of the other guys. As a matter of fact, it's hard to imagine Hamilton without his mask.
Go ahead, Google it. It's like looking at James Harden without his beard, right?
Rip Hamilton had a successful 14-year career in the NBA. He is best remembered for his nine-season spell with the Pistons, during which he won the NBA title in 2004. The 6-foot-6 swingman was front and center in what was one of the biggest upsets in Finals history when Detroit ousted the heavily-favored Los Angeles Lakers.
Hamilton, the seventh overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, made three consecutive appearances in the All-Star squad during his prime. To this day, he is in the running for one of the greatest masked players of all time.
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