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| Rip Hamilton said that it was amazing to hear Dwyane Wade calling him one of the toughest players he guarded. NBA Philippines |
QUEZON CITY--Rip Hamilton felt amazed that Dwyane Wade called him one of the toughest players he guarded.
When Filipino reporters asked for his comment on Wade's statement over the All the Smoke Podcast, Hamilton said that he is glad that he is still getting some respect from fellow NBA legends today.
"For him to say that is amazing because you want to be respected as a player," Hamilton said on Wednesday during a media availability at Conrad Manila in Pasay ahead of the NBA 3x this coming weekend.
Hamilton, who helped give the Detroit Pistons the 2004 NBA championship, is the special guest in NBA Philippines' flagship 3x3 event at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
This year, however, will be special as a live viewing party of the NBA In-Season Tournament Final will also take place on Sunday.
Rip Hamilton says battle with Dwyane Wade 'survival of the fittest'
Hamilton and Wade both led their respective teams, the Pistons and the Miami Heat, in scoring during the 2000s, which is why their shootout was among the key highlights every time they played.
Wade, speaking to fellow former NBA stars Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, said that he somehow hated having to defend Hamilton at the shooting guard spot.
"I hated guarding... especially Rip because he had them nails too," Wade said.
Hamilton further reacted, "Me and D-Wade had a lot of battles. We talk on numerous occasions, especially now 'coz we didn't talk a whole lot when we played against each other because it was survival of the fittest. We knew that we were going to play them in the Eastern Conference, and you would do anything possible to try to get an advantage."
After hearing Wade's statement, Hamilton said that he is somehow glad that there are still fellow NBA legends who acknowledge his contributions on the court.
"As a player, you don't come on a court to be liked, but you want to be respected. I tried to go out there and compete at my hardest each and every night, and for a great player like Dwyane to mention me as one of the toughest guys that he had to guard just let me know I was doing something right," Hamilton further said.
Hamilton had a busy Day 1 in his NBA 3x-related stuff as he also attended Game 3 of the UAAP men's basketball finals between the University of the Philippines and La Salle that drew a new league record 25,192 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
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