Hamilton ready to renew long-term rivalry with Bryant
Bulls guard John Lucas III thought back recently to one of the best basketball games he’s ever seen.
Just like Sunday’s NBA opener between the Bulls and Lakers, it featured Richard Hamilton vs. Kobe Bryant. Except this game in 1996 was Coatesville High School against Lower Merion at the Palestra in Philadelphia.
“That game was crazy,” recalled Lucas, who was in sixth grade at the time. “It was jam-packed. I think it was sold out. I just remember Rip and Kobe going at it, back and forth, back and forth.
“It was one of my highlights of growing up. It was probably one of the best high school games I’ve seen, throughout my whole life.”
Hamilton and Bryant were more than just high school rivals. They also became close friends and road trip roommates while playing on the same AAU team.
Did they lose much?
“No. Not at all,” Hamilton said with a laugh. “It was a fun time. At the time, Kobe was No. 1 in the state, I was No. 2. Played on the same AAU team, so we were good friends.”
When Hamilton and Bryant squared off in the 2004 NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Daily News quoted their AAU coach, Sam Rines.
“I’ve seen Kobe contest people’s shots and play hard against people, but I’ve never seen him go after somebody the way he goes after Rip,” Rines said. “That’s because Kobe knows him so well.”
Well, Hamilton’s Pistons won that series, getting some revenge for his three high school losses to Bryant’s Lower Merion squad.
Speaking Friday at the Berto Center, Hamilton wasn’t concerned with Bryant’s torn ligament in his right wrist. Bryant plans to play through the injury.
“When the ball’s thrown up, a lot of guys are able to tune that out and go ahead and compete,” Hamilton said. “So you can’t look at that as a disadvantage.”
Lakers get smaller:Kobe Bryant plans to play against the Bulls despite his wrist injury, but the Lakers will be without center Andrew Bynum on Sunday due to a suspension and they traded forward Lamar Odom to Dallas a few weeks ago.#147;(That#146;s) big, huge,#148; Richard Hamilton said. #147;Last couple years, they#146;ve been so great on how big they were, with Bynum, Odom, (Pau) Gasol. So without Bynum, I know for them it#146;s going to be tough. But they#146;ll adjust. They#146;re a veteran team. They#146;ve been playing without him the last couple years sometimes.#148;Thibs OK with road opener:The Bulls are opening the season with four games in California and will play 20 of their first 30 games on the road.At least that means they#146;ll have more home dates later in the season. Coach Tom Thibodeau seemed unconcerned.#147;I don#146;t mind being on the road early,#148; he said. #147;I think it#146;s good. We#146;re looking forward to it. #147;I think we have a very professional group. Whether you#146;re at home or on the road, you can be distracted. We just want to do the right things each and every day. If we do that, the results will take care of themselves.#148;