'We have your back': Ex-NBA All-Star Rip Hamilton furthers league's military involvement
The moment Rip Hamilton got the call from Ray Allen, he was hooked.
"Hey Rip, man, you've got to make this trip," Hamilton recalls Allen, who had just returned from a tour overseas with the United Service Organizations, saying back in 2016. "You have to go experience this. The troops will really appreciate it."
In late April, Hamilton did just that. He attended a week-long tour of military bases across the world as part of a trip with the USO — furthering the NBA's longstanding relationship with the military and its members.
"We have the best league in the world," Hamilton, a three-time All-Star who won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004 and officially retired in 2015, told Paste BN Sports. " ... When you see opportunities like this to go over there — not just me, but from Ray Allen and Caron Butler and everybody else — to go over there and support our guys, support our troops, and be a part of their daily lifestyle.
"Just let them know, 'We appreciate you. We support you. We have your back through thick and thin.' I think that's the biggest thing and that's the greatest thing that we have, the constant communication that we have with the leaders of our league."
In addition to Hamilton's trip, the league's involvement with the military during the 2017-18 season through Hoops for Troops — a year-round program that honors service men, women, and their families — has included:
- Boston Celtics star Kyrie Irving gifted his game-worn jersey and shoes to two military members after a game.
- Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. re-connected with his pen-pal from an elementary school project — U.S. Army Specialist Bianca Campbell, who was then flown out to a game to meet Nance.
- Miami Heat guard Rodney McGruder and New York Knicks guard Jarrett Jack spent time with hundreds of children from the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors over Memorial Day weekend.
- Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley coached a wheelchair basketball game at Naval Support Activity Bethesda.
- Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown volunteered to assemble care packages for military members serving overseas.
- The Indiana Pacers invited military members to lunch and to watch them practice.
- Retired guard Kevin Martin and Philadelphia 76ers assistant Monty Williams visited military members stationed in Kuwait and hosted a viewing party during Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
A photo gallery from Hamilton's trip is below: