Maskless Rip Hamilton Drains Halfcourt Shot With No Warm Up

Richard "Rip" Hamilton, a three-time NBA All-Star, hasn’t played professionally in more than a decade, but his shot is still NBA-ready.

On Saturday morning, Hamilton was on hand for ESPN’s College GameDay, which aired live from Rip’s alma mater, UConn. While inside Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, Hamiltion was asked by Caitlin Clark’s biggest fan, Jay Williams, to shoot a halfcourt shot.

Hamilton had neither practice nor the signature clear mask he wore throughout his pro career – a result of numerous nose breaks – but didn’t shy away from heaving one up from long distance.

"I ain’t got my Uconn jersey on, but it’s OK," Hamilton told Williams. "I made a lot of buckets here, so hopefully I can make one in front of the greatest fans in the world."

Live TV, raucous crowd, Caitlin Clark doubter watching just steps away…no pressure.

Rip took two dribbles, paused, turned to Williams – who played for Duke, because of course he did – and said, "I can’t let a Duke guy show me up."

If you weren’t already a fan of Hamilton’s before that line, you are now.

Two more dribbles, a heave, then nothing but net. 

Rip Hamilton Drained Three With No Practice

Like he had done with the Pistons for so many years and the Huskies before that, Rip delivered. Though, this time he did so without the trademark mask.

Almost instantly, Rip's shot made the rounds on social media, prompting a response from a guy who's made a couple of halfcourt shots of his own, LeBron James. 

"I can’t. I’m not shooting. I’m done," Williams, who planned to shoot too, can be heard saying as the arena celebrated Hamilton’s bucket.

Finally, something coming out of Williams’ mouth while on TV that makes sense.

Richard Hamilton has always been a shooter, but usually it's with a mask. JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)

Aside from not having a warmup and firing without his mask, Hamilton sinking the long-distance shot shouldn’t have been all that surprising to Husky fans. Rip is a College Basketball Hall of Famer and was named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after leading UConn to the national title in 1999.

Could Rip’s rainmaker be an omen for things to come? We’ll know soon enough. UConn, the number one team in the country, hosts Big East rival Villanova this evening.

Tip-off is scheduled for 8pm on Fox.

                                                                         Follow along on X: @OhioAF