Business manager accused of stealing from Pistons G Hamilton

Nov 8, 2008 - 11:47 PM SUNNYVALE, California (Ticker) -- The NBA Players Association is investigating a charge that a former certified agent stole thousands of dollars from Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton, according to a published report Saturday.

Citing multiple anonymous sources, Yahoo! Sports reported that Hamilton has accused Josh Nochimson of stealing approximately $500,000 from him while working as his business manager - but not his agent - for several years.

The web site reported that the money was taken through credit cards that Nochimson used behind Hamilton's back.

"It's just something that you never think, in a million years, can happen to you," Hamilton told the web site. "You hear about the horror stories, but never think it'll be you. Never, never you. I feel violated.

"It is about the money, but it's also the trust factor. It's the loyalty factor. You befriend somebody. You bring them around your family. Everybody knows him. Everybody loves him, just because of you. He pretty much ran my corporation. He knew how to manipulate it. The loyalty part killed me more than anything."

According to the report, the union has threatened to turn over the case to federal authorities for "possible prosecution" if Hamilton's assertions are true.

Yahoo! said that Nochimson decertified himself as an agent once the allegations came to light in an attempt to avoid an investigation by the players association. Hamilton, however, notified the association to spark the probe.

"On the player's request, the players association is conducting an investigation into the allegations of financial impropriety," NBA PA spokesman Dan Wasserman said in the report. "And based on the results of that investigation, we will forward any possible findings to the appropriate authorities."

The web site reported the Nochimson was a former student-manager at Connecticut, where Hamilton was an All-American and national champion in 1999. He then moved with Hamilton, working as the three-time All-Star's business manager and personal assistant after he was drafted.

While he worked in those capacities for Hamilton, the report said that Nochimson was an agent for Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng, who subsequently cut ties with him after talking with Hamilton.

"I told Luol what happened, and he couldn't believe it," Hamilton said in the report. "He was like, 'Not you, Rip. He raves about you. He loves you.' I said, 'If you think he could do it to me, just imagine what he'll do to you and everybody else.'

"That's what blows my mind. Every contact and every person (Nochimson) met, he got off of me. That's the sad thing about it. He had a great opportunity. He got Luol. He got his agent's license. He was about to sign a big deal (for Deng), and he (messed) this up."

It hasn't been all bad for Hamilton, who agreed to a three-year, $34 million contract with the Pistons earlier this week.