DETROIT, United States (AFP) — Richard Hamilton promised himself that he wasn’t going to cry, but when the time came to raise his Detroit Pistons’ No. 32 jersey to the rafters he was overcome with emotion.
The retired former NBA scoring star returned to The Palace arena on Sunday, as the Pistons retired his number at halftime of a 104-98 loss to the Boston Celtics.
Speaking to reporters before the game, Hamilton said it had been a soul-searching day but in a good way.
“I already cried three times, so I’m trying not to cry again today,” Hamilton said.
It was an honor for Hamilton, not just because of his contributions to the team over the years, but because it reflected a healing of sorts between him and the organization.
“Detroit, the fans, I love you. Thanks a lot,” a tearful Hamilton told the crowd of 20,100.
Hamilton was the leading scorer on the Pistons’ 2003-04 NBA championship team which also included Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace.
That group was so dominant in the finals they needed just five games to topple the Los Angeles Lakers who were led by the one-two punch of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Those four former teammates were on hand for Sunday’s celebration, and so was their coach Larry Brown, who simply filled out the starting roster then watched that veteran group do the rest.
“You made me better every day,” said Billups, who was MVP of the 2004 finals. “Not only did you make me better, you made our team better.”
Hamilton last played with the Pistons in an acrimonious 2010-11 season. He had a falling out with coach John Kuester and Detroit decided to buyout Hamilton’s contract at the end of the season. That led to him joining the Chicago Bulls.
“I didn’t leave here on good terms,” Hamilton said. “Every day I was in that locker room with that Bulls uniform on, it’s like, ‘This ain’t me. I’m a Piston.'”
© Agence France-Presse
