Richard Hamilton promised himself that he wasn't going to cry Gary Jennings Jr. Hat , 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 Cody Barton Hat , 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.