There will always be another season opener, but the birth of your first son only happens once in a man’s life. When Richard Clay Hamilton II entered the world, his father was there for the introduction. Rip Hamilton excused himself from the Pistons’ first two games both dominating victories on the road to be near his wife when she gave birth to their first son. “But I made sure I got back here before everybody started forgetting about me,” Hamilton joked Sunday.

Hamilton fouled out with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists in his season debut, helping his team to win 92-91 against Atlanta Hawks.