NBA: Each team’s greatest comeback from injury in franchise history

Greatest injury comeback in Detroit Pistons history: Richard Hamilton

Broken nose

Richard “Rip” Hamilton became best-known during his days with the Detroit Pistons for wearing a clear-protective mask that he considered his superhero cape.

Hamilton broke his nose twice during the early part of the 2003-04 season and to avoid reconstructive surgery on his nose, was advised to wear the mask. He broke his nose with the Washington Wizards back in 2002 as well and was forced to miss extended time.

Hamilton found his footing with Detroit soon after.

He led the Pistons in scoring (17.6 points per game) during that year as they entered the postseason as the No. 3 seed. As they made it to the NBA Finals, Rip led the team in scoring once again during the postseason with 21.4 points per game.

They defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games to take home their first title since 1990. The Pistons would make it to the Finals the following season but fell in seven games to the San Antonio Spurs.

In 2005-06, Hamilton was named to his first All-Star game, averaging 20.1 points per game while shooting 45.8 percent from 3-point range. Detroit finished the season with their best record in franchise history (64-18) that year. They didn’t make it to the NBA Finals, though, falling in the Eastern Conference Finals to Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.

Hamilton would go on to make two more All-Star appearances with the Pistons before joining the Chicago Bulls in 2011-12. He’ll go down as one of the best pure scorers in the game, not to be hindered by his protective mask, like so many others.