The Pistons hope 35-year-old Chucky Atkins will be a mentor to the team's young guards this season. (Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
Inexperienced players used to be scarce in the Pistons locker room.
Now, it's the veterans who are few and far between.
Leadership has to come Richard Hamilton, Ben Wallace and Tayshaun Prince, the last remaining pieces from the glory days this decade.
Add one to the mix.
Chucky Atkins was kept on the roster Monday instead of rookie Deron Washington, largely because of his veteran influence.
Washington has potential, but Atkins has intangibles that could prove more useful.
"Leadership," Atkins said after learning he'd been kept.
Coach John Kuester said: "It's huge for me, being a first-year coach, having people I can trust in the locker room. That's where Rip and Tayshaun Prince (are vital for their leadership), and Ben being such a good influence on our bigs.
"Chucky has to fit into that category also. I've been impressed with what he's done so far."
Atkins, 35, understands his role. He's insurance and a mentor to young guards Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum.
"You make the team as a long shot, pretty much a third point guard," he said.
"The only thing I can add is my insight into the game with Rodney, Will and be a leader. I'm a guy who has been around the league for a while. I know what it takes to win."
Hamilton misses practice
Richard Hamilton was excused from practice Tuesday to attend to a family matter.
Coach John Kuester said he expects Hamilton to be in Memphis tonight when Detroit opens the regular season against Memphis.
The Pistons likely won't face former teammate Allen Iverson . Bothered by a hamstring injury the entire exhibition season, Iverson didn't play any exhibition games.
Busted
Those one-game suspensions rookies Austin Daye and Jonas Jerebko received for fighting during the exhibition season will haunt the Pistons -- today.
Detroit will dress 10 players -- no Daye or Jerebko -- for tonight in Memphis.
By the numbers
Pistons' exhibition leaders:
15.8 Points, Rodney Stuckey
3.00 Rebounds, Rodney Stuckey
3.5 Assists, Will Bynum
New parts
There are eight new players on the Pistons roster. This is how they were acquired:
| Player | Acquired |
| Chucky Atkins | Signed as free agent (Sept. 28) |
| Austin Daye | Drafted 15th overall |
| Ben Gordon | Signed as free agent (July 8) |
| Jonas Jerebko | Drafted 39th overall |
| DaJuan Summers | Drafted 35th overall |
| Charlie Villanueva | Signed as a free agent (July 8) |
| Ben Wallace | Signed as a free agent (Aug. 12) |
| Chris Wilcox | Signed as a free agent (July 22) |
World party
By making the Pistons roster, Jonas Jerebko became the first Swede on an NBA roster. Jerebko is one of 83 international players from 36 countries on opening night rosters, matching a record of international players (2006-07 also featured 83):
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