Pistons To Retire Wallace, Billups' Jerseys At Ceremonies In January, February
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
Reports had already surfaced about the possibility, but the Pistons made it official Monday they would retire the jerseys of former players Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups.
Both Billups and Wallace will be honored during separate halftime ceremonies this season. Wallace's will be at halftime of the game against the Warriors on January 16 at 7:30. Billups' will be February 10, at halftime of the 7:30 p.m. game against the Nuggets.
Billups and Wallace were the key cogs of the Pistons group that won the 2004 NBA Finals, and that went to six straight Eastern Conference Finals (winning two).
"Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace are legends in Detroit and we are excited to honor their success," Pistons owner Tom Gores said in the team release.
Wallace was a defensive stud throughout his career, and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award four times while with Detroit (2002-03 and 2005-06). He also made it to the All-Star team four consecutive years (2003-06) while with the Pistons. Playing for the Pistons two separate times, Wallace has more regular season and playoff blocks than any other player to wear the uniform (1,486 in the regular season, 215 in the playoffs). He played in 655 games for the Pistons overall.
"We celebrated many great accomplishments during my years in Detroit and to be recognized for my contributions in this way, I'm honored," Wallace said in the release. "I look forward to sharing this experience with all the fans who supported me throughout my years as a Piston."
As for Billups, the point guard played eight seasons for the Pistons and was named the MVP of the 2004 NBA Finals, when Detroit brought home the trophy. He made it to three All-Star games while with Detroit, and averaged 16.5 points and 6.2 assists in 482 career games.
Billups will be honored against the Nuggets, who he played for from 1998-2000 and again from 2008-10 after leaving Detroit. He is also a Denver, Colo., native.
"This is a franchise with great history and tradition," Billups said in the team's release. "To be recognized amongst the all-time great players in team history is special and I look forward to celebrating the achievements, memories and great times we shared together."
The Pistons have fallen off significantly since the core that Billups and Wallace led left the city. They haven't made the playoffs since 2009. But the team has been surprising many this year and is ninth in the Eastern Conference standings, at 7-6.