The Pistons are set to retire the numbers of former players Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace this season, according to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. Both were major contributors on Detroit’s 2003/04 NBA championship squad, the franchise’s last. Billups, who was also affectionately known as “Mr. Big Shot,” retired after the 2013/14 season. The point guard rejoined the Pistons for that final season after he had been traded to the Nuggets in November of 2008 for Allen Iverson. Wallace, a rebounding whiz and defensive monster, left Detroit after the 2005/06 season when he inked a four-year, $60MM deal with the rival Bulls. Big Ben would return to the Motor City in 2009/10, and he remained a member of the Pistons until his retirement after the 2011/12 season.
This brings me to the topic/question if the day: Where do Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace rank among the all-time Pistons greats?
Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on these two Detroit sports greats. Do any of you out there disagree with the team’s plan to retire their numbers? If so, why? We look forward to what you have to say on the subject.
Of course! These guys, along with Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace, were mainstays of a long period of success for the Pistons. Neither is a Hall-of-Famer, but you don’t have to be to get your number retired. Kudos to them.
Billups was with five teams before he came to Detroit. Wallace went undrafted and played with two other teams before the Pistons. Sometimes it pays to be patient with players.
Yeah, I think someone could have won a lot of money betting after their rookie years that they would have their numbers retired someday. Few of those Pistons found much success when they weren’t playing for Detroit, which suggests that they were precisely the right fit for each other. Joe Dumars had his share of mistakes (Darko!), but building that team is a huge credit to him.
Chauncey probably ranks third behind Isiah and Dave Bing among Pistons point guards; Ben was a unique player — a tremendous defensive force in his prime despite being undersized for his position. He’s probably second or third behind Bob Lanier and Laimbeer among the big men.