The Detroit Pistons have retired Ben Wallace's jersey number. Big Ben's No. 3 now resides in the rafters at the Palace.
Pistons showed Ben Wallace the love in jersey retirement ceremony
No Piston will ever wear Big Ben’s No. 3 again.
Raising Ben's jersey to the rafters! Congrats Ben!!!! #DetroitBasketball pic.twitter.com/TZnfkjjiS8
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 17, 2016 The franchise celebrated one of the best players in its history with a touching video tribute highlighting his dedication to the game and community.
MUST WATCH: Here's the Ben Wallace tribute we showed during halftime. #FearTheFro #DetroitBasketball https://t.co/Q4mo2FPMC7
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 17, 2016 As touching as that was, the best moment of the night was when the Pistons played the old Big Ben bells for Wallace and he dabbed!
He's the first of all the players on the championship team to get his jersey retired. Rasheed Wallace was very clear about how he felt about his old front court partner.
Rasheed to Ben "I love you, big brother" pic.twitter.com/QmaacCwa5D
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 17, 2016 His former coach Larry Brown highlighted how unique of a player Wallace was.
Larry Brown "You broke the mold. There will never be another one like you" pic.twitter.com/jtESM1dgtY
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 17, 2016 Warriors' star Draymond Green penned a letter telling the undrafted, undersized Wallace that he was his inspiration for overcoming the odds and becoming a star.
Awesome @Money23Green tribute to Ben from a piece in the @freep pic.twitter.com/IfkWJJR0N1
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 17, 2016 It was the perfectly understated but fine ceremony for a player that always put substance over flash and knew how to make an impression.
Wallace was a Piston for nine seasons and was a key player on the 2004 championship team. He was the defensive anchor, averaging 12.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals and three blocks per game that year. He also won four Defensive Player of the Year awards in his tenure in Detroit and made the All-Star game four seasons in a row, from 2002/03 to 2005/06. He definitely earned the honor.
Congratulations, Ben Wallace.
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