Ben Wallace gets real on his 2006 Pistons exit: "I felt I had to leave or otherwise stay and watch the team fall apart"
Although difficult, Big Ben felt it was the right time to leave Motown.
AUG 20, 2024 10:31 PM EDT
Ben Wallace established himself as the heart and soul of the Detroit Pistons. From the early to mid-2000s, he wholeheartedly defined the Pistons’ culture and identity — tough, resilient, hard-nosed, blue-collar — which went on to become the foundation of their success and historic 2004 championship win. As the franchise helped him become one of basketball’s inspiring stories from being a little-known undrafted center in 1996, he couldn't be happier to call and embrace Motor City as his home.
From all these things he enjoyed and witnessed for himself as the team's cornerstone, everyone expected that he'd remain in Detroit heading to 2006 free agency. But in a shocking turn of events, he opted to bolt his way out, committing instead to the Chicago Bulls.
A conflicting basketball divorce
Although it was truly difficult, Big Ben acknowledged that it was time to finally walk away from the franchise he called home at that point.
In his last two seasons in Motor City, Wallace thrived and enjoyed the most out of Larry Brown's defensive emphasis, with him being the team's main anchor. Unfortunately, it turned completely opposite when the offensive-minded Flip Saunders took over to fill the Pistons' coaching vacancy after Brown controversially left in 2005.
With this, Ben felt himself alienated, a distraction more than a contributor. And it only resulted in him being the worst, as he had plenty of clashing instances with Saunders regarding his true role and purpose for the team. Upon this, his numbers dramatically regressed. Although he secured his record-tying fourth Defensive Player of the Year award, the 2005-06 season was his worst throughout his six-year run with the Pistons.
His age and declining play were already showing up, an unwanted process from what he used to be as a young and hyper-athletic machine. It was also a no-brainer for Ben to accept Chicago's $60 million contract rather than Detroit's $48 million offer. But looking back, the Hall of Famer confessed that leaving Detroit in ‘06 remains stuck in his mind to this day.
“I felt I had to leave or otherwise stay and watch the team fall apart,” he admitted. “I thought it would be easier to leave, but it was a difficult decision. I still think about it today and whether it was the right decision, but it was the decision I had to make at the time. Chicago gave me a great contract ($60 million) but it was hard to leave when your heart is still in Detroit. But I knew that when I left that one day, I would return and play for those great fans again.”
Full circle moment
He might've left, but Big Ben still had unwavering love and support for the Pistons. He maintained the brotherhood bond he had with his teammates, especially when they clashed as opponents.
In 2009, both Ben and Detroit had a full-circle moment. For a second time, both sides ignited a partnership when the big man hit the market as a free agent. Although no longer competitive, as during their heyday as one of the heavyweight teams in the NBA, Wallace still gladly welcomed a reunion with the Pistons and helped the franchise rebuild until he retired three years later.
Despite a brief and bittersweet split in 2006 due to undesirable circumstances, Big Ben will always bleed blue and red and is forever thankful to Detroit for giving him a chance to author an NBA career that is one for the books.
A basketball aficionado, Andrei developed his interest for the game during his high school days. He has since become a devoted follower of the NBA, with the experience of covering FIBA competitions—most notably the 2023 World Cup in Manilla—and working for European-based basketball sites.
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