So much for team

Six years ago, Ben Wallace came to Detroit. He, though an unknown, came as with Chucky Atkins to Detroit in the Grant Hill trade. I remember the day Hill left. Like many Pistons fans I felt betrayed, because he chased the money when he seemed like the one Superstar who wouldn't do that.

Hill could've bolted as a free agent, but he thought enough of the Pistons and Joe Dumars to agree to a sign and trade. Yes, this got Grant even more money, but he could've crippled the Pistons even further if he didn't agree to the trade.

And when Ben got here, Joe Dumars thought enough of him to give him a long-term deal that paid him 5 million dollars a year. Many thought he overpaid. Joe just said watch, and see.

I find it ironic that the guy we traded for Grant Hill wouldn't do the same for the Pistons. He was brought here and we built a tough, defensive, team theory around him, an undrafted journeyman player. We made him, a 6-9 (at-best) center and let him do his thing. No talk about his lack of offense. No talk about his free throw shooting. Ben became an all-star here. He became a superstar here. He followed only Steve Yzerman in Detroit star stature here.

And now he's gone.

Go through the archives and look at the things he's said while with the Pistons. It was all team oriented. He never lifted himself. His awards were "team awards". He loved his teammates. And the Pistons started winning.

He feuded with Rick Carlisle, though Carlisle openly campaigned for Ben to win his first Defensive Player of the Year award.

In came Larry Brown. He would end up feuding with Brown, though Brown always talked about Ben's selflessness, hustle, defense, and made sure Ben was a part of the offense, something Ben always craved but hardly deserved.

Then came Flip Saunders. The Pistons ran out to 35-5 under Saunders. Four Pistons starters were named All-Stars and they were suddenly the media darlings. This was team. Five selfless players, following Ben's lead of defense and hustle first. They were all brought here because they fit around Ben's game.

Then in Orlando Ben started acting up. He became greater than team. He no longer heard "Detroit" Pistons, but heard the media's "Ben Wallace's Pistons." Chauncey Billups was quickly becoming the more favored Piston, locally and nationally. Though, it appeared to me it was still Ben's team. In Orlando, Ben refused to enter the game in the 4th quarter when his team needed him.

That was the death of team.

It all quickly unraveled after that and the team with a season for the record books lost to the Heat in the Eastern Conference finals. When asked about what his free agent plans were, he told the press they knew where his heart was. Then he followed with "It's in my chest."

And you knew then he was gone.

So now we know what Ben was really about. After 6 years, after 4 Defensive Player of the Year awards, after 4 trips to the Conference Finals. After 1 title. After 2 trips to the NBA Finals. After multiple All-star starts and appearances. After shoe deals. After video game deals. After given his big chance in a city that sold out the Palace for 3 straight years to see him hustle and defend.
After all of that we now know what Ben was all about.

He was all about Benjamin.

Franklins that is.