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Chauncey’s message: ‘I will always and forever be a Detroit Piston’

Chauncey Billups bounced through five organizations before landing with the Pistons and three more after his first stint before retiring in the No. 1 now flying in The Palace rafters. But if you wondered if he harbors any divided loyalties, well …

“I know I played on a lot of teams for a lot of organizations. I’ve been all over,” he told a rapt Palace crowd at halftime on the night his legacy was cemented, “but I, Chauncey Billups – make no doubt about it – will always and forever be a Detroit Piston.”

And with that, he and his family – his wife, Piper, and three daughters – watched No. 1 take its place alongside the No. 3 retired just last month for Ben Wallace, who anchored the Goin’ to Work Pistons’ defense while Billups orchestrated the offense.

Rip Hamilton, the backcourt partner who came to the Pistons that same summer of 2002, spoke on behalf of his teammates and told the story of how they would look up at the retired jerseys of Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars before games while flat on their backs being stretched out by trainer Arnie Kander.

“And we would always say, ‘Our goal is to do what Isiah and Joe did and that’s bring a championship to Detroit.’ They were the backcourt before us and we’re the backcourt trying to bring a championship to Detroit.”

Isiah Thomas and Dave Bing, together with Billups the holy trinity of Pistons point guards, stood side by side as they took turns saluting their successor.

“What your team did in terms of going to the Eastern Conference finals year after year, winning championships, getting jerseys retired, just made it possible for the Detroit Pistons organization forever to have that word – tradition. So, thank you, Chauncey Billups; thank you, champions.”

“We and this organization and in this city are so blessed to have someone like you with your character, your leadership skills,” said Bing, who went on to own his own steel company and become mayor of Detroit. “I don’t know what you’re going to do next, but I know you’re going to be successful.”

Hamilton, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince sat courtside, surrounding Pistons owner Tom Gores. So did Mehmet Okur, Antonio McDyess and Lindsey Hunter. Video tributes from the likes of Pat Riley, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony were played during timeouts to the crowd of 19,971 on a snowy February night.

Billups cherished his time in Detroit, as he made clear in the open letter to Pistons fans posted on Pistons.com, and the relationships he forged with the teammates who arrived from all points to share in his celebration.

“One of the great things about playing with a group like that is you’re not just friends at the time,” he said. “It goes on forever.”

His two favorite moments from his playing days: winning the 2004 NBA championship and checking into the 2006 All-Star game alongside Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace and his backcourt partner, Hamilton.

“We played the same way we played in the regular season, which was unpopular to do that,” he said. “That was a signature moment for me.”

If there’s a regret, it’s that they couldn’t hang another championship banner to match the two the Bad Boys won in 1989 and ’90 – or a third to surpass them.

“The way my mind works, we almost underachieved here,” he said. “I feel we should’ve had more than one championship and been to the Finals more than two times. When you lose in Game 7 of the Finals, that really tells you both teams should’ve won, you play that long and that deep. But I really do feel like maybe two, three championships. We were that good. That’s something we all have to live with.”

But it was a night of no regrets, a night to celebrate “one of the greatest clutch players to ever wear a Pistons uniform,” as master of ceremonies George Blaha described him. “The incredibly talented, immensely popular Chauncey Billups.”

“His leadership was incredible,” Gores said. “Thank you for moving the community. You moved kids. You sacrificed, but you made it happen for this city and I really appreciate it.”

Hamilton said his kids asked him the other day what a role model is.

“I hold your picture up and shown them you,” he said to Billups and the crowd there to honor him. “You are a role model. I love you and congratulations.”