Matt Charboneau

The Detroit News

Auburn Hills — There was very little sadness on Monday night at The Palace, only smiles and hugs among former Detroit Pistons who called the building home at one point or another in its 29-season run housing the NBA team.

The Pistons played their final game at the building on Lapeer Road, a nail-biter against the Washington Wizards. But that was hardly the story.

Instead, it was more of a celebration, one that included the best memories — three NBA Championship trophies were displayed at midcourt at halftime — and some of the best characters.

“You know, it’s kind of surreal because it’s like a family reunion where we are all back together again, and I’m not just talking about the players, I’m talking about the fans,” Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas said. “So many people here that we’ve shared memories with, and to be in this place again, it is sad but it’s also time to move on.”

Thomas, of course, led the Pistons to their first to NBA titles, won in the first two season played at The Palace in 1989 and 1990. Those trophies were on the floor Monday, along with the one earned in 2004.

As the former players gathered at midcourt at halftime, Thomas grabbed Dennis Rodman, the other member of both those title teams on hand Monday night, and posed in front of the trophies. It was one of the highlights, to be sure, the captain from that team and the young sparkplug that endured a wild career well after his Pistons days were done.

Rodman didn’t talk, but he did deliver the game ball to a huge roar from the crowd. He waved as he walked off the floor, decked out in a vintage Bad Boys shirt.

Thomas and Rodman were joined by teammates Rick Mahorn, John Salley and James Edwards while earlier Pistons Greg Kelser, John Long and Earl Cureton were also on hand as well as Jermaine Jackson.

Some of the biggest cheers came for the 2004 champions as Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace were all on hand

The moments were bittersweet for that crew that beat the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, winning the franchise’s third title and the only one to do so at The Palace.

“I wouldn’t want this in any other city in front of any other fan base,” said Billups, the MVP of the 2004 finals. “This is the city I feel like, in my NBA career, I grew up in. I grew up so much. I became player I always felt I would become in front of the fans in this building. It’s so special for me.

“I’ve thought about everything, the entire building, from employees here that we forged relationships with that you would see on great nights and bad nights, the way they embraced you. I think about all of them. All the battles we had, thinking about us winning the championship in game five on this floor. So many things, even some of bad games and bad losses. I think about that, too.”

A championship wasn’t required for the building to have special meaning. Stackhouse, who played parts of five seasons for the Pistons, played his final season in 2002, two years before the last championship.

“Hearing the song at the beginning, I just got chills hearing that theme song again,” Stackhouse said. “But it’s great being back here amongst family. That’s really what it is, the fans that have become family to us makes it always great to be back in this building. I hate to see it close.”

Close it likely will, however, most of the alumni on hand Monday are at peace with the move. They’ll cherish their times while looking forward to what lies ahead.

“A few of us have said it all our years playing here, ‘Man, I wonder what it would be like playing in the city?’” Billups said. “We represented the city and embodied what the city was all about but didn’t play in the city. So for them to have that opportunity I think is great. I think it’s phenomenal they have that opportunity to play in the city of Detroit. I wish I would have had that.”

Even so, the memories of The Palace won’t fade. It was a trend-setter in the NBA, and one the players were proud to call home.

“During the ’80s we were breaking all the norms,” Thomas said. “When we build this arena, and when I say we built it, I mean a collective us in terms of the fans, Detroit, Auburn Hills, everybody involved in what we were doing. We really were one unit moving through the NBA and this place was the crown jewel.”

mcharboneau@detroitnews.com

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