Colorado University Athletics
Detroit Pistons To Honor, Retire Billups' #1
November 23, 2015 | Men's Basketball
The Detroit Pistons will honor and retire jersey No. 1 worn by former Colorado Buffaloes All-American Chauncey Billups, the club announced on Monday.
Billups will be honored during a halftime ceremony on Wednesday, Feburary 10, at the Palace of Auburn Hills; fittingly against his hometown team, the Denver Nuggets.
February 10.
We honor and retire Mr. Big Shot's jersey. #DetroitBasketball pic.twitter.com/zbmSeGgaOl
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) November 23, 2015The Pistons will also honor and retire the No. 3 jersey of Billups' teammate Ben Wallace on Jan. 16 against Golden State. The duo helped Detroit to the 2003-04 NBA Championship and back-to-back Eastern Conference titles in 2004 and '05.
“Our franchise has an extraordinary history and it's important that we recognize the players who not only achieved great things, but also helped define what it means to be a Piston,” said Pistons Owner Tom Gores in a team release. “Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace are legends in Detroit and we are excited to honor their success.”
OFFICIAL: We'll be honoring and retiring jerseys for Ben Wallace on January 16 and Chauncey Billups on February 10! pic.twitter.com/m7UIz6F78Z
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) November 23, 2015Billups was the 2004 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player highlighting a fantastic eight-year run with the Pistons. He was a three-time NBA All-Star with Detroit, All-NBA Second Team in 2006, All-NBA Third Team in 2007 and All-NBA Defensive Second Team in 2005 and '06. Billups averaged 16.5 points. 6.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds during his Pistons career.
“It's an honor to be recognized by the Detroit Pistons organization in this manner,” said Billups in a team release. “This is a franchise with great history and tradition. To be recognized amongst the all-time great players in team history is special and I look forward to celebrating the achievements, memories and great times we shared together.”
Billups was inducted into the Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame on Nov. 5. A first-team All-American and unanimous All-Big 12 performer as a sophomore in 1996-97, he led the Buffaloes to a 22-10 record, a second place finish in the inaugural season of the Big 12, and CU's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 28 years.?? He averaged 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 55 games before declaring for the NBA Draft, where he was the highest Buffalo every drafted (third overall) and went on to play 17 seasons in the league.
