It’s the final night of basketball at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Detroit Pistons will say goodbye after 29 seasons in the arena. Three championships later, they will start the 2017-2018 season in Little Caesar's Arena in Detroit.
The Pistons brought back all of their legends for the night, including Isiah Thomas and Chauncey Billups who spoke to Rebecca Haarlow during the game.
Thomas spoke on how the fans and team have had such a close relationship over the years:
“This is a city and a place like no other where we really are one. We never looked at our fans as the sixth man. They were one of us with every bounce, with every shot they were with us. Tonight is like a family reunion.”
Billups, who won a championship in The Palace, reminisced on those days.
“So many great memories in this building. We won in Game 5 here in 2004 against the Lakers. That’s a memory that no matter how long its been, it’ll always be with me, with us, the team that we were.”
Plenty of Pistons greats were in attendance on Monday for the festivities, including Dennis Rodman!
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The Palace will stay intact for now, as they have several concerts lined up for the summer and fall. It has not been determined what the long-term plans for the building will be.