Auburn Hills — When it was his turn, Chauncey Billups still wasn’t quite mentally prepared for his big night at The Palace.
Going through the routine last month for Ben Wallace’s jersey retirement, he got a preview, but without the same emotion.
Wednesday night was his night.
Flanked by his “Goin’ to Work” teammates also in attendance — Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Lindsey Hunter and Mehmet Okur — the night, against his hometown Denver Nuggets, was all about him.
Having led the Pistons to the 2004 NBA title and been an All-Star five times, Billups, now an ESPN analyst, was finally able to take it all in.