Predicting the next jersey number to be retired by the Detroit Pistons

Tayshaun Prince should have his number retired by the Detroit Pistons

Of all the Detroit Pistons whose jersey numbers haven’t been retired, Tayshaun Prince deserves the honor more than any other. Drafted by Detroit, Prince contributed to a championship in only his second year on the team.

In his sophomore campaign, his minutes per game jumped from 10.4 to 32.9, and he started 80 games and played in all 82. He scored 10.3 points per game and always defended the opposing team’s best wing including, but not limited to, Kobe Bryant and Reggie Miller.

Without Tayshaun Prince, Detroit wouldn’t have won the 2004 Championship.

Retiring a player’s jersey is meant to be one of the highest honors bestowed on an individual player. The only honors of similar stature are the MVP award and being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Grant Hill was deservedly inducted into the Hall of Fame. His overall career speaks for itself. Prince and Wallace may or may not be inducted, fingers crossed, and Wallace probably has a better chance due to his time in Portland.

But they’re Detroit Pistons’ legends.

A team retiring a player’s jersey reflects the relationship the team has with that particular player and their contributions specifically while playing for that team. Focusing on those parameters, Prince and Wallace deserve their jerseys retired in Detroit.

I hope to be there when it happens.