Pistons add HOF’er Wallace to operations staff

DETROIT, Mich. — Ben Wallace is an NBA Hall of Famer, NBA champion and four-time Defensive Player of the Year. Now the 47-year-old can add basketball operations and team engagement advisor for the Detroit Pistons to his resume.

The Pistons announced Friday that Wallace has been hired in this role to assist general manager Troy Weaver and head coach Dwane Casey with the basketball operations staff and the developmental aspect of players on both the Pistons and Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League.

“Ben is a Hall of Famer and a Pistons legend who has continued to come back home and support our team and our organization,” team owner Tom Gores said in a statement. “He embodies everything we are building here and will be a real asset to Dwane, Troy and the rest of our staff. Ben helped set the standard for what it means to be a Piston and will be a tremendous influence for our young players.”

Wallace will also contribute to community efforts. He is one of the franchise’s all-time greats with his No. 3 jersey being retired in 2016. He went undrafted out of Virginia Union University, a member of historically Black colleges and universities. Because his hard-nosed defense, he made the All-Star team four times and was named All-NBA five times. Wallace also secured a spot on the All-Defensive team six times, including being named to the first team in five separate seasons.