Dennis Rodman's number was retired on Friday in an emotional ceremony at The Palace.

He held up a T-shirt that had pictures of former Pistons coach Chuck Daly and owner Bill Davidson. On the back, it said "Thank You Detroit."

"As I've said before and I'll say again, these guys are my big brothers…." Rodman said.

"He took a chance on me, took John Salley in front of me," Rodman said, speaking of former Piston GM Jack McCloskey. "For some reason my career turned out to be pretty good."

McCloskey took a chance by letting Rodman slide to the second round of the 1986 draft, because he wanted to take Salley as well.

Isiah Thomas summed up the night.

"We wanted to be champions, but most importantly, we wanted to start a tradition," Thomas said. "Dennis, you've been a lot of places, but there's no place like home.

"You will always be a Piston."