Ben Wallace is glad the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers still vacation together. He just does not see the 2004 Detroit Pistons doing the same thing.
The Hall of Famer was asked whether his championship Pistons team has stayed as close as LeBron James and his former Cavaliers teammates, who recently reunited for a 10-year anniversary trip.
TMZ reported that Wallace laughed off the idea of the Pistons planning a big European getaway, saying they came from a “different era.”
Wallace point was that their version of staying connected does not look like a luxury trip built for social media.
Wallace Said the Pistons Are Still Cool
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Wallace told TMZ Sports that the former Pistons teammates are still good with each other, even if they are not booking a group vacation to Saint-Tropez.
“We all a little bit different,” Wallace joked. “We grew up in a little different era.”
He also gave examples of the group staying connected in quieter ways. Wallace said he has worked with Rasheed Wallace on youth basketball camps in China, and he noted that members of the 2004 team reunited around the final games at the Palace of Auburn Hills before the arena was demolished.
The team was remembered less for celebrity flash than for defense, toughness and a starting group built around Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace.
The Cavs Reunion Set the Comparison
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The question came up because LeBron’s 2016 Cavaliers group recently gave fans a very different kind of reunion.
PEOPLE reported that James traveled with Tristan Thompson, Kevin Love, JR Smith, Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye for a trip tied to the 10-year anniversary of Cleveland’s 2016 NBA championship.
The group shared photos and videos from the trip, including sightseeing around London, golf in Scotland, shopping, dinners and plenty of jokes. PEOPLE reported that Thompson captioned one post, “The group chat finally linked up,” while Smith commented, “My brothers.”
Fans also noticed that Kyrie Irving was not seen on the trip. PEOPLE reported that Smith responded to questions about Irving by saying the former Cavaliers guard was invited but “ghosted us.”
Two Championship Teams, Two Very Different Vibes
The 2016 Cavaliers are remembered for one of the most dramatic comebacks in NBA Finals history. NBA.com has described Cleveland’s title as the end of the city’s 52-year championship drought after James and the Cavaliers stunned the Golden State Warriors.
The 2004 Pistons had a different identity. NBA.com called Detroit one of the league’s most unlikely champions after the team beat a heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers roster with four future Hall of Famers in five games.
The Cavs reunion looked like a group chat turned into a travel vlog. The Pistons’ version of brotherhood, at least from Wallace’s telling, is more likely to show up through camps, arena reunions and private conversations.
Wallace Also Mentioned Chauncey Billups
Wallace was also asked about Billups, who has been dealing with a federal poker case. TMZ reported that Wallace hopes to speak with his former teammate in person and said he understands the seriousness of the situation.
Billups has pleaded not guilty to charges connected to an alleged rigged poker scheme and has denied wrongdoing, according to Reuters.
Wallace said he wants their conversation to have a more upbeat tone when they do connect.