View full sizeDuring their home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Detroit Pistons unveiled a banner honoring former owner Bill DavidsonAUBURN HILLS
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Before the home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, new owner Tom Gores promised that the Detroit Pistons hadn't forgotten the late William Davidson even though his name has been removed from The Palace floor.
The Pistons proved it between the first and second quarters.
During the break, the Pistons honored Davidson by showing a short video about their former owner on the scoreboard before unveiling a banner in his honor near the rafters of The Palace.
It hangs above those honoring the seven players whose numbers have been retired as well as banners for legendary coach Chuck Daly and former general manager Jack McCloskey, architect of The Bad Boys teams that won back-to-back NBA titles in 1989-90.
The newest banner bears Davidson's signature and says “1974-2009” under it in regcogntion of the years he owned the team before his death at age 86. The Pistons also won the 2004 NBA title under Davidson's watch.
Members of Davidson's family watched the ceremony along with Gores from the owner's suite at midcourt.
“I literally thought of him through this whole thing,” Gores said. “God forbid I was gone. How would you want to be treated? He's treated with full respect, the whole Davidson family. We haven't forgotten about him at all.”