Chauncey Billups Returns To Detroit Pistons, Assures Motor City Fans He's Back To Win

In Chauncey Billups’ mind, his return to the Detroit Pistons is not about embarking on some sort of goodwill tour. The 36-year point veteran guard insists he’s back to win.

Since dealing Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson back in 2008, the Pistons are an underwhelming 148-244 and have missed the last four postseasons. These days, crowds are also noticeably thin at The Palace and the team's on-court chemistry seems lacking.

Enter Mr. Big Shot, who will be looked at as a mentor for the likes of twentysomething-year-old talents Brandon Knight, Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe.

"I've said it, time and time again, that I always wanted to be remembered as a Piston," Billups told ESPN while being formally reintroduced at a news conference on Tuesday. “I’m really not good with losing and mediocrity. I come here, and I'm not just coming to mentor and coach. I'm coming to play, and I'm coming to try to win. I'm looking forward to it."

Based on the words of GM Joe Dumars, those feelings are certainly mutual. “Although this is a great feel-good moment to bring Chauncey back, he and I discussed the fact that this is not just about feel-good,” he told ESPN. “This is about his ability to impact the game for us on the court."

The Pistons brought Billups back on a two-year deal for $2.5 million a year, the first season of which is fully guaranteed.  The 6-foot-3 guard played 22 games for the Los Angeles Clipper last season after tearing his left Achilles tendon.

Billups helped lead the Pistons to the 2004 NBA title, snaring Finals MVP honors along the way.  Since then, it’s almost been all down-hill for the “Bad Boys” organization that won back-to-back titles starting in 1989.

"This city and this organization is huge, and rich in basketball tradition," said Billups. "Even with me being away on the other teams that I've been on the last few years, I hate to see the Palace look the way it looks during games, with nobody watching."

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