Rasheed Wallace Joins Pistons’ Coaching Staff

November 20, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; New York Knicks forward Rasheed Wallace reacts at the end of the first quarter of a game against the New Orleans Hornets at the New Orleans Arena. The Knicks defeated the Hornets 102-80. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
November 20, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; New York Knicks forward Rasheed Wallace reacts at the end of the first quarter of a game against the New Orleans Hornets at the New Orleans Arena. The Knicks defeated the Hornets 102-80. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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We’ve already seen one player leave the NBA to coach a team, and now we see another join a different staff. This time it’s Rasheed Wallace, who reached a two year deal with the Detroit Pistons to join the coaching staff. Wallace, like Jason Kidd, retired at the end of this past season with the New York Knicks. It ended a 17-year career in which he played for five different teams (Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Portland, Washington).

The two sides had been discussing a possible reunion, this time on the sidelines, for the last month. And now the deal has been finalized and Wallace has begun work with the Pistons’ coaching staff, seeing his first bits of action during the Pistons’ Summer League.

According to an article on ESPN.com, Wallace’s role will include helping Detroit’s “young, talented post players.” One of those new, young uys is Greg Moroe, who said this about Wallace joining the staff,

"Obviously, he’s had a lot of success in this league and he can teach you a lot about the game."

On Rasheed Wallace’s success, the article also mentions,

"Wallace averaged 14.4 points and 6.7 rebounds during his career and was regarded as one of the best-shooting post players of his era. He scored 16,006 points, made 1,086 3-pointers and twice reached the NBA Finals with the Pistons."

His resume with the Pistons is a long one, so to be able to have the opportunity to develop the new generation could be crucial for this Detroit team.