Report: Detroit Pistons' Ben Wallace reverses decision, puts off NBA retirement

Ben Wallace said he wants to come back for another season, despite saying earlier this year that this past season would be his last. (Elsa/Getty Images)

Ben Wallace said he wants to come back for another season, despite saying earlier this year that this past season would be his last. (Elsa/Getty Images)

Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace said he wants to come back to the team for one more season, a reversal to his announcement earlier this year that this past season would be his last, according to Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News:

Ben Wallace wants to return for his 17th NBA season, but the roster is full. That means a roster spot would have to open up. Villanueva or Austin Daye could be traded to make room for Wallace.

In a February report from the Associated Press via ESPN.com, Wallace said he's going to retire after the 2011-12 NBA season and looks forward to spending time with his family:

"No consideration to coming back," he said. "This is definitely my last year."

Wallace has been one of the more memorable rises from obscurity in the NBA, which most recently witnessed the "linsanity" surrounding Jeremy Lin last season. After going undrafted out of Virginia Union in 1996, Wallace signed with the Washington Bullets later that year and then was traded to the Orlando Magic in 1999. In 2000, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons and thus began his rise to fame; he went on to become a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, four-time All-Star, two-time rebounding champion, NBA blocks leader for a season and NBA Champion in 2004.

He played only 15 minutes per game last season for the Pistons, averaging 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 points and made $2.2 million in the final year of his contract. It's unclear what the team will do to make room for him on the roster if he does end up coming back and Detroit expresses interest in re-signing him.