When the Pistons announced in February they would retire Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman's number, it put into question rookie Greg Monroe's future donning the same number. What would the Pistons make him do, if anything, and would Monroe even want to continue wearing the number that is already up in the rafters at The Palace that is dedicated to someone else?
↵The Pistons said that Monroe would be allowed to wear the number as long as he wished and the team wouldn't issue it to another player after Monroe. Monroe then received Rodman's blessing to continue wearing the number, which he indicated he would do.
↵However, at his own jersey retirement at Helen Cox School in Louisiana, Monroe suggested he was going to change his number out of respect to Rodman:
↵↵↵"They told me I could keep it, but just out of respect, I think I'm going to change my number."
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An unnecessary, but classy move, if he decides to do it. Monroe clarified his comments to the Free Press, though:
↵↵↵"I didn't say definitely," he said. "I'm still thinking about it. I haven't made a decision yet. I've been wearing No. 10 my whole life."
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Monroe's first reason for wearing No. 10 was typical, no-nonsense Monroe: "They had it in my size." But like a lot of players, he said his number "became a part of me, really," and he's torn about giving it up.
As Matt Watson said at Detroit Bad Boys, Monroe really can't make a wrong decision.