Detroit Pistons' Ben Wallace on retirement: '50-50'

Ben Wallace said he's "50-50" on coming back to play with the Pistons next season. (Dan Lippitt/Getty Images)

Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace said this week that he is "50-50" on returning to play next season or retiring, according to the Detroit Free Press. Speaking to a Virginia radio station, Wallace said it would depend on how well he performs in an upcoming summer league he sponsors.

"I'll be out here," Wallace said. "How much of a player (he still is) remains to be seen."

Wallace's comments to the Virginia radio station come a few days after The Detroit News reported that Wallace wants to return for another season. But The Detroit News report said that the Pistons would have to make a roster move in order to accommodate Wallace if he were to return, since the roster is already full. The Pistons are in the midst of revamping their roster and getting younger, but he could serve as a mentor to first-round pick Andre Drummond.

In February, Wallace told The Associated Press that he would retire after the 2011-12 NBA season and looks forward to spending time with his family:

“No consideration to coming back,” he said at the time. “This is definitely my last year.”

Wallace began an unthinkable rise to stardom in 2000, when he was traded to the Detroit Pistons. He eventually won four NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards, went to four All-Star Games and won an NBA championship with the Pistons in 2004.