The Palace of Auburn Hills

Famous Detroiters

Famous people tied to this place 91

Lexicon entries for the people who lived, worked, performed or liked to spend time here.

• Michael Jackson 1958–2009 · singer, songwriter, dancer

  Performed here

  Bad Tour arena shows in October 1988; he pledged the net proceeds of the October 24 concert to the Motown Museum. The arena was demolished in 2020.

• Dennis Rodman born 1961 · basketball player, forward

  Played here

  Pistons' arena where Rodman won his second championship in 1990; demolished in 2020.

• Chauncey Billups born 1976 · basketball player, point guard

  Played here

  Pistons' arena where Billups won the 2004 championship; demolished in 2020.

• Isiah Thomas born 1961 · basketball player, point guard, coach

  Played here

  Where Thomas won both championships and closed out his career; the arena was demolished in 2020.

• Rasheed Wallace born 1974 · basketball player and coach

  Played here

  Where Wallace won the 2004 championship and anchored five conference-finals teams; the arena was demolished in 2020.

• José Calderón born 1981 · basketball point guard, team executive

  Played here

  The Pistons' arena during his first Detroit stint; demolished in 2020.

• Darko Miličić born 1985 · basketball player, center

  Played here

  The Pistons' home arena during his three Detroit seasons; demolished in 2020.

• Tayshaun Prince born 1980 · basketball player, small forward

  Played here

  Pistons' home for most of his career, including the 2004 title run; demolished in 2020.

• Ben Wallace born 1974 · basketball player, center

  Played here

  Home court for his championship run and most of his Pistons career; demolished in 2020.

• Grant Hill born 1972 · basketball player, team executive

  Played here

  His home arena for all six Detroit seasons; demolished in 2020.

• Richard Hamilton born 1978 · basketball player, shooting guard

  Played here

  His home arena for all nine Detroit seasons, including the 2004 title run; demolished in 2020.

• Mehmet Okur born 1979 · basketball player

  Played here

  His home court for two seasons, capped by the 2004 championship run.

• Carlos Delfino born 1982 · basketball player, small forward / shooting guard

  Played here

  His home court for three NBA seasons; demolished in 2020.

• Joe Dumars born 1963 · basketball player and executive

  Played here

  His home as a player through 1999 and as team president through 2014; demolished in 2020.

• Ben Gordon born 1983 · basketball player, shooting guard

  Played here

  His home arena for three seasons as Detroit's sixth man; demolished in 2020.

• Boban Marjanović born 1988 · basketball player, center

  Played here

  His home court for two seasons; demolished in 2020.

• Antonio McDyess born 1974 · basketball player, power forward

  Played here

  His home arena for both Detroit stints; demolished in 2020.

• Aron Baynes born 1986 · basketball player, center

  Played here

  His home arena for two seasons as a Pistons backup center; demolished in 2020.

• Kwame Brown born 1982 · basketball player

  Played here

  His home court for both Detroit seasons.

• Caron Butler born 1980 · basketball forward, assistant coach

  Played here

  The Pistons' arena during his one Detroit season; demolished in 2020.

• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope born 1993 · basketball player, shooting guard

  Played here

  His home arena for four seasons as Detroit's starting shooting guard; demolished in 2020.

• Brandon Jennings born 1989 · basketball player

  Played here

  His actual home arena as the Pistons' starting point guard; demolished in 2020.

• Jonas Jerebko born 1987 · basketball player

  Played here

  The Pistons' home arena for the entirety of Jerebko's Detroit career; demolished in 2020.

• Rick Carlisle born 1959 · basketball coach, former player

  Worked here

  Where he coached the Pistons for two seasons.

• Chuck Daly 1930–2009 · basketball coach

  Worked here

  Home of his championship teams from 1988; the Pistons left in 2017 and the arena was demolished in 2020.

• Tobias Harris born 1992 · basketball forward

  Played here

  The Pistons' arena for the start of his first Detroit stint; demolished in 2020.

• Joel Anthony born 1982 · basketball player, center

  Played here

  His home arena for two seasons as a Pistons reserve center; demolished in 2020.

• Larry Brown born 1940 · basketball coach

  Worked here

  Where the Pistons clinched the 2004 championship; demolished in 2020.

• Andre Drummond born 1993 · basketball player, center

  Played here

  His home arena for the first five seasons of his career.

• Greg Monroe born 1990 · basketball player

  Played here

  His home court for all five Detroit seasons.

• Željko Rebrača born 1972 · basketball player

  Played here

  His home court for three seasons as a Pistons reserve.

• Jerry Stackhouse born 1974 · basketball player and coach, broadcaster

  Played here

  His home arena for his five Pistons seasons, including his franchise-record 57-point game; demolished in 2020.

• Reggie Jackson born 1990 · basketball point guard

  Played here

  The Pistons' arena including his 2016 playoff-clinching game; demolished in 2020.

• Marcus Morris Sr. born 1989 · basketball player

  Played here

  His home court for both Detroit seasons, including the 2016 playoff run.

• Luigi Datome born 1987 · basketball player

  Played here

  His home court for both Detroit seasons.

• Bill Laimbeer born 1957 · basketball player and coach

  Played here

  His home arena for his final Pistons seasons and later as the Detroit Shock's head coach; demolished in 2020.

• Katie Smith born 1974 · basketball guard, coach

  Played here

  The Detroit Shock's home arena; demolished in 2020.

• Rodney Stuckey born 1986 · basketball guard

  Played here

  The Pistons' home arena for his entire Detroit career; demolished in 2020.

• Arron Afflalo born 1985 · basketball player

  Played here

  The Pistons' home arena during his two Detroit seasons; demolished in 2020.

• Carlos Arroyo born 1979 · basketball player

  Played here

  Site of the Game 7 loss to San Antonio in the 2005 NBA Finals; demolished in 2020.

• Doug Collins born 1951 · basketball coach and broadcaster

  Worked here

  Where he coached the Pistons, including the 1996 win that snapped the Bulls losing streak; demolished in 2020.

• Adrian Dantley born 1955 · basketball player, coach

  Played here

  The Pistons' new arena for his final Detroit season; demolished in 2020.

• Austin Daye born 1988 · basketball player, small forward

  Played here

  His home court for parts of four seasons; demolished in 2020.

• John Salley born 1964 · basketball player, forward-center

  Played here

  His home arena for the championship seasons of 1989 and 1990; demolished in 2020.

• Charlie Villanueva born 1984 · basketball forward

  Played here

  The Pistons' arena for his entire Detroit tenure; demolished in 2020.

• Mark Aguirre born 1959 · basketball player

  Played here

  Home arena for both of his championship seasons with the Pistons; demolished in 2020.

• Spencer Dinwiddie born 1993 · basketball player, guard

  Played here

  His home arena during his two developmental seasons with the Pistons.

• Lindsey Hunter born 1970 · basketball player and coach

  Played here

  His home court across both Detroit stints, including the 2004 championship run.

• Amir Johnson born 1987 · basketball forward, coach

  Played here

  The Pistons' arena where he developed from a rookie into a steady contributor; demolished in 2020.

• Nancy Lieberman born 1958 · basketball player, coach and broadcaster

  Played here

  Home arena of the Detroit Shock, where she served as GM and coach and later played her final game; demolished in 2020.

• Nazr Mohammed born 1977 · basketball player, center

  Played here

  His home arena as Detroit's starting center; demolished in 2020.

• Chucky Atkins born 1974 · basketball player, point guard

  Played here

  His home court for both stints with the Pistons; demolished in 2020.

• Reggie Bullock born 1991 · basketball player

  Played here

  His home arena at the start of his Pistons tenure, before the team moved downtown; demolished in 2020.

• Elden Campbell 1968–2025 · basketball forward and center

  Played here

  The Pistons' arena during the 2004 championship run; demolished in 2020.

• Swin Cash born 1979 · basketball player, broadcaster, executive

  Played here

  Home court for both of her WNBA championships with the Shock; demolished in 2020.

• Derrick Coleman born 1967 · basketball player, entrepreneur

  Played here

  Where he played for the Pistons after his 2004 trade back to Detroit.

• Dale Davis born 1969 · basketball player

  Played here

  His home arena for his two Pistons seasons; demolished in 2020.

• Allan Houston born 1971 · basketball player, shooting guard, executive

  Played here

  His home court for his first three NBA seasons; demolished in 2020.

• Brandon Knight born 1991 · basketball player, guard

  Played here

  His home arena as a Pistons rookie and second-year player.

• Stanley Johnson born 1996 · basketball player, forward

  Played here

  His home arena in his first two Detroit seasons; demolished in 2020.

• Jodie Meeks born 1987 · basketball player, coach

  Played here

  Site of his 34-point game against Orlando in December 2014; demolished in 2020.

• Theo Ratliff born 1973 · basketball player

  Played here

  His home court across both Detroit stints.

• Kyle Singler born 1988 · basketball forward

  Played here

  The Pistons' arena for his entire Detroit career; demolished in 2020.

• Will Bynum born 1983 · basketball player and coach

  Played here

  His home court for seven seasons, including his franchise-record quarter.

• Shannon Johnson born 1974 · basketball player

  Played here

  The Detroit Shock's home arena during her only Detroit season; demolished in 2020.

• Ruth Riley born 1979 · basketball player, center

  Played here

  Home arena of the Detroit Shock during her championship season; demolished in 2020.

• Mike Woodson born 1958 · basketball coach, former player

  Worked here

  The Pistons' home arena during his championship season as an assistant coach; demolished in 2020.

• Dana Barros born 1967 · basketball player, guard

  Played here

  His home arena for the final stretch of his NBA career; demolished in 2020.

• Darvin Ham born 1973 · basketball coach, former player

  Played here

  Where he won the 2004 NBA championship as a Pistons reserve.

• Jason Maxiell born 1983 · basketball player, coach

  Played here

  His home court for his entire NBA career; demolished in 2020.

• Corliss Williamson born 1973 · basketball player, coach

  Played here

  His home arena, including the 2004 championship season; demolished in 2020.

• Jud Buechler born 1968 · basketball player, coach

  Played here

  The Pistons' home arena during his three Detroit seasons; demolished in 2020.

• Darryl Dawkins 1957–2015 · basketball player, center

  Played here

  Where he won his only NBA championship in his final pro season; demolished in 2020.

• Bison Dele 1969–2002 · basketball player, center

  Played here

  His home arena for his two Pistons seasons; demolished in 2020.

• Rick Mahorn born 1958 · basketball player, coach, broadcaster

  Played here

  The Pistons' new suburban arena for the end of his playing tenure; demolished in 2020.

• Clifford Robinson 1966–2020 · basketball player

  Played here

  The Pistons' home arena during his two Detroit seasons; demolished in 2020.

• Chris Wilcox born 1982 · basketball player, power forward

  Played here

  His home arena during his two Detroit seasons; demolished in 2020.

• Don Chaney born 1946 · basketball coach, former player

  Worked here

  Where he served as Pistons head coach; demolished in 2020.

• James Edwards born 1955 · basketball player

  Played here

  His home arena for all four Detroit seasons, including both championship runs; demolished in 2020.

• Vinnie Johnson born 1956 · basketball guard, later automotive-parts executive

  Played here

  The Pistons' arena for both championship seasons and the site of his 1994 jersey retirement ceremony; demolished in 2020.

• Otis Thorpe born 1962 · basketball player

  Played here

  The Pistons' home arena during his two seasons as starting power forward; demolished in 2020.

• Anthony Tolliver born 1985 · basketball forward

  Played here

  The Pistons' arena during his first Detroit stint; demolished in 2020.

• Cindy Brown born 1965 · basketball player

  Played here

  The Shock's home arena during Brown's time with the team; demolished in 2020.

• Kornél Dávid born 1971 · basketball forward

  Played here

  The Pistons' arena during his short 2001 Detroit stint; demolished in 2020.

• Henry Ellenson born 1997 · basketball forward

  Played here

  The Pistons' arena at the start of his rookie contract; demolished in 2020.

• Cheryl Ford born 1981 · basketball player

  Played here

  Home arena of the Detroit Shock during her championship years with the team; demolished in 2020.

• Gerald Henderson born 1956 · basketball player, guard

  Played here

  Where he won his only Detroit championship; demolished in 2020.

• Deanna Nolan born 1979 · basketball guard

  Played here

  The Detroit Shock's home arena for her entire WNBA career, including both championships; demolished in 2020.

• Jack McCloskey 1925–2017 · basketball executive

  Worked here

  Home of the championship teams he built, where a banner honoring him was raised in 2008; demolished in 2020.

• Bill Davidson 1922–2009 · glass industrialist, owner of the Detroit Pistons

  Founded

  The arena he privately financed, home of the Pistons' three championship teams; closed as an NBA venue in 2017 and demolished in 2020.

• Tom Gores born 1964 · private equity investor, owner of the Detroit Pistons

  Related place

  He bought the arena with the team in 2011; it was demolished in 2020.