Lindsey Hunter may be retiring (and I’m getting old)

by Matt W on Apr 30, 2007 10:19 PM CDT Comment 5 comments

Looks like this will be Lindsey Hunter's last hurrah in Detroit. Hunter, one of the genuine good guys in the NBA if not all of sports, has an offer on the table to join the Pistons front office after the season and says he is likely to take it. Hunter has been a valuable role player throughout his 14-year career. He averaged 9.0 points and 2.8 assists while collecting championship rings with the Lakers and Pistons. The NBA needs more players like Hunter and if he does choose to retire, he will be missed.

I've always had a soft spot for Hunter, even if only because he's the only remaining link on the roster between today's squad and the Bad Boys era Pistons.

I know, I know, the Bad Boys era was already dead for at least two years before Hunter came into the league in 1993, but still, the guy shared a locker room with Joe Dumars, Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer (that is, before Lambs abruptly retired 11 games into the season) as a rookie. So it counts for something in my book.

His rookie year also coincided with the first of two seasons that I had partial season tickets for the Pistons. I was a young autograph hound back then, and I would wait by the players' parking lot after games, so I have surprisingly fond memories for Hunter as well as Allan Houston, Sean Elliott (who always signed despite never being happy in his one year in Detroit), David Wood (who was so excited that someone actually wanted his signature that he'd also stop and chat for a few minutes, which was awkward when you wanted to break away to go grab someone else's autograph) and Mark Macon.

But I digress. I'll wait until there's official confirmation (or at least an actual quote from Hunter) before I continue to wax poetic, but the day he retires is the day I officially start to feel old.

(Link via DBB reader Matt G.)

Update : From the Freep:

Even though SI.com reported Monday that Pistons point guard Lindsey Hunter is expected to retire and move into the front office after this season, that might be premature. The Pistons' job offer is on the table for whenever Hunter hangs 'em up, and some get the feeling that he'll play one more season.

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I remember Lindsey Hunter at Jackson State coming into the Gampel Pavillion at UConn and absolutely torching Connecticut. I had to look it up but Hunter had 39 points that night and for the longest time shared the record for most points in UConn’s gym with Ray Allen.

by joejoejoe on May 1, 2007 4:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This isn’t about Hunter, but one of my fondest memories was seeing a Pistons Teal Era telecast on TV – David Wood struggled through the lane and laid the ball in. Then, Blaha said, “David Wood!” as if he was excited. That’s burned into my cortex.

by Rob G on May 1, 2007 11:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m coming in late on this one, but I have a Pistons half-time music video on VHS of Lindsay Hunter highlights to “The Happening” by the Supremes (I think). Kind of a weird juxtaposition, but good times nonetheless. If I could ever figure out how to dump VHS tapes onto the web I’d send you guys tonnes of vintage early-to-mid-90’s stuff (when I really started getting into the Pistons).

by Garrett on May 4, 2007 6:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Lindsay will surely be missed when he is off the court for good

by Lori Funk on Feb 27, 2008 8:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I loved the man’s defense, if i can be like anyone it would be him, thank God he won a ring with the pistons, if only we could’ve gotten him more. I’m gonna miss him a lot.

by Nagy Wassef on Sep 11, 2008 2:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs