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Ben Wallace tells Knicks he sees similarities with 2004 NBA champion Pistons

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — This season’s Knicks squad wants to be tough, team-oriented and competitive despite not having a single superstar on the team.

So maybe it only made sense to see former Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace, gray beard and all, on the practice floor Thursday chatting up the Knicks forwards and centers. Wallace, the former four-time defensive player of the year who helped lead a superstar-less Pistons to a championship in 2004, was invited to the practice by Knicks general manager Scott Perry. Perry was in the Pistons front office when Wallace was with the team.

“Man, I want this team to embody that kind of identity,” coach David Fizdale said.