This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 8/21/2014.
Prior to the start of the 2003-04 season, Pistons General Manager Joe Dumars fired the 2002 Coach of the Year, Rick Carlisle, and replaced him with Hall of Famer Larry Brown. The Pistons had a strong core of players with Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince, Rip Hamilton and Ben Wallace. Dumars then acquired Rasheed Wallace before the trade deadline strengthening Detroit’s already hard-nosed defense. In the playoffs, Detroit would knock off Milwaukee, New Jersey and Indiana on their way to facing the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Gary Payton and Karl Malone in the Finals. Detroit dominated the heavily favored Lakers and the Pistons would take the series in 5 games. This size 12.5, 10k white gold B-ring weighs 64 grams. The top panel reads “2004 WORLD CHAMPIONS” surrounding a gold casted image of the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy and 55 small round-cut diamonds, nearly one carat worth, make up the background. The team name “PISTONS” is casted across the face with blue enameling. The left panel features the staff member’s name “PHILLIPS” and “THE RIGHT WAY” in relief. Below that is a casted image of a laurelled basketball and “2004” in relief. The right panel reads “DETROIT GOING TO WORK” in relief above “PISTONS 4 - LAKERS 1” and a red and blue enameled NBA logo. The inside of the ring is engraved “Thomas Phillips 298” and stamped “INTERGOLD 10K”. The ring is in MINT condition and comes in the original presentation box.