SOUTHFIELD -- Despite being part of an NBA ownership fraternity that often leveraged wealth into privilege and public attention, billionaire philanthropist William Davidson commonly chose obscurity.
The man known simply to players, friends and fans as "Mr. D" could be seen at most Detroit Pistons home games, sitting quietly near the end of his team's bench. Davidson "always was a warm guy, always was pleasant, always down to earth," former Pistons player Earl Cureton said Tuesday following the funeral service at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield.
"He just looked out for us for a long time," Cureton continued. "He was knowledgeable of the game, of course everybody knows that."
Davidson died Friday at his Bloomfield Hills home at the age of 86.
The owner and CEO of Auburn Hills-based Guardian Industries, Davidson became majority owner of the Pistons in 1974. Under his leadership, Detroit evolved from a struggling franchise into one of the NBA's best teams, winning championships in 1989, 1990 and 2004.
"It's definitely safe to say that none of us would be leading the lives that we're leading had we not met him as an individual," Hall of Fame point guard Isiah Thomas said after Tuesday's service.
Thomas, drafted by Detroit with the second overall pick in 1981, was the first key piece to the team's earliest two titles.
Other players from that era, including Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, John Long and Vinnie Johnson, also attended the funeral. Pistons president Tom Wilson and former player and current team executive Joe Dumars were among the pallbearers.
