Detroit Pistons honor Aretha Franklin, play her national anthem at opener

The Detroit Pistons used their opening night at Little Caesars Arena to pay a final tribute to a fallen legend. 

Before the player introductions for Wednesday night's game against the Brooklyn Nets, public address announcer John Mason introduced Pistons legend Isiah Thomas. 

The Basketball Hall of Famer stood by a microphone and read a statement about Aretha Franklin, the legendary singer from metro Detroit who died this summer.

Thomas, who attended Franklin's epic funeral in Detroit in August, first asked for a moment of silence and then introduced the team's chance to remember the Queen of Soul.

"The Detroit Pistons family and I were deeply saddened by the recent passing of a true Detroit icon. The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, was a shining symbol of this great city. She represented us all with dignity, style, grace and beauty," Thomas said.

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After Thomas was finished, all but one spotlight shone on center court, with one microphone and stand. Then, a recording of Franklin's national anthem played at LCA as the Fox Sports Detroit telecast showed a video montage.