Then, they watched Iverson lead the 76ers to the NBA finals and become the league MVP.

Eight years later, Detroit is hoping The Answer was worth the wait.

Iverson does, too.

"I want to be the piece that gets us over the hump," he said Tuesday at a packed news conference, where the Pistons unveiled Iverson's name on a No. 1 red-white-and-blue jersey that he may or may not wear. "I've done so many things in this league, being an All-Star and scoring champion and things like that, but I haven't accomplished my No. 1 goal and that is to win a championship."

The Pistons acquired Iverson on Monday in a blockbuster trade for All-Star point guard and former finals MVP Chauncey Billups, top reserve Antonio McDyess and project Cheikh Samb.

Detroit is desperate for another shot at an NBA title after winning its third in 2004, falling just short of repeating and getting eliminated in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals the past three years.

"We think he is going to fit with exactly what we stand for here," Pistons executive Joe Dumars said. "It's all about winning and being in the big dance at the end of the year. Those are his goals along with ours.