"It's definitely special. I never thought I could be a Piston at this point in my career," Webber said Tuesday. "I feel excited and energized. I haven't felt this good about the game in a long time."

Webber, the 1993 NBA Draft top choice and 1994 NBA Rookie of the Year, was bought out of his contract last week by Philadelphia and chose to play in Detroit. He makes his debut in a Pistons uniform here Wednesday against Utah.

"My stomach will be in knots," Webber said. "It has been in knots since I decided."

The Pistons, 2004 NBA champions and 2005 runners-up, are 21-15 and second behind Cleveland in the race for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

"I'm excited to be home in Detroit but I'm more excited to be on this team," Webber said. "This team was already great before I got here. I'm part of a great machine already. We can do great things here.

"Being home on a great team, that's what makes me feel good."

Webber watched the Pistons lose to Minnesota here Monday but when his image was shown on an arena video screen he was cheered by the crowd.

"To be home and hear the fans cheer you is a great feeling," he said.

Webber had to ditch his usual jersey number, 4, for 84, because Joe Dumars made famous the one-digit number in his playing days. When a six-year-old nephew suggested 84, Webber agreed.

"I thought about 44 because it was my high school number but when my nephew said that I said I'll go for it," Webber said.

The return allows Webber, a college star at the nearby University of Michigan with the "Fab Five" and a a local youth hoops hero, to reconnect with his home community and try to return the Pistons to their championship form.

Webber, 33, played in only three of 13 games for the 76ers from December 13 until his release. He has been sidelined with ankle and foot injuries and averages a career-low 11.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 18 games.

In the 2003 playoffs, Webber suffered a knee injury that required surgery and has not been the same since. Webber was the top pick of the 1993 NBA Draft and played at Golden State, Washington and Sacramento, averaging 21.6 points and 10.4 rebounds a game for his career entering this season.

"The knee is fine. I feel really good," Webber said. "My conditioning is pretty good."