by: Cole Riley
contributions by: Cam Mishlen
Ben Wallace has had quite a bumpy ride ever since leaving Detroit after the 2005-2006 season. That summer he signed a ridiculous 4 yr/$52 million dollar deal with the Chicago Bulls that was soon passed on to the Cavs two years later in exchange for a bunch of miserable players, Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, and Cedric Simmons. After a disappointing year and a half with the Cavs (3.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg), Wallace was traded for Shaquille O’Neal this past summer, bought out of his contract, and then finally, to his delight, landed back with the Pistons.
After that horrible recap of his last three years, it’s safe to say that Wallace has made a surprising comeback in this young season. Averaging his typical low points, 3.6 ppg, high rebounds, 9.6 rpg, and nice block rate, 1.3 per game, Wallace has been a nice little addition to this reformed Pistons squad.
Wallace, an undrafted free agent in ’96 draft out of Virginia Union, knows how to fight his way to the top, and he’s had to do that ever since his dismal performance in Chicago and Cleveland. He’s now got his starting center role back, and is surrounded by a nice collection of talent, including the newly signed stars Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, along with mainstays Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and the young phenom, Rodney Stuckey.
However, the Pistons are 3-4, and in a conference with elite teams like the Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, and Cleveland Cavaliers, it’s going to be hard for any type of real competition to stem out of Motown.
Nevertheless, Ben Wallace is back to his old form as a suitable starting center in the NBA, and look for him to continue his solid performance and possibly lead his team to a 7th or 8th seed in the East.
(Photo courtesy of ESPN.com)
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