Ben Wallace

:This article is about the basketball player. For information on the former Member of the Scottish Parliament, see Ben Wallace (UK politician).

Basketball Career

Wallace played college basketball at Virginia Union, a Division II school. Wallace was not drafted to the NBA, but was signed as a rookie free agent by the Washington Bullets on October 2, 1996.

Related Topics:
College basketball - Virginia Union - Division II - NBA - Free agent - Washington Bullets - October 2 - 1996

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In 1999 Wallace was traded to the Orlando Magic alongside with Tim Legler, Terry Davis, and Jeff McInnis for Isaac Austin, and on August 3, 2000, was traded again, along with Chucky Atkins, to the Detroit Pistons for Grant Hill. Since then he has been a defensive force, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in the 2001-02, 2002-03, and 2004-05 seasons. In the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, he led the league in both rebounds and blocked shots. In 2003, he was voted by fans to his first NBA All-Star Game, as the starting center for the Eastern Conference. Wallace became the first undrafted player to ever start in an All-Star game. He, along with Chauncey Billups, captained the Pistons' 2004 NBA championship team.

Related Topics:
1999 - Orlando Magic - Tim Legler - Terry Davis - Jeff McInnis - Isaac Austin - August 3 - 2000 - Chucky Atkins - Detroit Pistons - Grant Hill - NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award - 2001 - 02 - 03 - 2004 - 05 - Blocked shot - NBA All-Star Game - Chauncey Billups - NBA championship

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He finished second in the league in rebounds and blocks per game for the 2003-04 season. His career highs for one game are 28 rebounds and 10 blocks, although he has never scored more than 22 points in a regular-season game. (His career playoff high is 29 points.) He also was a starter for the 2004 All-Star Game.

Related Topics:
Playoff - Starter - 2004

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Wallace again returned to the All-Star Game in 2005, his third in succession. This time, he was selected as a reserve, as the popular Shaquille O'Neal, now in the Eastern Conference, finished ahead of Wallace in the fan balloting. During the 2004-05 season, Wallace also became Detroit's franchise leader in blocked shots. He now has recorded 1,116 blocks for the Pistons. Wallace has also become the Pistons' all time blocked shots leader in the playoffs.

Related Topics:
2005 - Shaquille O'Neal - Eastern Conference

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Wallace again won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2004-05, joining Dikembe Mutombo as the only players to have won the award three times.

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