Detroit Pistons: Reflections on Ben Wallace

With Ben Wallace’s number being retired on Saturday, there may be no better time to reflect on Big Ben’s time at the Palace with the Detroit Pistons.

There are players who have meant the world to the Detroit Pistons and to their fans. Some are Hall of Famers, and most have their numbers hanging from the rafters at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

With the exception of a certain player from Chicago who wore the number 11 for the Pistons throughout the 1980’s and early 90’s, nobody meant quite as much to the Pistons as did Ben Wallace, and nobody meant as much in the same way that Big Ben did for the organization and its fans.

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Ben Wallace was the beating heart and soul of the Detroit Pistons in his tenure from 2000 until 2006. In the Piston intro video in those days, Wallace smashed a sledge hammer through a brick wall, which emphatically illustrated the force and energy he brought to the team.

While Chauncey Billups was the floor general and Rasheed Wallace was the emotional leader, there were no “Going To Work” Pistons without Big Ben. He was the first to dive to the floor for a loose ball, the first to sky for a rebound that a man of his height (it’s rumored that his listed height of 6-foot-9 is overstated) had no business to grab, and he was the ultimate effort player.

Not only were there no “Going To Work” Pistons without Wallace, there was certainly no 2004 NBA title without him.

Wallace was synonymous with Detroit’s image of a blue-collar hardworking city, and it’s no wonder he was embraced by the people of the Motor City. There was no professional athlete better associated with the city he represented than Ben Wallace.

Wallace was acquired by the Pistons as little more than flotsam thrown into a deal where the Magic shipped him and Chuckie Atkins out in exchange for Grant Hill, a move made by Joe Dumars to simply get somehing in exchange for the deep loss of Hill. He was a young energetic big man, but nobody could have imagined what would develop.

In his first stint in Detroit (he returned to close out his career from 2009 until 2012), he averaged 7.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 2.8 blocks per game. He led the NBA in rebounding twice and finished in the top-three another three times. He also led the NBA in blocks in 2001-02 with 3.5 per game, and is the Pistons’ all-time leader in blocks.

He was a four-time All-Star, three times was named to the All-NBA Second Team, twice to the All-NBA Third Team, was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team five years in a row, and he was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

At long last, Wallace will have his number hung from the rafters at the Palace, joining the likes of Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Dave Bing, Bob Lanier, and other legends of the red, blue and white. The big day will be January 16th against the mighty Golden State Warriors in a halftime ceremony.

Next: ESPN ranks Isiah Thomas fifth best point guard of all-time

Whether you can attend or just watch on tv, do yourself a favor and tune in. Ben Wallace is a Piston legend, and will finally be honored as such.

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