Saturday, May 15, 2021

Source: Ex-Detroit Pistons star Ben Wallace (Virginia Union C ' 96) part of Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2021 (Video)

Congratulation to Ben Wallace and Virginia Union University!  This has become an uncommon story for HBCU alumni in every aspect of American life.  Wallace goes UNDRAFTED in the 1996 NBA Draft, sign as a free agent for little money, persevere and becomes NBA Player of the Year for multiple years.  Further, Ben led the Detroit Pistons to the 2004 NBA Championship beating the L.A. Lakers with future Hall of Famers Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.  Why are the scouts always wrong on the HBCU student-athletes?  

Ben Wallace is currently the President of  Basketball Operations and Minority OWNER of the Grand Rapids Drive, NBA G League team.

Here are some of the noted accomplishments of Big Ben from Wikipedia: 

Awards and honors

  • NBA champion: 2004
  • 4× NBA All-Star: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
  • 4× NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006
  • 6× All-NBA Defensive Team:
    • First Team: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
    • Second Team: 2007
  • 5× All-NBA Team:
    • Second Team : 2003, 2004, 2006
    • Third Team : 2002, 2005
  • 2× NBA rebounding leader (rebounds per game): 2002 (13.0), 2003 (15.4)
  • 2× NBA rebounding leader (total rebounds): 2001 (1,052), 2003 (1,026)
  • NBA rebounding leader (total defensive rebounds): 2001 (749)
  • 2× NBA rebounding leader (total offensive rebounds): 2003 (293), 2006 (301)
  • NBA blocks leader: 2002 (3.5)
  • NBA blocks leader (total blocks): 2002 (278)
  • Cover player for NBA 2K5
  • Number 3 retired by the Detroit Pistons
  • Michigan Sports Hall of Fame: 2016

NBA records, achievements and milestones
  • Only player in NBA history to record 1,000 rebounds, 100 blocks, and 100 steals in 4 consecutive seasons (2001–2004).[22]
  • One of three players in NBA history to record 150 blocks and 100 steals in 7 consecutive seasons (2001–2007) (along with Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson).[22][40][41]
  • One of five players in NBA history to lead the NBA in rebounding and blocking averages in the same season (along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Dwight Howard).
  • One of three players in NBA history to average 15 rebounds and 3 blocks per game over a season (along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bob McAdoo).
  • Only undrafted player in NBA history to be voted a starter for the NBA All-Star Game.
  • One of two players in NBA history to receive NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award four times (along with Dikembe Mutombo). 

Detroit Pistons franchise records
  • Most blocks (all-time): 1,486 (2000–2006, 2009–2012)
  • Most blocks in
  • Highest blocks per game average (all-time): 2.3 (2000–2006, 2009–2012)
  • Highest blocks per game average (season): 3.48 (2001–02)
  • Most efficient defensive box plus/minus career averaging with team: 5.9
  • Best franchise defensive win share: 49
  • Most steals (one game, playoffs): 7 (Game 4, 2003 Eastern Conference First Round)

CAREER Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com

Points6,254 (5.7 ppg)
Rebounds10,482 (9.6 rpg)
Blocks2,137 (2.0 bpg)
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