The Basketball Hall of Fame announced candidates for their 2017 class. Named on the list were notables Tracy McGrady (some shocked to see him nominated, even himself), Chris Webber (it’s time for him to make it), and Ben Wallace. McGrady and Webber were always Hall of Fame debates with more yes than no. As for Wallace, the four-time Defensive Player of the Year, it’s been a legitimate argument for his candidacy. He was never a scorer in any contortion of the word. Instead, he made his living being an undersized threat on the defensive end.
Wallace’s story is being a 6-foot-9 defensive anchor who gave off an intimidating appeal with his mean mug and huge Afro, which had to be at least five inches in its peak. From being un-drafted back in the star-studded 1996 NBA Draft with legends Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and Ray Allen, to collecting accolades such as NBA champion, four-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA and six-time All-Defensive.
The flaws of the illustrious stars was how Wallace earned a paycheck. Defense, hustle, and toughness was his way of life on the court. For various teams, he brought that mentality, as he was somewhat of a nomad with stops in Washington, Orlando, Chicago and Cleveland. The first two aforementioned cities helped build “Big Ben,” while the latter two saw his production fade away. In the middle though are the Detroit Pistons, who latched onto him at the right time when they decided to send Grant Hill to the Magic in 2000. From then on the rest is history. Wallace is a Hall of Fame candidate and Hill is a “what if” story.
With Detroit, in nine seasons, Wallace averaged 6.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per contest. On two occasions he led the league in rebounding at 13.0 (’01-’02) and 15.4 (’02-03). For three consecutive seasons from the ’01-’02 season to the ’03-’04 season, he averaged 4.0 offensive rebounds on a nightly basis. Since then, the only player to average such offensive rebounding number for three straight seasons is, ironically enough a Piston, Andre Drummond from ’13-’14 to ’15-’16. Ben was honored by the team earlier this year when they retired his jersey.
Not only did Wallace dominate the boards with the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, and Yao Ming, but he was also able to lead the league in blocks at 3.5 (’01-’02) and averaged three blocks per game two consecutive seasons after. Since his league-leading year in blocks per contest, that number has been increased with Hassan Whiteside’s 3.68 back in ’15-’16.
Many people are into advanced stats nowadays and, for the most part, they promoted Wallace’s candidacy to be enshrined in 2017 or at least years to come. He’s listed as having a 45.3% chance of being inducted – higher than the likes of already inducted Chris Mullin, Reggie Miller, Earl Monroe, Bernard King – which would surprise many, and probably allow them to say something in the realm of “it’s more about the eye test than analytics.”
Analytically on defense during the regular-season, Wallace ranks in the Top-20 in multiple categories: Defensive Box Plus/Minus (5.52, 1st), Defensive Rating (95.76, 5th), Defensive Rebound Percentage (25.64, 12th), Defensive Win Shares (70.58, 14th) and Block Percentage (4.98, 17th). The stats show Wallace’s prowess on the defensive end and also his weakness on the offensive end. A Hall of Fame combination that can be linked to 2012 inductee Dennis Rodman.
Both Rodman and Wallace were looked upon as the most intense and scrappiest defensive players and rebounders during their different eras which would be during the 90s and 2000s, respectively. The two are are 90% carbon copies of each other, with Wallace probably being more athletic and a shot-blocker than Rodman. Either way, though, Rodman’s induction a few years ago made it very possible to see Wallace enshrined sooner rather than later.
Another Hall of Famer that has created more of a chance of Wallace being inducted in 2017 is 2016 inductee Dikembe Mutombo. Resume wise, the only major difference between the two is Mutombo having appeared in three more All-Star games than Wallace. Besides that, Wallace has the edge in First-Team All-Defense and All-NBA selections, along with his lone championship from 2004.
Both Rodman and Mutombo were selected for enshrinement in their first year of eligibility, and the same could happen with Wallace. On the list of headliners, it would go, McGrady, Webber then Wallace. Those three would be the main attractions to go alongside other basketball pioneers.
Come All-Star weekend, the entire basketball community will know if “Big-Ben” is getting in on year one. It’s likely, but anything is possible. His resume and body of work throughout his 17 seasons and 1,088 regular-season games, which are the most by an un-drafted player, speak volumes for him. Wallace did his part, now it’s up to the voters to do theirs.
*All stats used in this piece are courtesy of basketball-reference.com
