Ben Wallace's First Playoff Game - 2002 (19pts, 20reb, 3stl, 3blk)

April 21, 2002 - Detroit Pistons forward/center Ben Wallace made his playoff debut in style, accepting his first Defensive Player of the Year trophy prior to tip-off, then proceeding to lead Detroit to a blowout victory on the heels of a 19 point, 20 rebound effort in 37 minutes of work.
Wallace became just the fourth player in NBA history to lead the league in both rebounds and blocks in the same season, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Bill Walton. He was also 14th in steals.
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[@Ilikesoda100]

Look at that 4th quarter score. You're talking about a team that would literally shut its opponents down.

[@nickparagano5515]

Favorite player ever..miss BIG BEN.

[@17thN.O]

He is in my top three. Magic, AI and Big Ben are my three favorites.

[@HakeemTheDream616]

I remember this game like it was yesterday...what other team you know can score 73 points and win by 28? Greatest defense ever!

[@17thN.O]

That was just a smothering defense

[@simonwilder1994]

Big Ben definitely belongs in the HOF. He's a *four* time defensive player of the year. He has the 5th lowest defensive rating in NBA history. He's the only player ever with four consecutive 1000reb/100stl/150/blk seasons. He was top 5 for *SIX* consecutive seasons in the most accurate statistic for judging team impact, RAPM.

[@churchservice2700]

Ben Wallace is very underrated...

[@ClaudineHerrera]

Actually Big Ben make it to the HOF in 2020 alongside fellow Piston players Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton.

[@kiflomloops4927]

So damn glad big ben is going into the hall of fame next year!!! Well deserved 👏

[@geezushasrisen]

That Undertaker bell is intimidating.

[@JoshCConnor]

Yeah for whom the bell tolls

[@JCATG]

The way he defends the rebound and makes those putback dunks is just amazing to watch. His power is nearly unmatched during their reign in the Easter Conference back in the early 2000s. Iʼve always enjoyed your videos, man. Thank you for creating these Ben Wallace game highlights. It was really a delight to relive these moments again and again.

[@churchservice2700]

2001-2002 Ben Wallace was my favorite version of Ben

[@whatISlife007]

The ultimate defensive big. Wasn't afraid of anybody

[@dxburner222]

My fav player all time

[@liltob9527]

dxburner222 mines 2 including other defensive players like the legendary Bill Russell and Kawhi Leonard!

[@sammadison1172]

I was at this game, and his jersey retirement game vs. GSW. What a full circle!

[@aaronwalker2312]

88-90 Pistons vs 03-05 Pistons, In their prime: PG: Isiah Thomas vs Chauncey Billups SG: Joe Dumars vs Richard Hamilton SF: Dennis Rodman vs Tashaun Prince PF: Bill Lambeer vs Rasheed Wallace (my favorite matchup) C: Rick Mahorn vs Ben Wallace As a team, WHO WOULD WIN!!!!!!!!!!!

[@johnnymoondogs1816]

Aaron Walker you are drunk if you believe 2004 pistons have a chance against the 89 pistons

[@LittleBenjaminNeocon183]

@@johnnymoondogs1816 you are drunk if you think they wouldn't.

[@johnnymoondogs1816]

Christopher Mccarroll no chance 89 pistons play in the most physical era and Rodman alone will outrebound the two wallace

[@taowow2020]

@@johnnymoondogs1816 first this Rodman isn't in his prime both Wallace's are

[@whatISlife007]

This would be a slugfest. There was no ego on the 2000s team except for coach brown. Definitely a dream match up

[@courtneyjeffries390]

I miss how the NBA was played back then. How the Power forward and Center dominated in the paint like Ben Wallace did. He still one of my all time favorites to play the game of basketball.

[@TUdaToken]

I remember going to this game then coming home just in time to watch the Red Wings 1st round game against Vancouver when Nicklas Lidstrom scored that goal from center ice

[@javijh]

2K needs to come out with an Onyx Ben Wallace!

[@LeBrow420]

Big Ben Wallace, Beast!!!

[@Julian24151]

7 fucking points at the end of the first quarter! Only with Ben Wallace can you score 16 points as a team and lead by 9 at the end of the first!

[@17thN.O]

Them the Pacers and the Spurs during that period especially that finals in 05' is why they changed the rules.

[@PurpleScoutCookies]

Thanks so much for putting this video up....I'm a huge Big Ben fan, but missed most of his early career. This literally made my day :).

[@rebharath]

looking at bob lanier standing next to ben, didn't realize ben was "only" 6'9". great player.

[@debonaireslots]

Ben was 6'9 guarding 7'2 Shaq... he was a beast

[@przemysawkujawa3145]

Epic stats... Legend and HoF... Average 6.3 pts but the most popular player of all Pistons players ever... My FEB player

[@biboyumandar1538]

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR !!!

[@JDOGFTW]

what a monster.

[@nananehme3758]

The man who commanded the "No fly zone" in Detroit. Great payers thought twice before making a dunk against the Pistons.

[@28Roblong]

Straight G right dere Ben Wallace 💪🏾🤨

[@erebor4nierdzewny970]

BIG BEN!!! FEAR THE FRO!!! THE BEAST FROM THE EAST BULL - I THING MOST OF U DON'T KNOW THAT NICKNAME... Ben Wallace is MY fev player after MJ and Kobe... After that nobody is even close...

[@GetBenched2010]

The most punishing defensive player of all time. Only KG was close.

[@jareddavidmanifold313]

I went to 2 games during the 01-02 nba season March 13th and April 17th both Pistons wins.

[@user-ic6si6kx8j]

Ben has got a beautiful Eurostep like James Harden... 4:36

[@benjaminsmith5972]

Ben Wallaced is a HOF

[@laurencer7558]

Beast

[@DoUEvenLift]

Well Rodman was on arguably the best team of all itme and pulled a 3peat with the Bulls and was the most dominant rebounder of the past like 50 years, Big Ben had about 6 years of dominance, and as for Nash & Gervin they were offensive players, offense gets noticed over defense all the time. I never said he doesn't deserve a HOF spot, I just said I don't think he'll make it to the HOF, cause it's crazy how quickly people forget. Not to mention he didn't dominate for long enough.

[@kingtaurus6331]

Damn I had to be 11 or 12 when he made his first playoff debut. I remember the vibe back in the d when we beat the raptors.

[@JS-by6hp]

look at that 1st quarter score lol

[@rambosexy2009]

Big Ben vs the Worm

[@johnnymoondogs1816]

rambosexy2009 worm>ben

[@norellmarksalaan9587]

@@johnnymoondogs1816 how many blocks and steal per game rodman average? Tell me . 😂

[@drugaddict931]

Am I the only who noticed how less both teams scored?

[@waynecewhw]

This is defense, when your opponent scours 60 points a game. Nowadays teams score 100 easily, kind of boring

[@user-st5wr8tc7w]

Nice.

[@simonwilder1994]

"I never said he doesn't deserve a HOF spot" Sure. You weren't explicit, but the below came *really* close: "but I still don't know if he deserves a HOF spot" But, okay I agree that although I think he *deserves* to make the HOF, like you, I don't necessarily think he'll make it for the reasons you mentioned. So, we're probably on the much of the same page after all. Cheers.

[@demitirusmcneal1327]

Bob Neal, Jeff Van Gundy and Hubie Brown

[@hugdablok6162]

Deeetroit Basketball!!!!

[@Evenmixer]

Can you post the full game ?

[@user-st5wr8tc7w]

😊

[@awakethemaster]

Leader in a season in Block Rebounds and steel #3 Ben Wallace. The NBA didn't have a white version of Ben Wallace. Would be interesting see an animal likewise with the muscle and attitude.

[@RicTrifecta]

RATKO VARDA

[@simonwilder1994]

I'm not sure being "one dimensional" should be used as a criteria for Ben Wallace not making the HOF. Players like Nash and George Gervin (and plenty others) are/were one dimensional, and they have or will make the HOF. Rodman too was one dimensional, and he was useless for scoring in the same manner as Big Ben. I mean, it seems incongruent for you to believe that Ben Wallace was the best player in NBA history for 50% of the game, and *still* doesn't deserve to make the HOF.

[@ripdeth]

Taking old man Hakeem to the trash.

[@DoUEvenLift]

Yeah but such things get forgotten easily, had he have been more of an offensive player too then yeah I would agree, but his game was too one dimensional. Aside from put backs, dunks & alley-oops he was basically useless for scoring. In my opinion he's probably the best defensive player of all time, but I still don't know if he deserves a HOF spot.

[@raynemane]

The most boring series in playoff history

[@gerdz101]

Typical casual basketball fan.

[@raynemane]

it went 5. I dont like the fact that VC didnt play

[@DoUEvenLift]

He's not a HOF, great player, but not HOF material