Gerald Wallace
Encyclopedia
Gerald Jermaine Wallace (born July 23, 1982) is an American professional basketball
forward for the Portland Trail Blazers
of the NBA
.
, where he had a very successful career. For his senior season efforts he was named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year, an honor given to the best high school basketball player.
for one season before declaring himself eligible for the 2001 NBA Draft.
.
in their expansion draft. Wallace started immediately for the club, and went on to have a season of averaging 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks a game. He continued to improve in 2005–06, before getting injured in January, averaging 14.5 points and 7 rebounds, and ranking in the top 10 in the NBA in field goal percentage (54.142), blocks (2.19), and steals per game (2.44). Since the NBA began counting blocks as a statistic in 1973, only two other players (David Robinson
and Hakeem Olajuwon
) in league history have averaged over 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals per game in a single season.
Wallace is known for his somewhat reckless style of play that leads to his frequent injuries. For this, he has earned the nickname "Crash". He missed a total of 39 games in his first two years with the Bobcats, but his energetic and sometimes dangerous behavior that may have caused his injuries was also what contributed to his gaudy defensive stats. Coach Bernie Bickerstaff
said of Wallace "Gerald can only play one way and be effective. Energy -- that's his game." In 2006, Wallace attempted to refine his game in order to avoid being injured, and as a result his numbers suffered. The first month of the season, Wallace had only five total blocks (an average of 0.3 per game) and his averages were down across the statline from 2005. Wallace improved his play in the second month of the season, but he went down with a separated shoulder
in a December game against the Indiana Pacers
. When he returned, Wallace continued his fine play finishing the season averaging 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in 72 games.
Wallace appeared opposite Tim Duncan
in the March 2008 "SLAM-UP" centerfold for SLAM Magazine
.
Wallace suffered a Grade 3 concussion on February 23, 2008 after taking an unintentional elbow to the face from Sacramento's Mikki Moore
. It was his fourth concussion in as many seasons with the Bobcats. It was not clear when he would return, although Grade 3 concussions are defined by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons
as ones that "involve post-traumatic amnesia for more than 24 hours or unconsciousness for more than five minutes. Players who sustain this grade of brain injury should be sidelined for at least one month, after which they can return to play if they are asymptomatic for one week." He returned later on in the season, finishing the year with a new career high in points, assists, and minutes.
He suffered a partially collapsed lung
and a fractured rib after being flagrantly fouled
while driving for a layup by Los Angeles Lakers
' Andrew Bynum
on January 27, 2009 and was forced to miss seven games. He also was unable to fly and instead crossed the United States en route back to Charlotte by bus.
Wallace was selected to play in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game
in Dallas, becoming the first Charlotte Bobcat to do so. Wallace was also selected to participate in the 2010 NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest. He was also selected to the 2010-2012 USA Basketball
Men's National Team to represent the United States in the 2010 FIBA World Championship
along with a possible trip with the team to the 2012 Olympics.
In the first-ever playoff game for the Bobcats, Wallace led the team with 25 points. This thus stood as a playoff single game scoring record for the Bobcats until game 2 of the series, when Stephen Jackson broke the record by scoring 27 points.
In 2010, Wallace was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
for Joel Pryzbilla, Dante Cunningham
, Sean Marks
, and two future draft picks.
.
Wallace started The Gerald Wallace Foundation to provide opportunities for underserved children and their families in his hometown of Childersburg, Ala, and his playing city Portland, Ore.
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 54 || 1 || 8.0 || .429 || .000 || .500 || 1.6 || .5 || .3 || .1 || 3.2
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 47 || 7 || 12.1 || .492 || .250 || .527 || 2.7 || .5 || .5 || .3 || 4.7
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 37 || 1 || 9.1 || .360 || .000 || .458 || 2.0 || .5 || .4 || .4 || 2.0
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 70 || 68 || 30.7 || .449 || .274 || .661 || 5.5 || 2.0 || 1.7 || 1.3 || 11.1
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 55 || 52 || 34.5 || .538 || .280 || .614 || 7.5 || 1.7 || 2.5 || 2.1 || 15.2
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 72 || 71 || 36.7 || .502 || .325 || .691 || 7.2 || 2.6 || 2.0 || 1.0 || 18.1
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 62 || 59 || 38.3 || .449 || .321 || .731 || 6.0 || 3.5 || 2.1 || .9 || 19.4
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 71 || 71 || 37.6 || .480 || .298 || .804 || 7.8 || 2.7 || 1.7 || .9 || 16.6
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 76 || 76 || 41.0 || .484 || .371 || .776 || 10.0 || 2.1 || 1.5 || 1.1 || 18.2
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 48 || 48 || 39.0 || .433 || .330 || .739 || 8.2 || 2.4 || 1.2 || 1.0 || 15.6
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Portland
| 23 || 15 || 35.7 || .498 || .338 || .767 || 7.6 || 2.5 || 2.0 || .6 || 15.8
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 615 || 469 || 30.7 || .475 || .320 || .717 || 6.3 || 2.0 || 1.5 || .9 || 13.4
|-
| align="left" | All-Star
| align="left" |
| 1 || 0 || 15.0 || .333 || .000 || .000 || 3.0 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || 2.0
| align="left" | 2002
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 5 || 0 || 2.8 || .000 || .000 || 1.000 || .2 || .2 || .0 || .2 || .8
|-
| align="left" | 2003
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 7 || 0 || 2.6 || .400 || .000 || 1.000 || .7|| .0 || .0 || .1 || .9
|-
| align="left" | 2004
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 3 || 0 || 6.7 || .500 || .000 || .500 || .7 || .3 || .3 || .3 || 2.3
|-
| align="left" | 2010
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 4 || 4 || 41.0 || .477 || .455 || .657 || 9.0 || 2.3 || 1.2 || 1.5 || 17.5
|-
| align="left" | 2011
| align="left" | Portland
| 6 || 6 || 37.7 || .448 || .176 || .875 || 9.2 || 2.8 || 1.3 || .5 || 15.2
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 25 || 10 || 17.6 || .455 || .286 || .773 || 4.0 || 1.1 || .6 || .5 || 7.1
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
forward for the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
.
High school
Wallace attended Childersburg High School in Childersburg, AlabamaChildersburg, Alabama
Childersburg is a city in Talladega county in the U.S. state of Alabama. At the 2000 census the population was 4,927. It claims a history dating back before 1540, when it was noted as a village of the Coosa Nation visited by the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto...
, where he had a very successful career. For his senior season efforts he was named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year, an honor given to the best high school basketball player.
College
Wallace attended the University of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
for one season before declaring himself eligible for the 2001 NBA Draft.
Sacramento Kings
In three seasons with the Sacramento Kings, Wallace rarely played, but in the brief appearances he made himself known for his versatility and extraordinary athleticism. In the 2002 Slam Dunk Contest, Wallace finished second to his future teammate and two-time winner Jason RichardsonJason Richardson
Jason Anthoney "J-Rich" Richardson is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association.A 6'6", 225 lb...
.
Charlotte Bobcats
In 2004, Wallace was drafted by the Charlotte BobcatsCharlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
in their expansion draft. Wallace started immediately for the club, and went on to have a season of averaging 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks a game. He continued to improve in 2005–06, before getting injured in January, averaging 14.5 points and 7 rebounds, and ranking in the top 10 in the NBA in field goal percentage (54.142), blocks (2.19), and steals per game (2.44). Since the NBA began counting blocks as a statistic in 1973, only two other players (David Robinson
David Robinson (basketball)
David Maurice Robinson is a retired American NBA basketball player, who played center for the San Antonio Spurs for his entire NBA career. Based on his prior service as an officer in the United States Navy, Robinson earned the nickname "The Admiral". He and teammate power forward Tim Duncan were...
and Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008,...
) in league history have averaged over 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals per game in a single season.
Wallace is known for his somewhat reckless style of play that leads to his frequent injuries. For this, he has earned the nickname "Crash". He missed a total of 39 games in his first two years with the Bobcats, but his energetic and sometimes dangerous behavior that may have caused his injuries was also what contributed to his gaudy defensive stats. Coach Bernie Bickerstaff
Bernie Bickerstaff
Bernard Tyrone "Bernie" Bickerstaff is an assistant coach for the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. Prior to the Trail Blazers, Bickerstaff was an assistant for the Chicago Bulls and Executive Vice President of the Charlotte Bobcats...
said of Wallace "Gerald can only play one way and be effective. Energy -- that's his game." In 2006, Wallace attempted to refine his game in order to avoid being injured, and as a result his numbers suffered. The first month of the season, Wallace had only five total blocks (an average of 0.3 per game) and his averages were down across the statline from 2005. Wallace improved his play in the second month of the season, but he went down with a separated shoulder
Separated shoulder
A separated shoulder , is a common injury to the acromioclavicular joint. This is not the same as a shoulder dislocation as that involves a dislocation of the glenohumeral joint...
in a December game against the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. When he returned, Wallace continued his fine play finishing the season averaging 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in 72 games.
Wallace appeared opposite Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan
Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association . The 6-foot 11-inch , 255-pound power forward/center is a four-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP, and NBA Rookie of the Year...
in the March 2008 "SLAM-UP" centerfold for SLAM Magazine
SLAM Magazine
SLAM Magazine is an American basketball magazine in circulation since 1994, published by Source Interlink. SLAM publishes nine issues a year to its circulation of over 500,000 readers worldwide.-History:...
.
Wallace suffered a Grade 3 concussion on February 23, 2008 after taking an unintentional elbow to the face from Sacramento's Mikki Moore
Mikki Moore
Clinton Renard "Mikki" Moore is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent.-Professional career:...
. It was his fourth concussion in as many seasons with the Bobcats. It was not clear when he would return, although Grade 3 concussions are defined by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons is a professional body based in the United States with more than 8,000 members worldwide. The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to the public...
as ones that "involve post-traumatic amnesia for more than 24 hours or unconsciousness for more than five minutes. Players who sustain this grade of brain injury should be sidelined for at least one month, after which they can return to play if they are asymptomatic for one week." He returned later on in the season, finishing the year with a new career high in points, assists, and minutes.
He suffered a partially collapsed lung
Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax is a collection of air or gas in the pleural cavity of the chest between the lung and the chest wall. It may occur spontaneously in people without chronic lung conditions as well as in those with lung disease , and many pneumothoraces occur after physical trauma to the chest, blast...
and a fractured rib after being flagrantly fouled
Flagrant foul
A flagrant foul is a serious contact foul involving unnecessary, excessive, or intentional contact in sport. There is a specific National Basketball Association foul termed a flagrant foul.-NBA flagrant fouls:...
while driving for a layup by Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
' Andrew Bynum
Andrew Bynum
Andrew Bynum is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . He was drafted 10th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005. Bynum became the youngest player ever to play an NBA game later that year, breaking Jermaine...
on January 27, 2009 and was forced to miss seven games. He also was unable to fly and instead crossed the United States en route back to Charlotte by bus.
Wallace was selected to play in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game
2010 NBA All-Star Game
The 2010 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game between players selected from the National Basketball Association 's Western Conference and the Eastern Conference that was played on February 14, 2010 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States. This game was the 59th edition...
in Dallas, becoming the first Charlotte Bobcat to do so. Wallace was also selected to participate in the 2010 NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest. He was also selected to the 2010-2012 USA Basketball
USA Basketball
USA Basketball is a non-profit organization and the governing body for basketball in the United States. The organization represents the United States in FIBA and the men's and women's national basketball teams in the United States Olympic Committee...
Men's National Team to represent the United States in the 2010 FIBA World Championship
FIBA World Championship
The FIBA World Championship is an international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation , the sport's global governing body...
along with a possible trip with the team to the 2012 Olympics.
In the first-ever playoff game for the Bobcats, Wallace led the team with 25 points. This thus stood as a playoff single game scoring record for the Bobcats until game 2 of the series, when Stephen Jackson broke the record by scoring 27 points.
In 2010, Wallace was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
Portland Trail Blazers
On February 24, 2011, Wallace was traded to the Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
for Joel Pryzbilla, Dante Cunningham
Dante Cunningham
Dante Cunningham is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Charlotte Bobcats. Dante was drafted in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA...
, Sean Marks
Sean Marks
Sean Andrew Marks is a New Zealand-American professional basketball player. He is the first native New Zealander to play in the NBA.-Basketball career:...
, and two future draft picks.
Personal
Wallace is represented by agent Rob PelinkaRob Pelinka
Robert Todd Pelinka, Jr. is an American lawyer, National Basketball Association sports agent and former college basketball player from Lake Bluff, Illinois . He is best known as Kobe Bryant's agent and President and CEO of The Landmark Sports Agency, LLC...
.
Wallace started The Gerald Wallace Foundation to provide opportunities for underserved children and their families in his hometown of Childersburg, Ala, and his playing city Portland, Ore.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 54 || 1 || 8.0 || .429 || .000 || .500 || 1.6 || .5 || .3 || .1 || 3.2
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 47 || 7 || 12.1 || .492 || .250 || .527 || 2.7 || .5 || .5 || .3 || 4.7
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 37 || 1 || 9.1 || .360 || .000 || .458 || 2.0 || .5 || .4 || .4 || 2.0
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Charlotte
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
| 70 || 68 || 30.7 || .449 || .274 || .661 || 5.5 || 2.0 || 1.7 || 1.3 || 11.1
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 55 || 52 || 34.5 || .538 || .280 || .614 || 7.5 || 1.7 || 2.5 || 2.1 || 15.2
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 72 || 71 || 36.7 || .502 || .325 || .691 || 7.2 || 2.6 || 2.0 || 1.0 || 18.1
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 62 || 59 || 38.3 || .449 || .321 || .731 || 6.0 || 3.5 || 2.1 || .9 || 19.4
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 71 || 71 || 37.6 || .480 || .298 || .804 || 7.8 || 2.7 || 1.7 || .9 || 16.6
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 76 || 76 || 41.0 || .484 || .371 || .776 || 10.0 || 2.1 || 1.5 || 1.1 || 18.2
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 48 || 48 || 39.0 || .433 || .330 || .739 || 8.2 || 2.4 || 1.2 || 1.0 || 15.6
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Portland
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
| 23 || 15 || 35.7 || .498 || .338 || .767 || 7.6 || 2.5 || 2.0 || .6 || 15.8
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 615 || 469 || 30.7 || .475 || .320 || .717 || 6.3 || 2.0 || 1.5 || .9 || 13.4
|-
| align="left" | All-Star
| align="left" |
| 1 || 0 || 15.0 || .333 || .000 || .000 || 3.0 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || 2.0
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2002
2002 NBA Playoffs
The 2002 NBA Playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2001–02 season. This would be the final postseason that held a best-of-5 first-round series; next year's postseason would see those series expanded to a best-of-7 format...
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 5 || 0 || 2.8 || .000 || .000 || 1.000 || .2 || .2 || .0 || .2 || .8
|-
| align="left" | 2003
2003 NBA Playoffs
The 2003 NBA playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2002-03 NBA season. This postseason was notable for being the first time all series were conducted in a best-of-7 format. It was also the only time in playoff history that no team was swept in a first-round series....
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 7 || 0 || 2.6 || .400 || .000 || 1.000 || .7|| .0 || .0 || .1 || .9
|-
| align="left" | 2004
2004 NBA Playoffs
The 2004 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2003–04 season. Consisting of 16 teams in two conferences, the playoffs involved about two months of play. The playoffs were conducted in seven-game series, with the team with the better record holding home court...
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 3 || 0 || 6.7 || .500 || .000 || .500 || .7 || .3 || .3 || .3 || 2.3
|-
| align="left" | 2010
2010 NBA Playoffs
The 2010 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2009–10 season. The playoffs started on April 17, 2010 with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | Charlotte
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
| 4 || 4 || 41.0 || .477 || .455 || .657 || 9.0 || 2.3 || 1.2 || 1.5 || 17.5
|-
| align="left" | 2011
2011 NBA Playoffs
The 2011 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2010–11 season. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs, all seeded 1 to 8 in a tournament bracket, with all rounds in a best-of-seven format. The 2011 NBA Playoffs began on...
| align="left" | Portland
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
| 6 || 6 || 37.7 || .448 || .176 || .875 || 9.2 || 2.8 || 1.3 || .5 || 15.2
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 25 || 10 || 17.6 || .455 || .286 || .773 || 4.0 || 1.1 || .6 || .5 || 7.1
Career highs
- Points: 42: vs. New York 01/31/07
- Rebounds: 20: 2 times
- Assists: 10: vs. Philadelphia
- Steals: 8: vs. Milwaukee 01/13/06
- Blocks: 6: 2 times