http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060507/capt.8ef253517db24c528e3e2f63bbb904f1.cavaliers_pi stons_basketball_dtp123.jpg



AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Detroit center Ben Wallace won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award for the fourth time in five years, a person within the Pistons organization told The Associated Press on Sunday.

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the award has not been announced, said Wallace will be presented with the award Tuesday night before Game 2 of the second-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"Is that for sure? Don't get me excited over nothing now," Wallace said after Detroit beat the Cavs 113-86 in the series opener. "That means a lot. That's my pride and joy."


http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2436694

Happy Ben, happy life.

It doesn't rhyme, but it's true nontheless.

Might be the last time he wins it. He better enjoy it.

doubtfully.

As long as the Pistons are on top, Ben has a shot. He's going to go hard after a 5th DPOY, which would be a new record.

doubtfully.

As long as the Pistons are on top, Ben has a shot. He's going to go hard after a 5th DPOY, which would be a new record.

Did Rodman get 4?

Mt. Elbow got 4.

Did Rodman get 4?

No, only Mutombo has ever won 4 DPOY awards.

doubtfully.

As long as the Pistons are on top, Ben has a shot. He's going to go hard after a 5th DPOY, which would be a new record.

Did Rodman get 4?

Rodman only got one.

Hopefully Ben has a big year next year. Getting 5 DPOYs and another ring or two would have to put him at least on the HOF radar. It's a long shot, but the individual and team accolades are there. The only thing hold him out is PPG. Which is sad.

Has there ever been an undrafted player to make the HOF?

moses malone was undrafted i think. cant remember for sure.

but ben is in regardless if we win this year and maybe next. 4 DPOY and 2+ nba titles would get him in i feel. but shit go for 5 to be safe. :D

Ben's the shit. Dude is the heart and soul of this team

moses malone was undrafted i think. cant remember for sure.


He was drafted in the ABA i believe

Rodman only got one.
No, he got back to back ones in 1990 and 1991. He never got DPOY as one of the Bulls... didn't even get a lot of votes.

moses malone was undrafted i think. cant remember for sure.


He was drafted in the ABA i believe
Moses Malone would not have been able to be drafted by the NBA at the time, because he was under-aged. At the time, youngsters couldn't play in the NBA, and I suspect by that time, they wouldn't have been able to even be drafted (but have to wait a few years until they were old enough to play, which is what happened to Wilt Chamberlain).

BTW, there's great controversy and strife within the Pistons team over Ben winning DPOY yet again:

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060508/SPORTS0102/605080373/1127


"They gave that to him again?" Rasheed Wallace said, loud enough so that Ben Wallace could hear as he exited the locker room. "Ah, dog, that's felonious. It's felonious. Fe-lone-e-us. He was not even in my top three. Honestly, they only gave it to him because we the Pistons."

<laughs>

I think Malone was the first person that went from HS to the Pro's. He started in the ABA if memory serves me correct. Though I am unsure if the ABA had a draft then.

The voters must have missed the fact that Bruce Bowen kept Dirk to slightly above his season averages when he played San Antonio.

BTW, there's great controversy and strife within the Pistons team over Ben winning DPOY yet again:

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060508/SPORTS0102/605080373/1127


"They gave that to him again?" Rasheed Wallace said, loud enough so that Ben Wallace could hear as he exited the locker room. "Ah, dog, that's felonious. It's felonious. Fe-lone-e-us. He was not even in my top three. Honestly, they only gave it to him because we the Pistons."
<laughs>

[smilie=rofl2.gif][smilie=rofl2.gif]

The man is a god, plain and simple.

Sheed is a walking soundbyte.

Ben Wallace press conference at 1PM today. I'll try to listen in.

If Ben does want 5, it would help him if he resigns with the Pistons. I don't think he had as much of a chance if he would do something crazy and sign elsewhere.

JoeD was at the presser.

Asked about signing Ben. "Number one priority. Looking for to many years of him being here. He's earned whatever he gets"

Ben said he thinks about FAgncy but keeps his sights on the Championship.

Little sidenote....Ben was sitting next to Flip and JoeD and at the end, Ben was calling for Sid Lowe to come up with him to get some pics with him and the trophy.

Pretty class move by Big Ben.

-Dumars announcing Ben for the DPOY.

-"I've never seen anybody who could create such defensive havoc on the floor. The closest thing I ever saw was Rodman, but he didn't do it like Ben."

-Ben takes the mic with the biggest grin on his face you'll ever see....

-Ben thanks Joe for the opportunity to play in Detroit, and not asking him to do things that he struggles to do. Thanking the coaching staff for always pushing him. Thanking his family, the fans, etc. He really appreciates things like the afro wigs.

-Ben thanked Sidney Lowe for "not putting in any plays for me (jokingly)"

-"It's a team award. I'm only as good as the guys out playing in front of me."

-"I know Im not on the floor because I'm a great shooter. I'm on the floor because I can keep people from scoring. TO win this award 4 times in 5 years, I take pride in this. It's what I do."

-When asked about the possibility of Ben being in the HOF with another championship and/or DPOY, Ben just sat there shocked with a huge smile on his face. "I got to be at least as big as Joe before I can think about the hall of fame"

Joe: "Re-signing Ben is the #1 priority. Whatever he's earned is what he's going to get. He's earned it."

Ben: "Wait till we get the little gold trophy with the big ball on top, and then we'll talk about the price tag then"

Ben: "My goal isnt to get the big contract or be re-signed, it's to win a championship. I left a little part of myself in San Antonio. My goal is to get that part back. The rest will take care of itself, as Joe said."

Ben: "Joe made it very easy for me by bringing in people that would help me out on the defensive end."

(Ben exits the podium to a series of gongs. Hilarious.)

Some douche gave his 3rd place vote to Nocioni. This makes Sheed laugh.

thanks for the recap, kstat.

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/oly_full.57540067nb005_benwallace.jpg

I was just thinking that Ben and Joe D are quite similar in their demeanors. Relatively quiet guys that play like animals. Joe D was my favorite Piston back in the day because of the way he silently did his job better than most. I honestly think Dumars suffered a bit in the public eye because of his lack of flashiness - I think if he were more vocal he would've been voted to the Top 50 list.

But that's just how he was, and I respected the hell out of that. Ben's the same way, but he's more of a rare case because he gets the accolades he deserves while being more of a modest, quiet character.

In the TNT telecast they were talking about how Ben was so frustrated with not being able to have any staying power in the NBA that he contemplated going to law school. So, not only is he modest and quiet, he's pretty damn smart too.

I would not be surprised in the least if Ben won a couple Executive of the Year trophies in the far future. I really think he has the intelligence and work ethic to follow along in Joe D's footsteps.

Ben the lawyer? :eek:

Imagine how intimidated the opposing side would be when the GONG went off everytime Ben made a great point.

He was quoted (early this year or sometime last year) as saying he contemplated a career in the judiciary after he retired from basketball. I'm sure Taymelo is all geeked to be his clerk.

Ben the lawyer? :eek:

Imagine how intimidated the opposing side would be when the GONG went off everytime Ben made a great point.
That's assuming Ben wanted to be a trial lawyer, vs. some other flavors. I think that estate planning would be more up Ben's alley.

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2006/basketball/nba/05/07/wallace.defensive.award.ap/p1.bigben.jpg

THAT'S WHAT HE DO!!!!

I'm so fuckin happy for Ben. That's his pride and joy right there.
That's his MVP trophy man. This guy is a legend, pure and simple.
I've been screaming about this since I started way back in 03 at that
other site we frequented. Ben Wallace changes the whole fuckin game.

Watching him play defense on a basketball court is similar to watching
Ronnie Lott on a football field. He is a fucking killer. A cold blooded killer.
Try not to watch Ben on a defensive posession. It's impossible.

Another well deserved trophy. Get your shit Ben. That's all you.

that gooden block was a thing of beauty.

gooden: "yes! an open dunk!"
big ben: "son, please."

There was no doubt that Big Ben deserved this award. What puzzles me is the fact that he can not hit free throws to save his life. Why?

There was no doubt that Big Ben deserved this award. What puzzles me is the fact that he can not hit free throws to save his life. Why?
First off, welcome aboard!
http://i3.tinypic.com/xo1lwg.jpg
Secondly, he definitely deserves the award.
Lastly, his FT shooting MIGHT be explained here...
CLICK (http://wtfdetroit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5530)

They should give this award to Steve Nash.

He's the most important guy on his team.

Do you ever use your scarcasim in the court room?

They should give this award to Steve Nash.

He's the most important guy on his team.
His offense fuels their defense.

They should give this award to Steve Nash.

He's the most important guy on his team. His offense fuels their defense.

[smilie=funnyguy2.g:

Ben Wallace didn't win defensive player of the year. Andrew Bogut won it. He is incredible, like a cool robot.