Gerald Wallace
From Hoopedia
Gerald Jermaine Wallace (born July 23, 1982 in Sylacauga, Alabama) is a 6'7" (201 cm) American professional basketball player starting at small forward for the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA.
Early Life and Career
His home town is Childersburg, Alabama, where he was a McDonald's High School All American. After graduating from high school in 2000, Wallace entered the University of Alabama. After his freshman year, he was named to the All-SEC freshman team. He then declared himself eligible for the 2001 NBA Draft, in which he was taken as the 25th overall pick by the Sacramento Kings. In Sacramento, he was a seldom-used player known mostly for his acrobatic dunks and athleticism. The Charlotte Bobcats recognized his talent and drafted him in their 2004 expansion draft.
Later Career
Wallace started immediately for the club, and went on to have an impressive season, 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. 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 .3 per game) and his averages were all down 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.
During the 2007-2008 season Wallace is averaging 21ppg, 6rpg, and 3apg.
