Pistons' Ben Wallace closes in on 2,000 blocks

AUBURN HILLS -- Ben Wallace is nicknamed “Big Ben” and “Body” for a reason. He is 6 feet, 9 inches and 240 pounds of pure athlete with muscles that look as if they are going to burst through his skin.

But when it comes to the list of the greatest shot blockers in NBA history, Big Ben really is a little guy.

Or at least a short one.

Wallace heads into a game against the Orlando Magic on Sunday just four blocked shots shy of 2,000 for his career -- a plateau that just 16 players have reached.

Twelve of those 16 are 7-footers. None of the 16 are under 6-10, which will make Wallace the shortest player on the list.

“That doesn’t surprise me, because he’s somebody who has taken so much pride in what he’s been about defensively,” Pistons coach John Kuester said. “And it’s not only his blocks. What makes him so special is what he does on the ball and what he does with the emphasis on the team itself.

BLOCKED SHOTS

ALL TIME 1. Hakeem Olajuwon (7-feet) -- 3,830 2. Dikembe Mutombo (7-2) -- 3,289 3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7-2) -- 3,189 4. Mark Eaton (7-4) -- 3,064 5. David Robinson (7-1) -- 2,954 ACTIVE (Through Friday) 1. Shaquille O’Neal, Cavaliers (7-1) -- 2,673 2. Tim Duncan, Spurs (6-11) -- 2,195 3. Marcus Camby, Clippers (6-11) -- 2,083 4. Ben Wallace, Pistons (6-9) -- 1,996 5. Theo Ratliff, Spurs (6-10) -- 1,918

“He’s very good.”

Wallace is 17th on the all-time blocked shots list, and you have to go all the way to Philadelphia 76ers forward Elton Brand, who is 36th with 1,387 blocks, to find someone shorter than Wallace. Brand is 6-8.

Top shot blockers combine height, athleticism, timing and aggressiveness, and Wallace, fourth in blocks among active players, has all those traits.

“The art itself is his energy and understanding his timing in getting players at the right moment to get key blocks, and he’s done that throughout his career,” Kuester said. “What an accomplishment to have 2,000 blocks.”

Wallace, who is averaging 1.1 blocks per game this season, has seen his average fall each year since reaching a peak at 3.5 in 2000-01, his second season in Detroit. Wallace still provides energy and leadership, especially on the defensive end, and is one of the rare bright spots for a team struggling through a pretty dismal season.

Wallace still plays with energy and passion because he doesn’t know any other way.

“As long as I’m out there, I’ve got to play the way I know how to play,” Wallace said. “The only way I know how to play is all out. Once I can’t do that, I’ll go home and sit on the couch.”

He doesn’t appear ready to do that just yet, although some thought he was following an injury-plagued 2008-09 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Someone reminded Kuester that before the season, he had discussed the idea that Wallace, 35, would play a limited number of minutes and might even have to sit out games when the Pistons played on back-to-back nights.

“That flew right out the window,” Kuester said. “Right out the window. He’s been too valuable.”

Kuester said he still talks with Wallace regularly about playing time and asks whether he needs any extra rest.

“He’s pretty honest,” Kuester said. “He’ll say, ‘Kue, you probably want to think about getting me out earlier, we have a back-to-back here.’ I say, ‘Absolutely, absolutely.’

“You talk about players you trust -- he’s somebody who’s been a huge part in my first year understanding what we need to get done.”

Wallace has been asked several times this season if being back with the Pistons has re-energized him in some way. He seems to bristle at the question, possibly because it implies that his struggles were caused by a lack of passion for the game instead of injuries that dogged him the past few seasons.

“I’m 110 percent compared to where I was the last three years, so I’ve got no gripes, no whining, no moans, no complaints,” he said recently when someone asked him he was battling any bumps or bruises. “I’m just playing basketball and enjoying my time on the floor.”

His coach has been as surprised as anyone how good health has helped Wallace get things turned around. Kuester, who worked with Wallace as an assistant with the Cavaliers, recalled a discussion he had with Wallace last summer.

“He said, ‘Kue, I feel good.’ And I said, ‘Good, I’m happy for you,’ not thinking he would play the amount of minutes -- I never assumed he’d play the way he’s been playing,” Kuester said. “If our record was better, he’d be in consideration for All-Star status. I think he’s been phenomenal.”

Wallace’s teammates agree.

“Nothing surprises me about that guy,” guard Chucky Atkins said recently. “He’s a rare breed.”

So rare that he is about to join a list of just 16 other players in NBA history -- including giants in name (Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, David Robinson) and size (Mark Eaton, Shawn Bradley, Manute Bol) -- who have 2,000 career blocks. Not bad for a little guy.

Or at least a short one.