That’s right, beloved Detroit Piston “Big Ben” and “The ‘Fro” turns 45 years young Tuesday.
Ben Wallace went undrafted in 1996 from Virginia Union University. He signed with the Washington Bullets (now the Washington Wizards) and played there for three years until being traded to the Orlando Magic in 1999.
In 2000, Wallace was then acquired by the Pistons along with Chucky Atkins in exchange for Grant Hill via a sign-and-trade, which was seen as a steal for Orlando at the time.
But it would be quite the opposite, as Hill steadily declined due to his injuries while Wallace blossomed into one of the best defensive big men of all time.