Rasheed Abdul Wallace is a retired American basketball player and current coach. Born in Philadelphia, he played college basketball at the University of North Carolina before joining the NBA in 1995. His professional career spanned 16 seasons.
September 17, 1974: Birth of Rasheed Wallace
Rasheed Abdul Wallace was born on September 17, 1974.
1993: High School Basketball Success
In 1993, Rasheed Wallace had a successful high school basketball career, earning recognition as USA Today's High School Player of the Year and a two-time Parade All-American first-teamer.
1995: College Basketball and NBA Draft
In 1995, Rasheed Wallace played college basketball at the University of North Carolina and subsequently declared for the NBA draft.
1995: NBA Debut with the Washington Bullets
Rasheed Wallace was drafted by the Washington Bullets (now the Washington Wizards) as the fourth overall pick in 1995. He was named to the All-Rookie second team after his first season.
1995: NCAA Final Four Appearance
Rasheed Wallace, along with Jerry Stackhouse, helped lead the University of North Carolina Tar Heels to the NCAA Final Four in 1995. Following this success, he entered the 1995 NBA draft.
1997: Trade to the Portland Trail Blazers
Rasheed Wallace was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers along with Mitchell Butler in exchange for Rod Strickland and Harvey Grant after the 1996-1997 season.
1999: First Western Conference Finals Appearance with the Trail Blazers
In 1999, Rasheed Wallace contributed to the Portland Trail Blazers' successful run to the Western Conference Finals, where they ultimately lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
1999: Western Conference Finals Appearance
In 1999, Rasheed Wallace played a key role for the Portland Trail Blazers in their journey to the Western Conference Finals.
2000: Single-Season Record for Technical Fouls
During the 2000-2001 season, Rasheed Wallace set an NBA record for technical fouls, receiving 41 in 80 games.
2000: Second Consecutive Western Conference Finals Appearance
Rasheed Wallace played a crucial role in the Portland Trail Blazers' second consecutive appearance in the Western Conference Finals in 2000, where they faced the Los Angeles Lakers.
2000: First NBA All-Star Selection and Western Conference Finals
Rasheed Wallace was selected for his first NBA All-Star game and helped the Portland Trail Blazers reach the Western Conference Finals in 2000.
February 20, 2001: Career-High Scoring Performance
On February 20, 2001, Rasheed Wallace achieved a career-high scoring performance of 42 points in a game against the Denver Nuggets, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a 104-94 victory.
2001: Second NBA All-Star Selection
Rasheed Wallace was selected for his second NBA All-Star game in 2001.
2002: Playoff Performance and Elimination by the Lakers
Despite recording career-high playoff averages of 25.3 points and 12.3 rebounds per game in the 2002 NBA Playoffs, Rasheed Wallace and the Portland Trail Blazers were eliminated by the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers.
2002: Career-High Scoring Average
Rasheed Wallace achieved a career-best scoring average of 19.4 points per game while playing for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2002.
2003: NBA Suspension and Community Involvement
Rasheed Wallace was suspended for seven games by the NBA for threatening referee Tim Donaghy in 2003. This incident marked the league's longest suspension for an offense not involving violence or substance abuse. Despite controversies, Wallace increased his community involvement, notably through his Rasheed Wallace Foundation.
2003: Trade to Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons
Rasheed Wallace was traded to the Atlanta Hawks during the 2003-2004 season. After playing one game for the Hawks, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons.
February 9, 2004: Trade to the Atlanta Hawks
Shortly before the 2004 NBA All-Star Game, Rasheed Wallace was traded to the Atlanta Hawks alongside Wesley Person in exchange for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Theo Ratliff, and Dan Dickau.
February 23, 2004: First Road Game with the Pistons
On February 23, 2004, in his first road game representing the Detroit Pistons, Rasheed Wallace made a significant impact by recording 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks, leading his team to a 76-66 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
2004: Pistons' Title Defense and Altercation with the Pacers
As the Detroit Pistons embarked on their 2004-2005 campaign to defend their NBA championship, Rasheed Wallace made it a ritual to carry the replica championship belt into the locker room before games as a source of inspiration. However, their title defense faced an early setback when an altercation with the Indiana Pacers resulted in suspensions for several Pistons players.
2004: Bold Prediction in Eastern Conference Finals
During the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals, after the Detroit Pistons fell behind against the Indiana Pacers, Rasheed Wallace confidently declared in an interview, "We will win Game 2." His prediction came true as the Pistons secured a victory in Game 2.
2004: Chauncey Billups Wins Finals MVP
In 2004, Chauncey Billups, the Piston's starting point guard, was named the Finals MVP.
2004: NBA Championship Victory with the Detroit Pistons
In 2004, Rasheed Wallace won the NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons.
2004: NBA Finals Game 4 Performance and Championship Celebration
Rasheed Wallace delivered a standout performance in Game 4 of the 2004 NBA Finals, contributing 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 assists to the Detroit Pistons' 88-80 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. This win gave the Pistons a commanding 3-1 series lead, which they ultimately clinched to secure the championship. To celebrate their unexpected victory, Wallace gifted each of his teammates with a replica WWE World Heavyweight Championship belt at the start of the 2004-2005 season.
2005: Eastern Conference Finals Rematch and Defeat
In the 2005-2006 season, Rasheed Wallace played a key role in guiding the Detroit Pistons to a 64-18 record and the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for a rematch against the Miami Heat, but this time, the Pistons fell to the eventual NBA champions in six games.
2006: Third NBA All-Star Selection
Rasheed Wallace was selected for his third NBA All-Star game in 2006 while playing for the Detroit Pistons.
March 26, 2007: Game-Winning Shot Against the Denver Nuggets
On March 26, 2007, in a thrilling game against the Denver Nuggets, Rasheed Wallace stole an inbound pass with 1.5 seconds remaining and, from just behind halfcourt, launched a remarkable 60-foot shot that banked in, sending the game into overtime. The Detroit Pistons rode the momentum of Wallace's incredible shot and went on to win the game 113-109.
June 2, 2007: Fouled Out of Eastern Conference Finals Game 6
On June 2, 2007, Rasheed Wallace fouled out of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals after committing a foul on LeBron James. He then received two technical fouls and an automatic ejection after arguing with a referee.
2007: Pistons Lineup Change
Prior to the 2007-2008 season, the Pistons made changes to their lineup. Chris Webber was not re-signed and Antonio McDyess, formerly a power forward, became the starting center, leading to Wallace's new position at center.
February 10, 2008: Selected for 2008 NBA All-Star Game
On February 10, 2008, NBA commissioner David Stern announced that Rasheed Wallace would replace Kevin Garnett in the 2008 NBA All-Star game. This marked Wallace's fourth All-Star appearance.
2008: Playoff Tirade
During the 2008 Playoffs, Wallace was involved in a confrontation after Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, where he made negative remarks about the officiating.
2008: Eastern Conference Finals and Team Breakup
In 2008, the Pistons, led by Wallace, faced the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals for the sixth consecutive year. The team lost, marking their third consecutive loss in the Conference Finals. Following the Pistons' loss, Wallace hinted at a potential breakup of the team's core, which was later confirmed by the trade of Chauncey Billups.
2008: Fourth NBA All-Star Selection
Rasheed Wallace was selected for his fourth NBA All-Star game in 2008 while playing for the Detroit Pistons.
July 8, 2009: Signs with Boston Celtics
On July 8, 2009, Rasheed Wallace signed a three-year contract with the Boston Celtics.
June 25, 2010: Announces Retirement
On June 25, 2010, Wallace's agent announced his likely retirement from the NBA.
2010: Retirement from the Boston Celtics
Rasheed Wallace retired from the NBA in 2010 after playing for the Boston Celtics.
2010: Wears Flyers Gear During Playoffs
During the 2010 NBA Playoffs, Wallace, a Philadelphia native and Flyers fan, wore Flyers gear during Celtics press conferences and interviews, causing a stir among Boston fans as the Flyers were playing against the Bruins in the NHL Playoffs.
October 3, 2012: Comes Out of Retirement to Join New York Knicks
On October 3, 2012, Wallace came out of retirement and signed with the New York Knicks.
December 2, 2012: "Ball Don't Lie" Incident
On December 2, 2012, during a game against the Phoenix Suns, Wallace was ejected after receiving two technical fouls. After pushing Luis Scola, Wallace received a technical foul, and after Goran Dragić missed the technical free throw, Wallace responded by saying "Ball don't lie," leading to a second technical foul and ejection.
2012: Return to the NBA with the New York Knicks
After a brief retirement, Rasheed Wallace returned to the NBA in 2012, signing a one-year contract with the New York Knicks.
February 27, 2013: Suffers Broken Left Foot
On February 27, 2013, Wallace announced a broken left foot injury that required surgery and was expected to sideline him for eight weeks.
April 15, 2013: Returns for Final Game
After suffering a broken left foot, Wallace returned for his final game on April 15, 2013, playing three minutes off the bench.
April 17, 2013: Second Retirement from the NBA
Rasheed Wallace announced his second retirement from the NBA on April 17, 2013.
July 2013: Becomes Assistant Coach for Detroit Pistons
In July 2013, Wallace joined the Detroit Pistons as an assistant coach after signing a two-year contract with the team. However, he was not rehired for the following season under new coach Stan Van Gundy.
2016: Raises Awareness for Flint Water Crisis
Starting in the summer of 2016, Wallace became an advocate for the Flint water crisis, delivering water to residents and raising awareness through various platforms like the Players Tribune and the television show Area 21.
March 8, 2019: Becomes Head Coach at Charles E. Jordan High School
On March 8, 2019, Wallace was introduced as the new boys varsity basketball head coach at Charles E. Jordan High School in Durham, North Carolina.
August 18, 2021: Joins Memphis as Assistant Coach
On August 18, 2021, Wallace agreed to become an assistant coach at the University of Memphis, joining Penny Hardaway's staff.
January 13, 2022: Transitions to Remote Coaching Role
On January 13, 2022, it was announced that Wallace would finish the season working remotely rather than in person.