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Saluting the Unsung Hero – Gerald Wallace

By Michael Hilperts

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Here’s to the man who put his ego aside and became the Celtics’ leader from the bench

Gerald Wallace earned himself the nickname “Crash” because of his ability to drive to the lane and hustle. He became an above average player on both offense and defense due to his ability to out-work his opponents.

However, his game just couldn’t translate into his career’s twilight years. Players like Paul Pierce and Vince Carter have remained effective years after their primes because their style of play was never completely reliant on athleticism. Both of them, while incredible athletes in their heyday, have always been solid shooters – a key attribute in lengthening their offensive potency – unlike Wallace. Wallace’s main offensive weapon – converting on drives – was curtailed once he could no longer beat his opponents off the dribble.

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And by the time Wallace had come to Boston, he was at least four years removed from his prime. He knew he’d be joining a team that had little chance of making the playoffs with one of its main priorities being the development of young players. There simply wasn’t a place for Wallace on this team, or really any other team in the league. Early reports suggested Wallace wasn’t happy, yet after the first couple months, it became clear that Wallace recognized his skills would best be served as the young team’s leader from the sidelines.

While Celtics fans were fine with Wallace coaching from the bench, his albatross of a contract was difficult for fans to look past. When the C’s acquired him in the Pierce/Garnett deal, it meant the Celtics would be stuck with Wallace, considering his 4-year/$40 million contract was virtually unmovable. And being a veteran in this league – well-versed in the business aspect of the NBA – Wallace was aware of the situation.

The younger players saw him as a crucial part of the Celtics’ culture. Marcus Smart, on Gerald Wallace:

"He was just very blunt with it. He wasn’t going to beat around the bush with you. He was going to tell you his thoughts on it, what you did wrong, what you did right. Like I said, he never sugar-coated anything. And that’s what you want. As a player that’s trying to develop into you career, you want somebody who’s going to tell you what you need to hear."

As the Celtics continue to develop into a better team, Wallace may only be remembered as the player shipped out by the C’s in the trade that netted them David Lee – who Ainge acquired this summer from the Golden State Warriors. Lee will likely see more minutes in Boston than Wallace ever saw,  which will therefore lead to him having a more significant legacy in Boston than Wallace ever will.

Unfortunately for Wallace, his impact he made will be totally unquantifiable. He helped positively mold the minds of Boston’s young and impressionable core. While Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were the two most instrumental players in rebuilding Celtics pride in the post-Bird era, Wallace may have been the most instrumental in rebuilding Celtics pride in the post-KG/ Pierce era.

Next: Boston Celtics Should Avoid Markieff Morris

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