Round #2, Pick #50, Ben Wallace
With my second pick, I lock up the best defensive center of the decade. And perhaps not just C, maybe the best defender period of the 2000s. Ben Wallace was a cornerstone of the Pistons championship team & other great recent teams. He's a master of defending the post, blocking shots without fouling, and of course rebounding. He averaged over 11.3 boards & 2.2 blocks, leading the league once, and led the league in rebounds twice during a 6 season peak. Wallace managed all this despite being just 6' 9". He has incredible strength, toughness and intelligence in order to dominate in such a fashion.
Certainly not known for his scoring, a career avg of 6.5 ppg, its not really necessary when you lead the NBA in defensive rating for 3 straight years and defensive win shares for 5 straight. I think he makes a great complement to Iverson, as AI can gamble for steals all day knowing that Big Ben is clogging the lane.
Here are some of his many accomplished stats and awards:
Career averages of -
10.5 Rebounds
2.2 Blocks
1.3 Steals
94.2 defensive rating (3rd in NBA history)
19.3 rebound % (5th in NBA history)
91.5 win shares above avg
185.7 defensive win shares
4 time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (02,03,05,06)
4 time All-Star, lol not in 02, despite Def POTY
5 time All-Defensive 1st team
1 time All-Defensive 2nd team
3 time All NBA 2nd team
2 time All NBA 3rd team
Team fanmail so far: Allen Iverson, PG. Ben Wallace, C.