Gerald Wallace is NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week
4/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Preston
UA Media Relations
The
Wallace was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the third time in his career, and the second time in three weeks on Monday, April 9, 2007. He was also named Player of the Week on March 26, 2007. The Charlotte Bobcats’ forward averaged 30.0 points on .610 shooting to go along with 10.8 rebounds, 4.0 steals, and 3.0 assists. Wallace’s amazing week helped lead the Bobcats to a 3-1 week.
The Childersburg native’s career has continued to progress since entering the NBA in 2001. Wallace, who played at Alabama his freshman season in 2000-2001, was a 1st round draft pick (the 24th overall pick) of the 2001 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. In his rookie season with the Kings, Wallace was a participant in the 2002 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, making the final which he eventually lost to Jason Richardson. At the time, Wallace was regarded by most as merely a flashy high flier but has since proven he has the all-around game.
It certainly has shown this season. As of midweek Wallace, who was went to the Bobcats on June 22, 2004 as part of the expansion draft, is averaging 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in 71 games this season. He has ten games this season where he’s scored thirty points or more and has made huge strides as a force on the defensive side of the ball. He ranks fifth in the NBA with his 1.97 average of steals per game.
At Alabama Wallace was a 2001 Freshman All-SEC selection, averaging 9.8 points and 6.0 rebounds in 36 games, coming off the bench in all but two of those games. He scored 20 or more points in four games that season, including a UA career high of 27 points against Grambling. He had two double doubles that season, with 13 points and 11 rebounds against Seton Hall in the NIT tournament (
