The Los Angeles Lakers received a boost in the form of former Detroit Pistons star, Ben Wallace, giving Patrick Beverley and the other players some valuable insight ahead of the new season.
The former Pistons Center was present at the Lakers training session, and in a clip posted on social media, all eyes and ears were trained on what he had to say. Missing out on a playoff run last year, the side will look to take all the help it can get under new coach Darvin Ham.
While it’s unclear from the video about what Wallace was telling the point guard and the players, safe to say, it will be something the new-look outfit will stand to benefit from. It could also be possible that a defense-first Ham would have asked the Pistons big man, known for his brilliant defense, to share a thing or two to help the side bolster their defensive play.
Ben Wallace Was Regarded As One Of The Best Defensive Players In The League
Regarded as one of the best and most underrated undrafted players to date, Wallace was known for his astute shot blocking and relentless rebounding. These traits saw him win the NBA Defensive Player of the year four times.
In his nine seasons with Detroit, Wallace made two appearances in the finals, winning the championship in 2004.
Ben Wallace played 16 seasons for five teams, including the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers averaging 9.6 rebounds and 5.7 points in 1,088 regular-season games. His overall career stats see him average 5.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks.
On the Lakers front, the team will square off against the Golden State Warriors on opening night in an away game on October 18. Perhaps, any defense knowledge that Wallace passed on may help the side fend off the offensive threat that Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson bring to the table.
