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NBA: Ben Wallace is underpaid by NBA standards but doesn't mind.

iamme

iamme

Lifer
http://www.detnews.com/2005/pistons/0502/20/C13-95273.htm

At $6 million, Wallace is easily one of the biggest bargains in the league.

But, guess what? That stuff doesn't bother him.

"When I came here, I got a decent contract with some security and that's all I asked for," he said. "The way I love playing this game and the enjoyment I get from playing, I think I am compensated very well."

Wallace had a chance to opt out of his six-year, $30 million contract in 2003 but didn't. His reasoning: The Pistons gave him a six-year contract at a time when nobody else would, and he wants to honor that contract.

In this day and age of players complaining about their salaries, how refreshing is that?

"I am still happy with my contract," Wallace said. "You just go out and do what you can to help your team get better. When you start to gripe and moan about your contract, you lose focus on the big picture. You take the shine away from your team and put all the attention on yourself. I don't think that's a good thing."
Click to expand...

Sure, the cynic in all of us would say that he's just saying that. However, how many athletes even say that much? Remember Sprewell's "I gotta feed my family"? I've got so much respect for Ben Wallace. He may have tainted his legacy a bit with the brawl earlier this season, but he's a class act in my book. He's never complained about money or playing time. He was undrafted out of college and just worked hard to make an NBA team...now he's one of the most popular stars in the NBA. at $6 million a year, he's grossly underpaid by NBA standards. He could have easily opted out of his contract and became a free agent (possibly getting a much bigger contract), but he wanted to honor the contract because "His reasoning: The Pistons gave him a six-year contract at a time when nobody else would, and he wants to honor that contract."
 
Originally posted by: iamme
http://www.detnews.com/2005/pistons/0502/20/C13-95273.htm

At $6 million, Wallace is easily one of the biggest bargains in the league.

But, guess what? That stuff doesn't bother him.

"When I came here, I got a decent contract with some security and that's all I asked for," he said. "The way I love playing this game and the enjoyment I get from playing, I think I am compensated very well."

Wallace had a chance to opt out of his six-year, $30 million contract in 2003 but didn't. His reasoning: The Pistons gave him a six-year contract at a time when nobody else would, and he wants to honor that contract.

In this day and age of players complaining about their salaries, how refreshing is that?

"I am still happy with my contract," Wallace said. "You just go out and do what you can to help your team get better. When you start to gripe and moan about your contract, you lose focus on the big picture. You take the shine away from your team and put all the attention on yourself. I don't think that's a good thing."
Click to expand...

Sure, the cynic in all of us would say that he's just saying that. However, how many athletes even say that much? Remember Sprewell's "I gotta feed my family"? I've got so much respect for Ben Wallace. He may have tainted his legacy a bit with the brawl earlier this season, but he's a class act in my book. He's never complained about money or playing time. He was undrafted out of college and just worked hard to make an NBA team...now he's one of the most popular stars in the NBA. at $6 million a year, he's grossly underpaid by NBA standards. He could have easily opted out of his contract and became a free agent (possibly getting a much bigger contract), but he wanted to honor the contract because "His reasoning: The Pistons gave him a six-year contract at a time when nobody else would, and he wants to honor that contract."
Click to expand...


I don't think he tainted himself at all with that brawl. He just lost his composure for a few minutes. The brawl was the fault of drunk fans and Ron Artest.
 
Originally posted by: KLin
I don't think he tainted himself at all with that brawl. He just lost his composure for a few minutes. The brawl was the fault of drunk fans and Ron Artest.
Click to expand...

i agree, but i was anticipating someone would mention it here if i brought up Ben Wallace.
 
Originally posted by: KLin
Originally posted by: iamme
http://www.detnews.com/2005/pistons/0502/20/C13-95273.htm

At $6 million, Wallace is easily one of the biggest bargains in the league.

But, guess what? That stuff doesn't bother him.

"When I came here, I got a decent contract with some security and that's all I asked for," he said. "The way I love playing this game and the enjoyment I get from playing, I think I am compensated very well."

Wallace had a chance to opt out of his six-year, $30 million contract in 2003 but didn't. His reasoning: The Pistons gave him a six-year contract at a time when nobody else would, and he wants to honor that contract.

In this day and age of players complaining about their salaries, how refreshing is that?

"I am still happy with my contract," Wallace said. "You just go out and do what you can to help your team get better. When you start to gripe and moan about your contract, you lose focus on the big picture. You take the shine away from your team and put all the attention on yourself. I don't think that's a good thing."
Click to expand...

Sure, the cynic in all of us would say that he's just saying that. However, how many athletes even say that much? Remember Sprewell's "I gotta feed my family"? I've got so much respect for Ben Wallace. He may have tainted his legacy a bit with the brawl earlier this season, but he's a class act in my book. He's never complained about money or playing time. He was undrafted out of college and just worked hard to make an NBA team...now he's one of the most popular stars in the NBA. at $6 million a year, he's grossly underpaid by NBA standards. He could have easily opted out of his contract and became a free agent (possibly getting a much bigger contract), but he wanted to honor the contract because "His reasoning: The Pistons gave him a six-year contract at a time when nobody else would, and he wants to honor that contract."
Click to expand...


I don't think he tainted himself at all with that brawl. He just lost his composure for a few minutes. The brawl was the fault of drunk fans and Ron Artest.
Click to expand...

We're not starting that sh1t up again. The brawl was everyone's fault. You can't blame only one person on that. I still think that it was more the fans' fault than anyone on the court, but you can't just blame one player. Artest just fouled him.

However, I like Big Ben, and I think it is nice to see a player still down to earth like that. I mean come on, when it's all said and done, he'll retire sooner than any of us with much more money than most of us will ever have in our entire lives.
 
It would have better if he just opted out cashed in and then gave any excess money he didn't need to charity.
 
That's the best thing I've heard out of the NBA in years. Good to see that in a league filled with pieces of crap there's at least one good guy.
 
Originally posted by: iamme
http://www.detnews.com/2005/pistons/0502/20/C13-95273.htm

At $6 million, Wallace is easily one of the biggest bargains in the league.

But, guess what? That stuff doesn't bother him.

"When I came here, I got a decent contract with some security and that's all I asked for," he said. "The way I love playing this game and the enjoyment I get from playing, I think I am compensated very well."

Wallace had a chance to opt out of his six-year, $30 million contract in 2003 but didn't. His reasoning: The Pistons gave him a six-year contract at a time when nobody else would, and he wants to honor that contract.

In this day and age of players complaining about their salaries, how refreshing is that?

"I am still happy with my contract," Wallace said. "You just go out and do what you can to help your team get better. When you start to gripe and moan about your contract, you lose focus on the big picture. You take the shine away from your team and put all the attention on yourself. I don't think that's a good thing."
Click to expand...

Sure, the cynic in all of us would say that he's just saying that. However, how many athletes even say that much? Remember Sprewell's "I gotta feed my family"? I've got so much respect for Ben Wallace. He may have tainted his legacy a bit with the brawl earlier this season, but he's a class act in my book. He's never complained about money or playing time. He was undrafted out of college and just worked hard to make an NBA team...now he's one of the most popular stars in the NBA. at $6 million a year, he's grossly underpaid by NBA standards. He could have easily opted out of his contract and became a free agent (possibly getting a much bigger contract), but he wanted to honor the contract because "His reasoning: The Pistons gave him a six-year contract at a time when nobody else would, and he wants to honor that contract."
Click to expand...
Definitely spoken like a gentleman. Now if only he were a better player... 😉

...Kidding. That's the jaded-yet-diehard Celtics fan speaking (I think we had and cut him once upon a time).
 
Originally posted by: Riceball
It would have better if he just opted out cashed in and then gave any excess money he didn't need to charity.
Click to expand...

Why?

Then he wouldn't be 'honouring the contract' OR making more money... I don't see the point.
 
Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
Originally posted by: Riceball
It would have better if he just opted out cashed in and then gave any excess money he didn't need to charity.
Click to expand...

Why?

Then he wouldn't be 'honouring the contract' OR making more money... I don't see the point.
Click to expand...

He was just trying to sound smart...can't blame the guy for trying. and failing.
 
Originally posted by: EvilYoda
Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
Originally posted by: Riceball
It would have better if he just opted out cashed in and then gave any excess money he didn't need to charity.
Click to expand...

Why?

Then he wouldn't be 'honouring the contract' OR making more money... I don't see the point.
Click to expand...

He was just trying to sound smart...can't blame the guy for trying. and failing.
Click to expand...

The pistons are a business do you think they give fvck about wallace when he old and broken down? He should take all the money he can get now and if he doesn't need it then he can give what he doesn't need to a worthy cause. Not like the pistons will turn around and give the money they saved to helping others out. Orlando would have loved to have gotten out of hill contract for the 2-3 years he had ankle problems. Orlando honored the contract because they had to not becasue they wanted to. As for not honoring the contract by opting out, it is honoring the contract since it's a specific clause the player can invoke when requirements are met. Not honoring the contract would be refusing to play until he got a raise or demanded a trade.

I'm not making myself out to be a saint. If I was wallace I would have gone after every penny. But if he is a nice guy which I believe he is then he should take the money and do something with it. Unless a thank you note from the piston's shareholders/partners is enough for him.

 
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