Ben Wallace’s interview with Vince Ellis of the Detroit News.
Wallace: “Y’all want to know my thoughts? My true thoughts? Or y’all just want me to give y’all something so y’all will have something to write.”
Q: We want the truth.
Wallace: “Me personally I think it’s a bad decision. I think it’s crazy that we’re already shorthanded and we choose to deactivate a guy. I don’t know what to say. I think that’s a poor decision. Whoever made that decision, I don’t agree with it one bit.”
Q: Do you talk to Rip or just let him be because he’s going through a lot.
Wallace: “I’m always going to talk to him. I don’t care what he’s going through. That’s one of those guys that I consider a friend and once this basketball is over and done with for both of us we’re still going to have that friendship. I talk to him all the time.”
Q: You’ve said many times that nothing surprises you in this league but even this situation – could you have imagined that Rip’s career with the Pistons deteriorating like this?
Wallace: “Rip’s career is not deteriorating with the Pistons. I just think his relationship with the Pistons is deteriorating. Is he still capable of going out there and getting 20 for us? Yeah. But you can’t do that if you’re not on the floor. So whatever happens and they decide not to play him, that’s a relationship between player and coach. I don’t think his career … you can’t change who we were. … He one of those guys that I would love to see on the floor. He’s a guy that can play without the basketball and doesn’t need the basketball in his hands. I would love to see him out there. I just don’t agree with the decision to deactivate him. Enough has been done. We already shorthanded.”
Q: To what degree does it hurt the guys, the chemistry, the relationship inside this room when a player like that is deactivated like that and you guys disagree with decision?
Wallace: “That’s one of those things that’s out of our hands. Me being a veteran, I know there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ve talked to Rip, I’ve talked to the coach. There’s nothing I can do about it. That’s all I can do is talk to those guys. It’s putting us behind the eight ball, first without him being out on the floor and now him being deactivated. That’s more like a slap in the face. Now, you’re making it personal. You don’t ever want to make this game personal. …”
Q: Are you aware of what made it personal between Q and Rip?
Wallace: “I’m pretty sure I know. I’ve been around a lot. I know the situation. I know what went down and what was said and how it was said. But ever after that I never thought it would get to this point. You’re going to deactivate a guy that’s already not playing. An All-Star, a guy that did so much to help this organization get to the top when we were winning. And know we’re not as good as we were. I think it’s a slap in the face. That’s the final punch thrown. What are you going to do now? Of course he’s not going to play if you call and ask him to play. It’s personal. Nah he not going to play. You’re going to have to trade him now. You’re going to have to move him.”
Source: The Detroit News, Vince Ellis
