Gerald came to Alabama as the #1 player in the country and left after only one season playing at the college level. He did not score a lot of points during that season. You could see he had the potential to be something special. It has taken him a while to reach the All Star level in the NBA, but he is there now.
He has developed into quite a worker and when I see the ticker go across the screen at night while watching ESPN and I see the Bobcats score and he usually has double figures in points and rebounds.
Here is an interview with ESPN.com that was posted that gives an insight to how he has worked hard to make himself a better player. It also gives insight into how he has worked hard in the off-season and listened to his coaches instructions.
Wallace
Five questions with Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace:
Q: How do you jump from where you were as a rebounder to where you are now? What's your secret?
A: I just try, each year I come back, to be better at something. When I came in this year, the coaches were harassing me about rebounding. They want the 3s and 4s to go to the board every time offensively, and on defense, they want all five guys to go to the board.
I had [games of] 18 and 20 [rebounds] in the beginning of the season, and it felt great. It was something that I felt good about, something I felt like I could do on a regular basis. All it takes is a little effort. That's all rebound is. A little effort.
Q: Your size [6-foot-7, 220 pounds] isn't a disadvantage?
A: Size don't stop nobody. Spud Webb and Muggsy Bogues played in this league forever. Size is something for a person to [complain about] when they don't feel like tryin'. It's an excuse.
Q: Have you been sneaking a peek at the league leaders to see where you are in the rebounding race?
A: Yeah. I think so. [Laughs.]
Q: I know you guys have struggled on the road, but is this the Bobcats' best chance to finally make the playoffs now that you've brought [Stephen Jackson] in?
A: yeah. This is the best opportunity we've had. We've got a great opportunity to do some good things. … You name it, [Jackson has] done it. Offensively, defensively, [being] vocal. You name it, he's done it. He's turned this team around.
Q: Are you getting impatient about getting to the playoffs with this team?
A: No … because you've got to understand where we came from. This is the only sixth year of the franchise. We've had three different coaches, something like 130 players in a Bobcats uniform. I think this is the first time we've had a consistent coach on a high level and consistent players on a high level.
(Footnote No. 1: Wallace has increased his rebounding average from 7.8 boards per game last season to 12.1 boards per game this season entering Saturday's trip to Miami. That puts him on pace to record the second-largest rebounding increase on a season-to-season basis for players who averaged at least 35 minutes in both seasons since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77. Only Truck Robinson, who went from 10.8 rebounds per game with Washington and Atlanta in 1976-77 to 15.7 rpg with New Orleans in 1977-78 can top Wallace's rise.)
