Washington Bullets (1995–1996) As a rookie with the Bullets, Wallace played in 65 games, of which he started 51 for the injured
Chris Webber. Wallace was selected to the rookie team for the All-Star Weekend. Late that year, he fractured his left thumb during a game against Orlando and did not return until the following season. En route to being named to the
NBA All-Rookie Second Team, Wallace averaged 10.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. In total, Wallace scored 655 points and played 1,788 minutes during his rookie season in Washington.
Portland Trail Blazers (1996–2004) After the season, Wallace was traded to the
Portland Trail Blazers, along with
Mitchell Butler in exchange for
Rod Strickland and
Harvey Grant. This move proved beneficial for both sides: Strickland averaged 17.2 ppg and 8.9 apg after the trade, helping the Bullets make the playoffs in 1997 for the first time in eight seasons, and upped those stats to 17.8 ppg and a league-leading 10.5 apg the following year. Meanwhile, Wallace ranked third in the league in field goal percentage. However, just as his season was gaining momentum, Wallace again broke his left thumb and was forced to miss the next month of the season, but he returned in time for a strong performance in the first round playoff series against the
Los Angeles Lakers, which the Trail Blazers lost. Next season, Wallace signed a long-term contract to stay with the Trail Blazers. He began extending himself into the community more than ever, most notably with his Rasheed Wallace Foundation, but his career suffered from numerous missteps on and off the court. He set an NBA record with 38
technical fouls for the season. However, he would be fifth in the league in
field goal percentage. The following year, he broke his own record with 40 technicals. Wallace was far from the only perceived trouble maker on Portland at the time, his teammates,
Bonzi Wells,
Damon Stoudamire, and
Zach Randolph for instance, were also frequently criticized by media and fans for off-court outbursts and legal incidents, leading to the team often being referred to as
The Jail Blazers. Wallace was named an
NBA All-Star in 2000 and 2001. On February 20, 2001, he scored a career best 42 points in a 104–94 victory over the
Denver Nuggets. In the postseason, Wallace led the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals back to back in 1999 and 2000, losing to the
San Antonio Spurs and the
Los Angeles Lakers, respectively. Both teams would go on to win the
NBA Finals. The 2000 series against the Lakers was alleged by some to have one-sided officiating in favor of the Lakers, with the Trail Blazers squandering a 15-point lead going into the fourth quarter of Game 7. Two years later, during the
2002 NBA Playoffs, despite Wallace posting career high postseason averages of 25.3 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, Portland was again eliminated by the eventual champion Lakers.
Atlanta Hawks (2004) On February 9, 2004, just before the
2004 NBA All-Star Game, Wallace was traded to the
Atlanta Hawks along with
Wesley Person for
Shareef Abdur-Rahim,
Theo Ratliff and
Dan Dickau. Wallace played only one game for the Hawks, on February 18, scoring 20 points through three quarters. He also had six rebounds, five blocks, two assists and a steal in a close loss on the road against the
New Jersey Nets, though he did not score in the fourth quarter.
Detroit Pistons (2004–2009) Championship and consecutive Finals appearances (2004–2005) Wallace was again traded, in a deal that saw him go from the Hawks along with guard
Mike James from the Celtics to the
Detroit Pistons. In turn, Detroit sent guards
Chucky Atkins,
Lindsey Hunter and a first-round draft pick to Boston and guard
Bob Sura, center
Željko Rebrača and a first-round draft pick to Atlanta. Boston also sent forward
Chris Mills to Atlanta to complete the deal. On February 23, 2004, in his first road game with the Pistons, Wallace recorded 10 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks in a 76–66 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. After falling behind against the
Indiana Pacers in the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals, he stated boldly in an interview that, "We will win Game 2," a promise he helped fulfill. In Game 4 of the
2004 NBA Finals, Wallace recorded 26 points, 13 rebounds and 2 assists in an 88–80 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The Detroit Pistons were up 3–1 in that occasion. Wallace helped the Pistons win an unexpected NBA title, beating the heavily favored Lakers four games to one. After the championship season, he paid for replica
WWE World Heavyweight Championship belts to be made for each of his teammates and presented them as gifts when the 2004–05 regular season started. In the off-season following the Pistons' championship win, Wallace signed a five-year, $57 million contract to remain with Detroit. He also changed the number of his jersey from #30 to #36. Throughout the
2004–05 season, Wallace often carried the belt into his locker before games to inspire the Pistons' title defense. However, early in the season, the Pistons had a
fight with the
Indiana Pacers, which resulted into several suspensions for players putting the team into a temporary setback. Several months later, he had several notable moments in the playoffs. After the second-round elimination of the Pacers, Wallace played his best series of the postseason in the Eastern Conference finals against the top-seeded
Miami Heat. After falling behind again, he again "guaranteed success". He shot a 50% field goal percentage and averaged 14.5 points per game in the series' seven games, and saved his hottest-shooting night to help the Pistons beat the Heat 88–82 in Game 7 on the road in Miami. Against the
San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, Wallace was criticized for leaving
Robert Horry open for the game-winning three-pointer in Game 5. Wallace's defense and clutch shooting helped the Pistons to split the series 3–3, but in the final game, the Pistons lost 81–74.
All-Star appearances and final years in Detroit (2005–2009) In the 2005–06 season, he helped lead them to a 64–18 record, and the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the playoffs. The Pistons beat the
Milwaukee Bucks, 4–1 in the first round and then beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 4–3 in the second round of the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pistons played the Heat in a rematch of the previous year's Conference Finals. The Pistons lost in six games to the Miami Heat, who went on to capture their first NBA title. On March 26, 2007, in a game against the
Denver Nuggets, Wallace threw up a 60-foot shot off a stolen inbound pass with 1.5 seconds remaining and banked it in from just behind halfcourt to force overtime letting out a huge roar from what was left of the Palace crowd. The Pistons went on to win the game, 113–109. On June 2, 2007, Wallace fouled out of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals after committing a foul on
LeBron James and then received two technical fouls, resulting in an automatic ejection, for arguing with a referee. Prior to the
2007–08 NBA season, the Pistons would not re-sign
Chris Webber, and putting
Antonio McDyess as a starting power forward, put Wallace at center. On February 10, 2008, it was announced that Wallace would be replacing Boston Celtics' injured forward Kevin Garnett in the
2008 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans. The decision was made by NBA commissioner
David Stern. This was Wallace's fourth All-Star appearance. In the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals, the Pistons played Garnett and the Celtics. This marked the sixth consecutive time that the Pistons had made it to this point, and five times they had gotten there with Wallace in the lineup. Still, Detroit lost a third consecutive year in the Conference Finals, losing to Boston 4–2 as Wallace played poorly. After the game, Wallace reportedly told reporters, without taking any questions, "It's over, man", perhaps indicating that Pistons' General Manager
Joe Dumars would break up the core of the team following the defeat. He changed his number from 36 back to his original 30, perhaps to change his and the team's fortunes, but sure enough, Dumars did indeed break up the core: at the beginning of the 2008–09 season, Dumars traded longtime starting point guard and 2004 Finals MVP
Chauncey Billups to Denver. It was to be Wallace's last year with the team; after the season came to a close, Wallace and the Pistons decided to part ways.
Boston Celtics (2009–2010) Wallace signed a three-year contract with the
Boston Celtics on July 8, 2009. During the regular season, Wallace struggled, averaging career lows in points per game and rebounds per game in addition to shooting only 28% on three-pointers and 40% from the field. The Celtics reached the
NBA Finals in 2010 but lost the series to the
Los Angeles Lakers four games to three. In Game 6 of the Finals, the Celtics' starting center
Kendrick Perkins injured his right knee, so Wallace started Game 7. Wallace scored 11 points and was 5 of 11 from the field in the loss. Wallace's agent Bill Strickland announced on June 25, 2010, that Wallace would likely retire from the NBA, which was made official on August 10, following the buyout of his contract by the Celtics.
New York Knicks (2012–2013) On October 3, 2012, Wallace came out of retirement, and signed with the
New York Knicks. On February 27, 2013, Wallace announced that he had a broken left foot and was expected to miss eight weeks. He was scheduled for surgery. He returned for a final game on April 15, 2013, playing three minutes off the bench. On April 17, 2013, after a short return, Wallace announced his second retirement. ==Coaching career==