Tag Archives: Bad Boys Pistons

H2H 73: Dennis Rodman vs. Ben Wallace – Who was Better?

Note: Updated for Ben Wallace’s 2021 Hall of Fame selection.

While the most glamorous part of playing basketball is scoring points, every championship team also needs players who can rebound, play defense, and do the dirty work necessary to win.  In the history of the NBA, perhaps no players better epitomize the role of an offensively-challenged, yet ferocious rebounder and defender better than Dennis Rodman and Ben Wallace. Both were relatively undersized, yet more than made up for it with their hustle and determination, transforming from unheralded prospects to All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year anchors for championship teams – as two of the greatest rebounding and defense specialists ever, the natural question is:

Who was better – Dennis Rodman or Ben Wallace?

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H2H 49: John Stockton vs. Isiah Thomas – Who was Better?

Though they may often be the smallest players on the court, great point guards can control the flow and have an outsized impact on the outcome of a basketball game.  Along these lines, during the 1980s and 1990s, the diminutive floor generals John Stockton and Isiah Thomas each stood only a shade above six feet tall and weighed barely 170 to 180 pounds, yet were among the biggest and brightest stars in the Association; while the former was more of a pass-first point guard and the latter was a more dynamic scorer, each led their respective teams to unprecedented success.  As we look back on this rugged era of NBA play and compare and contrast the careers of both players, we ask the question:

Who was better – John Stockton or Isiah Thomas?

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