NBA: Bulls' Wallace feels singled out by Skiles

Ben Wallace reportedly feels like he's being picked on by Bulls coach Scott Skiles.

Ben Wallace
Wallace

League and team sources told The Chicago Tribune that Wallace feels singled out by Skiles' rules against pregame music, headbands and Wallace's tape-free ankles.

The situation came to a head on Saturday when Skiles pulled Wallace only 2:02 after tip-off against the New York Knicks because the center broke a team rule prohibiting the wearing of headbands.

A source close to Wallace told The Tribune that the big man is annoyed by the headband rule because he wasn't informed about it until after he signed his four-year, $60 million contract with the Bulls.

Bulls general manager John Paxson is expected to address the situation Monday after the team's practice.

Sources told The Tribune that Wallace became angered early in training camp when Skiles enforced his rule that the team tape their ankles. Wallace never taped his ankles in Detroit and sources told the newspaper that Wallace had trouble running with his ankles taped and sat out most of the practice.

Sources also told The Tribune that Wallace has had run-ins with Skiles over listening to music before games in the locker room.

The latest drama comes on the heels of Wallace going scoreless with no rebounds in only 19 minutes in a loss to the Sixers on Friday night.

Wallace didn't have much to say after Saturday night's game.

"Ask [Skiles]," he said. "Coach makes the decisions. I just play."

reported on espn

I would have to say maybe he should have stayed where he was hmmmmm........ :think:

i don't get what taping your ankles and not wearing head bands going to add or downplay your game.

I was wondering that my self also but some teams have pretty dumb rules. But I thought the Bulls would be a bad fit for him anyway.

i guess it's a superstisus(i can't spell that) thing. bad luck or something to do that with him i guess.

Yea... I also think its a stupid rule and has nothing to do with enhancing performance. I also think its stupid that Ben Wallace knew of the rule going into the games, but still wore a head band.

eh. Wearing wrong headband is not that serious. It's in what the players think that they are more confrotable off.

But I agree with the ankle thing. He needs to wear it to prevent injuries. Also, the 0 points 0 Rebound game in 19 mins. He should have atleast got 5 or more rebounds.

^ or maybe he has decided he made a wrong choice by going to the Bulls and is trying to get out of town.