Undrafted in the 1996 NBA draft, he signed with the Washington Bullets, making his NBA debut on November 1, 1996. Over three seasons with the Bullets, his minutes gradually increased before he was traded to the Orlando Magic in 1999. In his single season with the Magic, Wallace solidified his role as a starter, averaging 4.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. Wallace’s career took a significant turn in 2000 when he was traded to the Detroit Pistons.
Wallace returned to Detroit in 2009 for his final three seasons before retiring. His profound impact on the Pistons franchise was further recognized when his jersey No. 3 was officially retired by the team in 2016. In 2021, Ben Wallace achieved the ultimate recognition for his remarkable career, being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, notably becoming the first undrafted player in modern NBA history to receive this honor.