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LeBron James backed Ben Wallace amid Stan Van Gundy's flop accusations: "I damn sure know you won't tell him to his face"


LeBron James backed Ben Wallace amid Stan Van Gundy's flop accusations: "I damn sure know you won't tell him to his face" originally appeared on Basketball Network.

During his MVP years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James carried his teamm ates — and sometimes that meant shielding them from criticism.

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One such moment came in May 2009.

Amid a tense Eastern Conference Finals matchup, Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy accused Cavs center Ben Wallace of flopping — and James stepped in to shut it down.

Van Gundy's flop call

When you think of Wallace, flopping is probably the last thing that comes to mind. Big Ben was a relentless force — tough, physical, and fearless — known for bruising defense, relentless rebounding, and outworking anyone in the paint.

That grit was key to his journey from being undrafted in 1996 to becoming a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, four-time All-Star, and NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.

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Yet, then-Magic coach Van Gundy wasn't fooled by Wallace's reputation. During the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals, he singled out both Wallace and Cavs point guard Mo Williams for something far less tough: flopping.

"Ben Wallace and Mo Williams fell down more times (trying to draw charges) than a baby learning to walk," he quipped after Game 3.

It was déjà vu. Just months earlier, Coach Van Gu ndy had called out another aging big man for the same antics, after Shaquille O'Neal, then with the Suns, tried to draw a foul against Magic's Dwight Howard.

Related: "I don't think I should defend myself anymore, I'm done with that in my life" - Allen Iverson on why he's had enough trying to defend his public image

Flop accusations, fiery responses

O'Neal, true to his style, fired back at Van Gundy, reportedly labeling him a "master of panic." Wallace wasn't holding back, either.

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"You need to come out there and do something about it or shut the f*** up," declared the future Hall of Famer at shoot-around, per ESPN. "That's how I feel about it."

Meanwhile, Cavs superstar James had already seen through Van Gundy's flop accusations, having heard similar claims earlier aimed at his former teammate, O'Neal. When those same accusations landed on Big Ben, the reigning MVP didn't hesitate to step up in d efense.

"We all know Ben Wallace has never been a flopper," James said firmly before continuing to defend Wallace's seemingly spotless reputation.

"He'll never be a flopper, and if you think he is, I bet you wouldn't say that to his face," Bron emphasized. "I damn sure know you wouldn't."

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Flopping is more than just a bad look — it's a serious charge that calls a player's integrity into question and undermines the spirit of honest competition. LeBron's response smartly struck a similar chord, turning the criticism back on the Magic head coach. After all, in the NBA, few things are more frowned upon than not backing up words with action.

By the time the series tipped off, tensions on the court were already running high. These public verbal exchanges only add ed fuel to the fire, deepening the growing animosity between the two teams. The rivalry came to a head as Orlando ultimately took the series 4-2, advancing to the 2009 NBA Finals.

And while Cleveland fell short, moments like this cemented LeBron's role as both enforcer and emotional anchor for his team.

Related: "I don't understand why peo ple just move him right by Kobe Bryant" - When Barkley said LeBron needed to beat the 2017 Warriors to pass Kobe

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.

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