Charlotte Bobcats Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Bernie Bickerstaff announced today that the team has re-signed forward Gerald Wallace, who became an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Re-signing Gerald was our top priority this offseason,” Bickerstaff said. “He has been with us since our inception, and his commitment to effort and willingness to lay it on the line night in and night out embodies what this team and organization are all about.”

Wallace averaged 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in 2006-07. His 18.1 points average also marked a franchise-best for a season, while his 2.0 steals were tied for fourth in the NBA. During the 2005-06 season, Wallace averaged a NBA-best 2.5 steals and 2.1 blocks and joined David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon as one of only three players in NBA history to average over 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals in the same season.

“Gerald is a true difference-maker with his ability to play both ends of the floor with the same energy and desire,” said Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins. “When you look around the league, there are very few guys who have that type of talent.”

The 6-7, 215-pound forward also earned NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors on two separate occasions during the 2006-07 season. His first honor came for games played March 19-25, where he averaged 20.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals in leading the Bobcats to a 2-2 record. That week was highlighted by an 108-100 overtime win over eventual Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland on March 20. A second player of the week honor followed for games played April 2-8 after he averaged 30.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 3.0 assists in the leading the Bobcats to a 3-1 record. He also shot .610 from the field in those games that featured back-to-back wins over Washington and an 111-103 overtime win at Miami on April 8.

Originally drafted by Sacramento in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft, Wallace was acquired by the Bobcats in the Charlotte Expansion Selection on June 22, 2004 and in three seasons has averaged 14.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.4 blocks in 197 games.

In addition, over his Bobcats career, Wallace has posted eight of the team’s Top-10 scoring outputs, including a franchise and career-high 42 points on Jan. 31 against New York at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

“From the start of this process, Charlotte was where I wanted to be and that sentiment never changed,” Wallace said. “I started my NBA career in Sacramento but grew into the player I am today because of the opportunity that was given to me in Charlotte.”

On April 14, the Bobcats posted the all-time best expansion team record in recent NBA expansion history after posting their 33rd win of the season against Milwaukee. The Orlando Magic posted a 31-51 record during their second season (1990-91), and no expansion team won more than 26 games in their third season until the Bobcats surpassed that mark on March 28 against Atlanta for their 27th win.

Bobcats Sports & Entertainment owns and operates the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA) and operates the widely-acclaimed Charlotte Bobcats Arena, which opened in the fall of 2005.