"As mentors go, Raptors rookie Ed Davis could do a lot worse than Ben Wallace.

Wallace, of course, is a spectacular success story, having gone undrafted into the NBA via community college and then Virginia Union, the lone NCAA school interested in him.

Through hard work and intense desire, Wallace has joined Dikembe Mutumbo as the NBA's only four-time winners of the defensive player of the year award and recently became only the third undrafted player to play in 1,000 games.

That Wallace's 1,000th match came against the Raptors on Wednesday night was an interesting coincidence.

Wallace has a long-standing connection to young Davis. Terry Davis, Ed's father, like Charles Oakley, is one of the eight Virginia Union players to make the NBA. The elder Davis, like Oakley, served as a mentor to Wallace, before eventually becoming his teammate when, winding down his 10-year career, he joined the then second-year Wallace on the 1996-97 Washington Bullets.

Terry Davis helped Wallace, also an undersized (at least in terms of height) big man find his way and later, as it often goes in the NBA, Wallace returned the favour with Davis' son.

Wallace marvelled at the turn of events.

"It's crazy because when I was in college (Ed's) daddy used to come back," Wallace said. "We used to work out together, lift weights, run.

"Now I find myself giving Ed the same advice (Terry) gave me."

Ed said he had played in Wallace-run basketball camps in Virginia since he was in middle school and had even scrimmaged with him since he was big enough to do so.

Even then, Davis had the confidence that would help propel him to the league."