Raised in Enumclaw, Washington, Scalabrine attended the University of Southern California after transferring from Highline College.

As a member of the USC Trojans men's basketball team, Scalabrine was the top scorer and a leader in field goals and rebounds.

The Nets made consecutive NBA Finals appearances his first two years, and Scalabrine played four seasons with the team.

In 2013, Mark Jackson announced that Scalabrine would join his Golden State Warriors coaching staff.

Scalabrine recorded seventeen double-doubles, and led the team in rebounds, blocks, and free throw percentage (75%).

Scalabrine was a Northern Division All-Star in 1997 as well as part of the All-Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Championship Tournament Team.

[4][5] Because he injured his fifth metatarsal bone during workouts in late September 2001, Scalabrine missed the first ten days of New Jersey Nets training camp.

[10] During the second quarter of the final 2001–02 preseason game, which took place against the Detroit Pistons on October 26, 2001, Scalabrine again injured his right foot.

[4] The Nets were the Eastern Conference Champions of the 2001–02 season and lost the 2002 NBA Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers in four games.

In a triple-overtime victory over the Detroit Pistons in Game 5 of the 2004 Eastern Conference Semifinal series, Scalabrine scored a career high 17 points.

On April 16, 2008, in the final game of the regular season, Scalabrine tied a season-high with six rebounds and played 29 minutes.

In September 2012, he was offered a position as an assistant coach for the Bulls under Tom Thibiodeau, but instead opted to become a broadcaster for the Boston Celtics.

[24] During the season, Jackson reassigned Scalabrine to the Warriors' D-League affiliate after a difference of opinion on the team's direction.

[25][26] In September 2012, Scalabrine announced that he had turned down an opportunity to become an assistant coach with the Bulls so that he could join Comcast SportsNet New England as a commentator.

[32][33][34] In 2013, in response to criticism over his bench role throughout his career and to claims that many would beat him one-on-one, Scalabrine stated, "I'm closer to LeBron than you are to me", suggesting that there is a huge difference between any (active or retired) NBA player and those outside the league.

In an event organized by The Toucher and Rich Show, selected volunteers had the chance to play one-on-one against Scalabrine (until 11 points with a margin of two).