Check out my Linktree for access to my podcast platforms & social media
linktr.ee/gdthatsportsdude
Show notes:
Player spotlight: Ray Allen (00:31)
6'5", 205 LB, SG
Born Walter Ray Allen Jr in Merced, CA (7/20/75)
Born on the Castle Air Force Base, parents Flora & Walter Allen Sr
A child of a military family that lived in England, Germany, Oklahoma & South Carolina (his years of high school)
In Daizell, SC (Sumter County) he attend Hillcrest HS
Had an English accent; was picked on because of that
Stood out thanks to his athletic ability & work ethic
Growth spurt led him to concentrate fully on basketball
Led Hillcrest HS in his senior year to state title, dropped 25 pts & 12 reb in that game
Decided to go to UConn over University of Kentucky
Spent 3 years under coach Jim Calhoun
Finished his career as UConn's 3rd all time leading scorer
All-American & Big East Player of the Week in his last season, won the BE Tourney over Allen Iverson's Georgetown Hoyas
He & standout Rebecca Lobo became 1st players to have jerseys retired at UConn
Drafted in 1996 as the 5th overall pick by MIN; traded away along with Andrew Lang to MIL for 4th overall pick Stephon Marbury
In rookie season, started in all but one game; appeared in the Dunk Contest the same season
Didn't make his 1st All Star appearance until his 4th season (1999-2000) while finishing as MIL's leading scorer
Was chosen to compete in his 1st 3 Point Shootout & won, beating the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Allan Houston & Peja Stojakovic
Later that year he, Sam Cassell & Glenn Robinson went to the Eastern Conference Finals but lost to PHI in 7 games
In 2002-03 halfway thru the season he was included in a package deal to SEA for Gary Payton & Desmond Mason
In 2003-04 he played only 55 games due to injuries but bounces back the following season
2 years later he averaged a career high of 26.4 PPG including a career high 54 pts vs UTA but again played only 55 games that season due to ankle surgeries
That offseason he was dealt along with Glen Davis to BOS for a package of players & picks
While with BOS he captured his 1st NBA title in 2007-08 with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce & Rajon Rondo; 4 games to 2 over LAL
In 2008-09 his BOS team lost in the Eastern Conference semis to ORL 4-3
In 2009-10 BOS made it back to the NBA Finals but lost to LAL, 4-3
For the next 2 seasons BOS Big 3 of him, Garnett & Pierce could not overtake MIA's Big 3 of Lebron James, Dwayne Wade & Chris Bosh as they knocked them out of the playoffs in consecutive years
After the 2011-12 season he became a free agent & after feeling somewhat underappreciated & disrespected by the BOS front office he signs with MIA
In 2012-13 he was a key bench player in MIA's run to another NBA title
In Game 6 in those Finals vs SAS he hit what many say is the biggest shot of his career, a 3PG that ties the game to force OT in a game they ended up winning
At the end of the 2013-14 season he became a free agent again & ended up sitting out the season
Upon some consideration of joining either BOS or MIL he ultimately decided to call it a career & officially retired in 2016
He finished his career as #1 in 3PGs made in both the regular season (2011) & the playoffs (2013)
In 2018 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame & this year he was named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team
CAREER
MIL: 7 seasons with 3 All Star appearances
SEA: 5 seasons, 4 AS appearances
BOS: 5 seasons, 3 AS appearances, 1 NBA championship
MIA: 2 seasons, 1 NBA championship
2 time All-NBA, led NBA in 3PGs made 3 times, the only player to drop 7 3PGs in a Finals game twice, most 3PGs in a Finals series (22), holds BOS record for consecutive FTs made (72, beat Larry Bird's 71), won a gold medal for USA Basketball in 2000, won the Joe Dumars Sportsmanship Award in 2003
His acting credits include playing the critically acclaimed character Jesus Shuttlesworth opposite the great Denzel Washington in the Spike Lee directed He Got Game. Also appearing in the Sarah Michelle Gellar movie Harvard Man & in a Kyrie Irving directed commercial Uncle Drew: Chapter 4
