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Tony Allen (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Anthony Allen (born January 11, 1982) is an American
professional basketball
player with the Memphis Grizzlies
of the NBA
.
. A , 213 lb (96.6 kg; 15.2 st) shooting guard
, Allen spent his freshman year (2000–01) playing for Butler County College
in El Dorado, Kansas
, where he averaged 16.5 points, 6.1 rebound
s and 2.8 steal
s, going on to being named Jayhawk West Conference Freshman of the Year. During his sophomore year (2001–02) at Wabash Valley College
in Mount Carmel, Illinois
, he led his team to 32–6 overall record and fourth place at the NJCAA
championships.
For his final two college seasons (2002–2004), Allen transferred to Oklahoma State University (OSU), where he was named the national junior-college transfer of the year by collegeinsider.com, and cited by college basketball
commentator Dick Vitale
as one of the top three junior college transfers during his junior season. He was named the Big 12
Player of the Year his senior year, after averaging 16 points per game and leading the Cowboys
to the Final Four
. Allen became the first player in OSU history to score 1,000 career points in just two seasons. He graduated from Oklahoma State with a degree in education.
Allen was selected by the Boston Celtics
with the 25th overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft
. In his rookie
season in 2004–05 he averaged 6.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, and ranked 3rd in the league in steals per 48 minutes, with 2.89. He was selected to play for the rookies in the Got Milk?
Rookie Challenge during All-Star Weekend, along with fellow Celtics rookie Al Jefferson
.
stemming from an altercation that escalated into the non-fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man outside a restaurant in Chicago
in August 2005. Although he was not a suspect in the shooting, Allen was accused of breaking another man's left eye socket.
He spent two nights in jail, but was not implicated in the shooting. Due to this incident and a rather severe right knee injury that Allen had suffered prior to the shooting, Allen missed much of the first half of the 2005–06 season
. On April 24, 2007, Allen was found not guilty by a Chicago court.
, Allen suffered a debilitating knee injury as he landed awkwardly following an uncontested slam dunk attempt after the whistle was blown, tearing
both the anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL) and medial collateral ligament
(MCL). Allen underwent a successful ACL reconstructive surgery
on January 13 at New England Baptist Hospital
and was sidelined for the rest of the season. He was averaging 11.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.48 steals in 33 games. He made a fast return to the court for his type of knee injury only nine months later during the following preseason, even though not at full strength. However, the explosiveness he displayed prior to the injury has since been noted as "sorely lacking".
. He later reflected on his final seasons in Boston by saying that he felt was 'overshadowed', in particular, by veterans Paul Pierce
and Ray Allen
. Allen made his first return to Boston on March 23, 2011. Allen was named to the 2011 NBA All-Defensive Team
for his efforts that season.
. His Celtics teammates called him "Gucci."
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Boston
| 77 || 34 || 16.4 || .475 || .387 || .737 || 2.9 || .8 || 1.0 || .3 || 6.4
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Boston
| 51 || 9 || 19.2 || .471 || .324 || .746 || 2.2 || 1.3 || 1.0 || .3 || 7.2
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Boston
| 33 || 18 || 24.4 || .514 || .242 || .784 || 3.8 || 1.7 || 1.5 || .4 || 11.5
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Boston
| 75 || 11 || 18.3 || .434 || .316 || .762 || 2.2 || 1.5 || .8 || .3 || 6.6
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Boston
| 46 || 2 || 19.3 || .482 || .222 || .725 || 2.3 || 1.4 || 1.2 || .5 || 7.8
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Boston
| 54 || 8 || 16.5 || .510 || .000 || .605 || 2.7 || 1.3 || 1.1 || .4 || 6.1
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Memphis
| 72 || 31 || 20.8 || .510 || .174 || .753 || 2.7 || 1.4 || 1.8 || .6 || 8.9
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 408 || 113 || 18.8 || .484 || .281 || .735 || 2.6 || 1.3 || 1.2 || .4 || 7.5
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Boston
| 7 || 3 || 12.9 || .444 || .000 || .429 || 1.7 || .3 || .4 || .3 || 2.7
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Boston
| 15 || 0 || 4.3 || .563 || .000 || .400 || .2 || .2 || .1 || .0 || 1.3
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Boston
| 10 || 0 || 6.0 || .500 || .000 || 1.000 || 0.9 || .3 || .2 || .0 || .9
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Boston
| 24 || 0 || 16.3 || .480 || .000 || .778 || 1.7 || .7 || 1.0 || .6 || 5.1
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Memphis
| 13 || 13 || 26.9 || .426 || .143 || .659 || 2.9 || 1.5 || 1.9 || .4 || 8.8
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 69 || 16 || 13.8 || .461 || .077 || .678 || 1.5 || .7 || .8 || 0.3 || 4.1
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player with the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
.
Early career
Allen played at Chicago's Crane High School, where he was a basketball standout. At Crane, Allen played alongside future Celtics prospect Will BynumWill Bynum
William "Will" Bynum is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons in the NBA. He plays the point guard position.-Early life and college career:...
. A , 213 lb (96.6 kg; 15.2 st) shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
, Allen spent his freshman year (2000–01) playing for Butler County College
Butler Community College
Butler Community College is an accredited 2-year community college located in El Dorado, Kansas, United States. Founded in 1927, it was originally named Butler County Community College, as El Dorado is the Butler County seat, but it was renamed in recent years.- Statistics :Butler is a fairly...
in El Dorado, Kansas
El Dorado, Kansas
El Dorado is a city situated along the Walnut River in the central part of Butler County, located in south-central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,021. It is the county seat and most populous city of Butler County...
, where he averaged 16.5 points, 6.1 rebound
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
s and 2.8 steal
Steal (basketball)
In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...
s, going on to being named Jayhawk West Conference Freshman of the Year. During his sophomore year (2001–02) at Wabash Valley College
Wabash Valley College
Wabash Valley College is a community college located in Mount Carmel, Illinois, USA. As of Fall, 2004, it had 1375 students. Conventional students often attend either Southern Illinois University Carbondale or University of Southern Indiana upon completion of their associate degrees...
in Mount Carmel, Illinois
Mount Carmel, Illinois
Mount Carmel is a city in and the county seat of Wabash County, Illinois, United States. At the time of the 2000 census, the population was 7,982, while the next largest town in Wabash County is Allendale, population 528. Located at the confluence of the Wabash, Patoka, and White Rivers, Mount...
, he led his team to 32–6 overall record and fourth place at the NJCAA
National Junior College Athletic Association
The National Junior College Athletic Association , founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.-History:The idea for the NJCAA was...
championships.
For his final two college seasons (2002–2004), Allen transferred to Oklahoma State University (OSU), where he was named the national junior-college transfer of the year by collegeinsider.com, and cited by college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
commentator Dick Vitale
Dick Vitale
Richard J. "Dick" Vitale , also known as "Dickie V", is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well-known as a college basketball broadcaster and for the enthusiastic and colorful remarks he makes during games. He is known for his...
as one of the top three junior college transfers during his junior season. He was named the Big 12
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
Player of the Year his senior year, after averaging 16 points per game and leading the Cowboys
Oklahoma State Cowboys men's basketball
The Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball team represents Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Cowboys currently compete in the Big 12 Conference.Since 1938, the team has played its home games in Gallagher-Iba Arena...
to the Final Four
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
. Allen became the first player in OSU history to score 1,000 career points in just two seasons. He graduated from Oklahoma State with a degree in education.
NBA career
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
with the 25th overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft
2004 NBA Draft
The 2004 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2004 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York and was broadcast live on ESPN at 7:00 pm . In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible...
. In his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season in 2004–05 he averaged 6.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, and ranked 3rd in the league in steals per 48 minutes, with 2.89. He was selected to play for the rookies in the Got Milk?
Got Milk?
Got Milk? is an American advertising campaign encouraging the consumption of cow's milk, which was created by the advertising agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners for the California Milk Processor Board in 1993 and later licensed for use by milk processors and dairy farmers. It has been running...
Rookie Challenge during All-Star Weekend, along with fellow Celtics rookie Al Jefferson
Al Jefferson
Al Ricardo Jefferson is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the NBA.-Early life:...
.
Shooting incident
During the 2005 off-season, Allen was charged with aggravated batteryBattery (crime)
Battery is a criminal offense involving unlawful physical contact, distinct from assault which is the fear of such contact.In the United States, criminal battery, or simply battery, is the use of force against another, resulting in harmful or offensive contact...
stemming from an altercation that escalated into the non-fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man outside a restaurant in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in August 2005. Although he was not a suspect in the shooting, Allen was accused of breaking another man's left eye socket.
He spent two nights in jail, but was not implicated in the shooting. Due to this incident and a rather severe right knee injury that Allen had suffered prior to the shooting, Allen missed much of the first half of the 2005–06 season
2005-06 NBA season
The 2005–06 NBA season was the 60th season of the National Basketball Association. It began on November 1, 2005 and ran through April 19, 2006...
. On April 24, 2007, Allen was found not guilty by a Chicago court.
Knee injury
On January 10, 2007, in the final minutes of a Celtics loss to the Indiana PacersIndiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, Allen suffered a debilitating knee injury as he landed awkwardly following an uncontested slam dunk attempt after the whistle was blown, tearing
Anterior cruciate ligament injury
An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament can be a debilitating musculoskeletal injury to the knee, seen most often in athletes. Non-contact tears and ruptures are the most common causes of ACL injury....
both the anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
(ACL) and medial collateral ligament
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
(MCL). Allen underwent a successful ACL reconstructive surgery
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is a surgical tissue graft replacement of the anterior cruciate ligament, located in the knee, to restore its function after anterior cruciate ligament injury. The torn ligament is removed from the knee before the graft is inserted through a hole created...
on January 13 at New England Baptist Hospital
New England Baptist Hospital
New England Baptist Hospital is a 141-bed adult medical/surgical hospital in Boston, Massachusetts specializing in orthopedic care and complex orthopedic procedures...
and was sidelined for the rest of the season. He was averaging 11.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.48 steals in 33 games. He made a fast return to the court for his type of knee injury only nine months later during the following preseason, even though not at full strength. However, the explosiveness he displayed prior to the injury has since been noted as "sorely lacking".
Grizzlies
In July 2010, Allen signed a three-year contract with the Memphis GrizzliesMemphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
. He later reflected on his final seasons in Boston by saying that he felt was 'overshadowed', in particular, by veterans Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce
Paul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
and Ray Allen
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
. Allen made his first return to Boston on March 23, 2011. Allen was named to the 2011 NBA All-Defensive Team
NBA All-Defensive Team
The NBA All-Defensive Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1968–69 NBA season to the best defensive players during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; the coaches are not allowed to vote for players on their own team...
for his efforts that season.
Personal
In his spare time, Allen enjoys listening to music. In addition, Allen loves watching films. He also frequently assists his teammates in charity work. Allen was born to Ella Allen, and he has two sisters, Ebony and Dominique, and a brother, Ryan, who plays college basketball for University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee Panthers men's basketball
The Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball team is a NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Horizon League for the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. The current head coach is Rob Jeter.-History:...
. His Celtics teammates called him "Gucci."
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Boston
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
| 77 || 34 || 16.4 || .475 || .387 || .737 || 2.9 || .8 || 1.0 || .3 || 6.4
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Boston
| 51 || 9 || 19.2 || .471 || .324 || .746 || 2.2 || 1.3 || 1.0 || .3 || 7.2
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Boston
| 33 || 18 || 24.4 || .514 || .242 || .784 || 3.8 || 1.7 || 1.5 || .4 || 11.5
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Boston
| 75 || 11 || 18.3 || .434 || .316 || .762 || 2.2 || 1.5 || .8 || .3 || 6.6
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | Boston
| 46 || 2 || 19.3 || .482 || .222 || .725 || 2.3 || 1.4 || 1.2 || .5 || 7.8
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | Boston
| 54 || 8 || 16.5 || .510 || .000 || .605 || 2.7 || 1.3 || 1.1 || .4 || 6.1
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
| align="left" | Memphis
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
| 72 || 31 || 20.8 || .510 || .174 || .753 || 2.7 || 1.4 || 1.8 || .6 || 8.9
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 408 || 113 || 18.8 || .484 || .281 || .735 || 2.6 || 1.3 || 1.2 || .4 || 7.5
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2004–05
2005 NBA Playoffs
The 2005 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2004–05 season.The San Antonio Spurs, the number two ranked team in the Western Conference, won the 2005 NBA Playoffs by defeating the defending champions, the Detroit Pistons, 4-3 in the NBA Finals...
| align="left" | Boston
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
| 7 || 3 || 12.9 || .444 || .000 || .429 || 1.7 || .3 || .4 || .3 || 2.7
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
| align="left" | Boston
| 15 || 0 || 4.3 || .563 || .000 || .400 || .2 || .2 || .1 || .0 || 1.3
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2009 NBA Playoffs
The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | Boston
| 10 || 0 || 6.0 || .500 || .000 || 1.000 || 0.9 || .3 || .2 || .0 || .9
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2010 NBA Playoffs
The 2010 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2009–10 season. The playoffs started on April 17, 2010 with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | Boston
| 24 || 0 || 16.3 || .480 || .000 || .778 || 1.7 || .7 || 1.0 || .6 || 5.1
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2011 NBA Playoffs
The 2011 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2010–11 season. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs, all seeded 1 to 8 in a tournament bracket, with all rounds in a best-of-seven format. The 2011 NBA Playoffs began on...
| align="left" | Memphis
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
| 13 || 13 || 26.9 || .426 || .143 || .659 || 2.9 || 1.5 || 1.9 || .4 || 8.8
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 69 || 16 || 13.8 || .461 || .077 || .678 || 1.5 || .7 || .8 || 0.3 || 4.1