Ray Allen

At 48 years old, Ray Allen has this physical status:

College career

Allen worked at the University of Connecticut from 1993 to 1996, after being recruited by assistant coach Karl Hobbs. He was named USA Basketball's Male Athlete of the Year in 1995 while at UConn. Allen, a fifth-year college graduate, was a first-team All-American and received the Big East Player of the Year award in 1995–96. Allen finished third on the Huskies' career scoring list with 1,922 points and set a single-season school record by connecting on 115 three-pointers in 1995-1996.

Allen was named honorary captain of the 25-member UConn All-Century Basketball Team in 2001. At the "Huskies of Honor" ceremony at Gampel Pavilion in Connecticut on February 5, 2007, his name and number were honored at the Syracuse Orange's Gampel Pavilion. Allen (along with women's player Rebecca Lobo) will be the first student to have his number retired by the University of Connecticut on December 7, 2018. In March 2019, the retirement ceremony took place.

NBA career

Allen was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the fifth pick of the 1996 NBA draft. Allen and Andrew Lang were traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for the privilege of fourth pick Stephon Marbury right away after his pick. Allen signed a three-year, $6.2 million deal with the Bucks on July 24, 1996. Allen played in NBA debut on November 1, 1996, where he started and played 28 minutes and scored 13 points in a victory over fellow rookie Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers. Allen starred in one of his best efforts of the season on January 12, 1997, posting 22 points, 6 assists, 3 steals, and a new career record high of 9 rebounds. Allen won the Slam Dunk Contest in February 1997, finishing fourth overall. Allen, who was still playing in his breakout season, scored a new career high of 32 points in a loss to the Phoenix Suns on March 25, 1997. Allen was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Allen played and started all 82 games for the Bucks from 1997 to 1998. In a win over the 76ers, he scored 29 points, including 6 three-pointers in the season opener. Allen recorded a new career high of 35 points against the New York Knicks on December 20, 1997. Allen tallied a 40-point double-double with 10 rebounds in April 18, 1998, the last game of the regular season, on the brink of missing the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Allen signed a six-year, $70.9 million contract with the Bucks on February 10, 1999, making him the highest paid player in franchise history at that time. Allen made his first playoff appearance during the 1998–99 season, with the Bucks receiving their seventh seed. Despite Allen's average of 22.3 points per game, they were swept by the Indiana Pacers in the first round. Allen had a career-high 13 assists in a loss to the Seattle SuperSonics on January 20, 2000. Allen scored 36 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in a 102-99 victory over the Utah Jazz on February 3, 2000. Allen was in his first All-Star Game a month later, where he had 14 points in 17 minutes. Allen led the Bucks in scoring during the regular and post-season.

Allen's first triple-double against the Boston Celtics on February 7, 2001, with 20 points, ten rebounds, and 11 assists. During All-Star Weekend, he participated and won his first 3-point shootout. Allen, along with Sam Cassell and Glenn Robinson, helped the Bucks advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Allen scored 41 points in a Game 6 victory over the 76ers, but the Bucks lost in seven games. In 2001, Allen was named All-NBA Third Team honors.

Allen was with the Bucks from 2002 to 2003, along with Ronald Murray, a former UConn teammate Kevin Ollie, and a conditional first-round draft pick in exchange for Gary Payton and Desmond Mason. Allen's tumultuous relationship with coach George Karl was believed to have played a role in the Bucks' willingness to work with Allen.

Allen was named to the All-NBA Second Team in the 2004–05 season, and he and teammate Rashard Lewis guided the Sonics to the 2005 Conference Semifinals.

Allen signed a five-year, $85 million deal with the SuperSonics in July 2005.

Allen was the 97th player in NBA history to reach 15,000 points on March 12, 2006. Allen took second place on the NBA's all-time 3-point field goals list on April 7, 2006, trailing only Reggie Miller. Allen set a new NBA record of 3-point field goals in a season against the Denver Nuggets on April 19, 2006. Stephen Curry was able to break records.

Allen averaged a career-high 26.4 points per game in the 2006-07 regular season, while still adding 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. In a 122–114 overtime victory against the Utah Jazz on January 12, 2007, he scored his second highest score in Sonics history, beating the Utah Jazz for their second straight victory. He underwent ankle surgery on both ankles and missed the remainder of the 2006–07 season.

Allen and Glen Davis, the 35th overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft, was traded to the Celtics in exchange for Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, and Jeff Green, the fifth overall pick. The Celtics signed Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett to play alongside Allen and Paul Pierce shortly after acquiring Allen. Allen changed his jersey to number 20 when he joined the Celtics because Paul Pierce already had number 34 in Boston.

Allen gained 17,000 points in his career on November 4, 2007, his first of two 3-pointers in overtime, when he sank the game-winning 3-pointer with three seconds remaining in overtime.

Allen was named as the replacement for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans after being out with a left hip flexor strain. Although LeBron James was named the All-Star MVP of the game, several analysts, including the TNT commentators, believed the game should have gone to Allen, who scored 14 points in a span of 2 minutes and 30 seconds in the fourth quarter, clining the victory for the East team.

Allen was named the third best of the 20 best players in franchise history at Milwaukee's 40th Anniversary Team Celebration on March 28, 2008, but he was unable to attend the festivities due to the Celtics' match against the New Orleans Hornets. The Boston Celtics finished 66–16 and were the top seed in the 2008 NBA Playoffs. In the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Celtics failed in every single away game, but still held their undefeated playoff record at home. The Celtics had defeated the #8 seeded Atlanta Hawks 4–3 before defeating the #4 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 4–3. After defeating the Detroit Pistons by 4–2 Conference Finals series, the Thunderbirds advanced to the 2008 NBA Finals.

Allen will play all 48 minutes and 9 rebounds in what would be the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history, with the Celtics coming back from a 24-point deficit at one point and a deficit of 20 in the third quarter. Allen would make the game clinching layup with 16.4 seconds remaining to give the Celtics a five-point lead and put the game away.

Allen tied for seven three-pointers in the Celtics' 131–92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on June 17, 2008. Allen won his first NBA championship with his triumph.

Allen was voted the All-Star replacement for Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson on February 5, 2009. Allen's ninth appearance on the All-Star team, as well as his second year on the team.

Allen broke the Celtics franchise record in consecutive free throws set by Larry Bird (71).

Allen's game one against the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2009 playoffs proved to be tense for him. He went 1-11 from the field, and the Celtics lost by two points. Allen nailed the game winning three-pointer at the end of regulation with two seconds remaining to cap off a dramatic 30 point night. Allen scored 51 points in Game 6, despite a Boston loss. In 7 Games, Boston ended up winning the series. In the Conference Semifinals, he reunited with former Seattle SuperSonics comate and co-captain Rashard Lewis, but opponents were not matched. In a Game 2 triumph, he had 4 games and a 2–2 series tie for his highest scoring game. The Celtics lost in seven games after struggling to protect their title.

Allen scored 18 points on December 10, 2009, his highest point total for his career.

Allen won by 103–94 over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of the 2010 NBA Finals, setting a new record for the most three-pointers made in an NBA Finals game on 8–11.1 is a game that has ties the series 1–1. Michael Jordan set a new record of six three-pointers in one half by beating seven in the first half, and had tied Scottie Pippen and Kenny Smith's record for most three-pointers in one game in the NBA Finals by half time. Allen was also the first NBA player to score at least seven three-pointers in two separate games. The Celtics will win two of three games in Boston before losing the last two games and the series in Los Angeles.

Allen re-signed a two-year contract with the Boston Celtics on July 7 for $20 million after becoming a free agent on July 1, 2010.

Allen made his all-time NBA leader in total three-pointers made (2,562) during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 10, 2011, defeating Reggie Miller's record of 2,560. The 35-year-old shooting guard ended the game with 20 points, but the Celtics lost 92-86. Allen was invited to his tenth All-Star game alongside teammates Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett in the 2010-11 NBA season. Allen also participated in the Three-Point Shootout over All-Star Weekend, but lost to Miami Heat James Jones.

Allen was particularly dissatisfied with trade rumors in February, issues with teammate Rajon Rondo, and an ankle injury that required surgical intervention in June 2012 to repair bone spurs. In the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics lost in seven games to the Miami Heat.

Allen's first goal in the summer of 2012 was to remain with the Boston Celtics. According to reports, he was requesting a three-year, $24 million contract, the Celtics were offering a two-year, $12 million contract. Allen's decision to sign a two-year, $6 million contract with the Miami Heat set internal discontent with a bench position and a Rondo-focused strategy. The Heat were limited to a modest exception amount of less than $3 million per season.

Allen averaged 10.9 points per game and made 86% of his free throws during his first season with the Miami Heat. He appeared in an average of 25.8 minutes per game. Allen earned his 322nd three-pointer in the playoffs on April 25, 2013, smashing Reggie Miller's record for most three-pointers made in NBA history. Allen, a rookie with the Heat, has returned to his #34 jersey.

Allen made a game-tying 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, leaving the Heat trailed by three points in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The Heat beat the San Antonio Spurs by 103-100, securing their seventh game in the series after being rallying from a 10-point deficit at the end of the third quarter. Allen took the ball from Manu Ginóbili's basket and drew a foul with 1.9 seconds remaining in the overtime game, with the Heat leading 101–100. Miami defeated Miami 103-100 after Allen made both free throws. Allen spent 41 minutes off the bench in Game 6 and scored 9 points on 3-for-8 field goal shooting; his game-tying three-pointer was the only three-pointer he made in three attempts. Allen also had one defensive rebound and two assists. Allen played 20 minutes off the bench in Game 7, in which the Heat defeated 95-88 to win their second straight championship. Allen had 4 defensive rebounds and four assists despite that he made none of his four field goal attempts and had three turnovers.

Allen picked up his $3.23 million player option to keep with the Heat through the 2013–14 NBA season on June 29, 2013. Allen played in 73 games, beginning 9 of them, averaging 9.6 points and shooting 37 percent from three-point range. Allen scored 19 points on 4–7 three-point shooting in game 4 of the conference semifinals against the Brooklyn Nets, making the playoffs a lot more exciting. Allen hit four 3-point shots in Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers in an Eastern Conference Finals rematch, sending them up 2–1. For the fourth straight year and Allen's second, the Heat beat the Heat in six games to advance to the NBA Finals for the fourth straight year and Allen's second. In the 2014 NBA Finals, the Heats met the Spurs for the second time, but they lost the series in five games.

Allen joined the Milwaukee area as a free agent in 2014, and after a lot of apprehension about a return to action during the 2014-2015 season, he announced his decision not to schedule the season and focusing on 2015–16. However, he did not end up joining a squad. Allen began to consider a comeback in July 2016 and admitted he was "intrigued" by the possibility of competing for another championship. Allen had discussions with the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks about a possible return in the first month, but ultimately decided to withdraw from the sport on November 1, 2016. Allen was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September 2018. Allen appeared in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in February 2019. Allen was honoured as one of the league's best players of all time in October 2021 by being named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team.

Acting career

Allen co-starred alongside Denzel Washington in the Spike Lee film He Got Game as a high school basketball phenomenon, Jesus Shuttlesworth. While Roger Ebert praised his appearance and said Allen "is the rare exception: an actor who can dance," the New York magazine described him as "graceful and fast in the basketball worlds" while giving "a somberly convincing minimalist performance." The name of Jesus Shuttlesworth earned him the nickname as a nickname among teammates and followers. In the 2001 film Harvard Man, Allen appeared as Marcus Blake. Allen co-starred with Kyrie Irving, Baron Davis, and J in 2015. In the fourth episode of "Uncle Drew," a series of Pepsi Max advertisements written and directed by Irving, B. Smoove as Walt.

Source