“I would used to finish playing against Tony Allen and I had scratch marks everywhere and I loved it,” Kobe Bryant once said about playing against the Grizzlies star. In an era dominated by scorers, Tony Allen made his mark doing the exact opposite, shutting them down. The numbers tell the story: six NBA All-Defensive Team selections, career opponents’ field goal percentage held under 42%, and a defensive rating of 101.7.
He wasn’t a flashy player, didn’t fill up box scores, and never made an All-Star team. But when the best offensive players in the world were asked who gave them nightmares, one name kept coming up. Tony Allen. Allen now becomes the third Grizzlies player to get his jersey retired. While the Grizzlies planned to retire his jersey back in 2017, his jersey retirement finally took place on March 15, 2025.
His college basketball journey began with Butler County Community College. As a freshman, he had a great 31 starts across 32 games, averaging 16.5 points. Allen earned Jayhawk West Freshman of the Year honors and a spot on the Second Team All-Jayhawk West Conference. He quickly gained traction for his exceptional performance. Although this wasn’t his ultimate destination, it was evident that he was gearing up to challenge his opponents. First in college basketball and later in the professional league.
Allen embodied the Grit ‘n Grind attitude long before his Memphis days, showcasing the same intensity during his college years. For his sophomore year, he went to Wabash Valley College. He averaged 14.5 points, followed by leading the Warriors to finish in fourth place in the NJCAA Championships. Allen joined the Oklahoma State Cowboys for his junior year, where he averaged 14.4 points.
He excelled in his junior year, but his senior season presented a golden opportunity. He led Oklahoma State to the 2004 NCAA Final Four before they lost to Georgia Tech. The Grindfather earned both the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year during his junior year and the Big 12 Player of the Year. Did you know that Allen also holds the record of being the first Cowboys player to score 1,000 points in just two seasons?
Apr 4, 2010; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) waits for a free-throw along with Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) and guard Tony Allen (42) during the 2nd half at the TD Banknorth Garden. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 117-113. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
He had a stellar performance. During his 14-year career in the NBA, the 6 ‘4 tall player might not have had the NBA All-Star selections in his resume to boast of, but his contributions didn’t go unnoticed in the eyes of the fans and NBA teams.
Tony Allen’s NBA career
After getting drafted by the Boston Celtics as the 25th overall pick, the champ played for the team for six years. This is when he clashed with the Lakers legend Bryant. The two battled against each other 34 times, and the most important one was when the Celtics reached the NBA Finals in 2008.
When Bryant was asked about the toughest defender during his interview with Bodyarmour in 2018, he named Allen. “He was the only one that wasn’t crying for help, he was never crying for help, saying, ‘Hey, help down here, I need help, double, double’.” “Tony Allen would play you straight up, I could score 10 straight on him, and he’s not blinking. He’s still there, he’s still playing defense, he’s still being physical, he’s not backing down. Tony Allen, by far,” Bryant shared.
Jan 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) yells as he handles the ball defended by Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (9) during the third quarter at Staples Center. The Memphis Grizzlies won 109-106. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Playing 336 games for the Celtics, he averaged 7.2 points on 47.7% shooting, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. However, in 2010, the Lakers took their revenge, defeating the Celtics to clinch the win. After years of proving himself as an elite defender in Boston, Allen took on an even bigger challenge in Memphis. He helped shape the team’s identity. While he didn’t have a great start with the team, he continued to follow his true calling for defense and became one of the elite defenders on the team.
He is largely responsible for the team’s success in defense. He played for the Memphis Grizzlies for seven long years. And during his run with the team, he reflected the Grit and Grind attitude that the team embraced and proudly holds to this day. The Grizzlies have also retired the jersey no. 9 that Allen wore on the court. Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera remarked, “Tony Allen’s toughness, competitive spirit and defensive intensity energized his teammates and our fans and helped set a standard of defensive excellence that defined an era of Grizzlies basketball.”
In his first year with the Grizzlies, the retired player played 72 games. This included 31 starts and averaged 8.9 points and 2.7 rebounds on .510 shooting per game. In his final season with the team, he averaged 9.1 points, and a team-leading 1.62 steals per game. He later joined the New Orleans Pelicans but was traded to the Bulls, who ultimately waived him. Playing in 820 regular-season games, he averaged 8.1 points and 3.5 rebounds.
“It felt good to get the game-winning stop, even if I didn’t get the game-winning shot. That was just as valuable. A lot of times people don’t highlight those things, but it was fun for me. …That was my value on the court,” Allen said about his game.
Tony Allen redefined perimeter defense in an era dominated by scorers. Though he never had an All-Star selection, his honors tell the story of a player who changed the game on the other side of the ball. Today, his legacy lives on. Not just in Memphis, where his No. 9 jersey hangs in the rafters. But in every player who takes pride in shutting down their opponent.
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