 Allen with theMilwaukee Bucks in 2021 | |
| No. 8 – Phoenix Suns | |
|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1995-10-08)October 8, 1995 (age 30) Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 198 lb (90 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Providence School (Jacksonville, Florida) |
| College | Duke (2014–2018) |
| NBA draft | 2018: 1st round, 21st overall pick |
| Drafted by | Utah Jazz |
| Playing career | 2018–present |
| Career history | |
| 2018–2019 | Utah Jazz |
| 2018–2019 | →Salt Lake City Stars |
| 2019–2021 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2021–2023 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2023–present | Phoenix Suns |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Grayson James Allen[1] (born October 8, 1995) is an American professionalbasketball player for thePhoenix Suns of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He played four years ofcollege basketball atDuke University, where he helped Duke win anational championship in 2015.[2] He has often been called one of Duke's best players of the 2010s.[3][4] Allen was drafted with the 21st overall pick in the2018 NBA draft by theUtah Jazz, where he played for one season before being traded to theMemphis Grizzlies in July 2019. In August 2021, Allen was traded to theMilwaukee Bucks, where he played for two seasons before being traded to the Suns in September 2023.
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In 2014, Allen was selected as aMcDonald's All-American out ofProvidence School inJacksonville, Florida, where he won a state championship the previous year.[5] He won the McDonald's All-American Slam Dunk Contest, jumping over future Duke teammateJahlil Okafor.[6]
During Allen's freshman season at Duke, he averaged 4.4 points per game and was named to the ACC all-academic team.[7] Allen became a major contributor in the NCAA tournament. On April 7, 2015, he helped Duke to victory in theNCAA championship game, scoring 16 points.[8] After the game, commentators cited Allen as one of the main reasons for Duke's win.[9][10] CoachMike Krzyzewski agreed, saying, "We were kind of dead in the water. We were nine points down and Grayson just put us on his back."[9]
Allen received national attention following an incident during a game againstLouisville Cardinals. On February 8, 2016, Allen was assessed aflagrant-one foul after he tripped Louisville forwardRay Spalding. Commentators said the move appeared to be intentional, as Allen stuck out his leg while on the ground as Spalding was hopping over him.[11][12]
In Duke's second game against Louisville, Allen exchanged elbows while scuffling for the ball and was later ejected for yelling at a referee after being called for his fifth foul.[13] On February 25, in the closing seconds of a 15-point win againstFlorida State, Allen tripped opposing guardXavier Rathan-Mayes.[14] A day later, Allen received a reprimand from theAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for his second tripping incident in less than a month.[15]
During the 2015–16 season, Allen was one of the best offensive players in theACC, averaging 21 points per game[16] and shooting 41% from three-point range. He played an average of 36.6 minutes per game and made 83.7% of his free throws.[17] In the NCAA tournament, Allen scored 29 points in Duke's 71–64 win over Yale, helping the team to reach the Sweet Sixteen.[18] The team lost its next game to top-seeded Oregon, 82–68; Allen had difficulty scoring near the basket during that game,[19] finishing with 15 points.[20]
Entering his junior season, Allen was considered one of the top returning players in college basketball. He was named to theAssociated Press preseason All-America team[21] and was the ACC media's pick as preseason ACC Player of the Year.[22][23]
On November 12, 2016, Allen scored 25 points and 10 rebounds in a 96–61 win over Grand Canyon.[24][25] On November 29, 2016, Allen scored 24 points and 4 assists in a 78–69 win againstMichigan State in theACC-Big Ten Challenge.[26] On December 10, 2016, Allen tallied 34 points in a 94–45 victory over UNLV.[27] On January 28, 2017, Allen scored 19 points in an 85–83 win againstWake Forest.[28] On January 30, 2017, Allen scored 21 points and 5 assists in an 84–74 victory overNotre Dame.[29] On February 4, 2017, Allen scored 21 points in a 72–64 win againstPittsburgh.[30] On February 9, 2017, Allen scored 25 points and 3 assists in an 86–78 win over rivalNorth Carolina.[31]
Prior to the start of the season, Allen stated that he was ready to put the previous season's tripping incidents behind him.[32] However, on December 21, he trippedElon's Steven Santa Ana and was charged with a technical foul.[33][34] The next day, Duke coachMike Krzyzewski suspended Allen from the team indefinitely. After Duke's December 31 game, Krzyzewski stripped Allen of his team captaincy.[35][36] Allen returned to play on January 4, 2017, after serving a one-game suspension.[37]
During the 2016–2017 season, Allen averaged 14.5 points per game and shot 36.5% from three-point range. He averaged 29.6 minutes per game and shot 81.1% from the free-throw line.[38] Duke reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, where the team was upset by South Carolina; Allen scored 20 points in the defeat.[39]
On April 18, 2017, it was announced Allen would return to Duke for his senior season.[40] The team voted to restore him as captain for the 2017–18 season.[41] On November 14, 2017, Allen scored 37 points in an 88–81 win againstMichigan State.[42] On November 29, 2017, Allen scored 21 points in a 91–81 victory overIndiana.[43] On December 2, 2017, Allen scored 25 points and 3 rebounds in a 96–80 win against South Dakota.[44] On December 30, 2017, Allen scored 22 points and 3 rebounds in a 100–93 win overFlorida State.[45] For the season, Allen averaged 15.5 points per game on 41.8% shooting.[46]
On March 9, 2018, Allen was assessed a flagrant-one foul in theACC tournament for trippingNorth Carolina's Garrison Brooks with what was called a "hip check."[47]
Duke reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament, where the team was defeated byKansas, 85–81, in overtime.[48] In his final collegiate game, Allen scored 12 points on 3-for-13 shooting, missed a potential game-winning shot, and missed two three-pointers late in overtime; he did, however, make several clutch free throws. Scott Gleeson ofUSA Today commented that the season "was a resurgent one for Allen as a whole, in spite of the sour ending. He took on the role of senior captain on a young team full of NBA talent. It was a flipped script from a year ago when Allen was seen as the villain of the sport for his unsportsmanlike behavior..."[49]
During his four seasons at Duke, Allen appeared in 142 games and averaged 14.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He maintained a field-goal percentage of .430, a three-point field-goal percentage of .380, and a free-throw percentage of .834. Allen finished his Duke career with 1,996 points, ranking 12th on the Blue Devils' career scoring list. Allen played in 15 NCAA tournament games, helping the Blue Devils win the 2015 NCAA national championship. He earned All-America and Academic All-America honors in 2016, becoming the sixth Blue Devil to receive both honors in the same season. Allen also earned All-ACC Academic honors four times.[50] There exist many polarizing views on Allen's time at Duke, with some calling him a dirty player and others admiring the passion and intensity with which he played the game.[51]
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On June 21, 2018, Allen was selected with the 21st overall pick by theUtah Jazz in the2018 NBA draft. On July 2, Allen signed a four-year rookie scale contract with the Jazz.[52] He made his NBA debut on October 22, against theMemphis Grizzlies, scoring 7 points in 11 minutes off the bench.[53] On April 10, 2019, Allen scored a career-high 40 points with seven rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block in a 137–143 overtime loss to theLos Angeles Clippers.[54]
On July 6, 2019, Allen was traded, alongsideJae Crowder,Kyle Korver, the draft rights toDarius Bazley and a future first-round pick, to theMemphis Grizzlies in exchange forMike Conley.[55] On July 11, he was ejected from an NBA Summer League game between the Grizzlies and theBoston Celtics after committing back-to-back flagrant fouls that were described by commentators as "cheap shots".[56][57] On October 23, he made his debut for the Grizzlies, logging five points, two assists and one rebound in a 101–120 loss to theMiami Heat.[58] On October 29, Allen recorded a season-high two steals in a 91–120 loss to theLos Angeles Lakers.[59] On December 4, he grabbed a season-high seven rebounds in a 99–106 loss to theChicago Bulls.[60] On August 5, 2020, Allen scored a season-high 20 points and logged a career-high six 3-pointers along with two rebounds and one assist in 26 minutes of action in a 115–124 loss to theUtah Jazz.[61] He matched this point total on August 9, where he also grabbed four rebounds and one assist in a 99–108 loss to theToronto Raptors.[62]
On December 16, 2020, Memphis announced that they had exercised their team option on Allen for the 2021–22 season.[63] On December 23, he made his season debut for the Grizzlies, logging six points, two rebounds and five assists in a 119–131 loss to theSan Antonio Spurs.[64] On March 27, 2021, Allen recorded a career-high four steals in a 110–126 loss to theUtah Jazz.[65] On April 7, he recorded a season-high 30 points, along with four rebounds and three assists, in a 131–113 win over theAtlanta Hawks.[66] On May 5, he suffered an abdominal injury in a 139–135 win over theMinnesota Timberwolves.[67] He missed the Grizzlies' last seven regular season games, but returned in time for the playoffs. On May 29, against his former team the Jazz, Allen recorded a playoff career-high 17 points in 29 minutes. This was his only double-digit scoring performance in the playoffs.[68] The Grizzlies would eventually lose the series in five games.[69]
On August 7, 2021, Allen was traded by the Grizzlies to theMilwaukee Bucks forSam Merrill and two future second-round draft picks.[70] Bucks general managerJon Horst commented, "Grayson is a talented guard... His three-point shooting, energy, toughness and basketball IQ make him a great addition, and we're excited to welcome him to Milwaukee."[71] On October 18, Allen signed a reported 2-year, $20 million rookie scale extension with the Bucks.[72][73] The next day, he made his debut for the team, recording 10 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in a win over theBrooklyn Nets.[74]
On January 21, 2022, during a game against theChicago Bulls, Allen fouled opposing guardAlex Caruso and was ejected from the game after he received a flagrant 2 foul.[75] Bulls coachBilly Donovan publicly condemned Allen after the game, citing Allen's history of dangerous plays and stating that he "could've ended [Caruso's] career."[76][77] Caruso suffered a fractured right wrist and was ruled out for 6 to 8 weeks.[78] On January 23, Grayson was suspended for one game by the NBA.[79] On the incident, Allen said, "It was unfortunate how it played out. I jumped to block it with my left, and as I'm spinning went to grab the ball with my right hand, not throw him down. It was a really hard fall and I'm glad he's okay. If I could do the play over again knowing he'd fall like that I wouldn't make the play."[80]
On April 22, 2022, during Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs, Allen scored a then-playoff career-high 22 points in a 111–81 win over theChicago Bulls.[81] Two days later, he bested this total with 27 points alongside three steals in a 119–95 Game 4 win.[82]
On January 4, 2023, Allen scored 16 points, including a game-winning three point shot, during a 104–101 overtime win over theToronto Raptors.[83]
On September 27, 2023, Allen, alongsidePortland Trail Blazers playersJusuf Nurkić,Nassir Little andKeon Johnson, was traded to thePhoenix Suns as part of a three-team trade that sentDamian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks andJrue Holiday,Deandre Ayton,Toumani Camara and a 2029 first-round draft pick to thePortland Trail Blazers.[84] On November 6, Allen scored a season-high 26 points as a starter with a career-high 8-of-13 three-pointers made in a tense 116–115 overtime win over theChicago Bulls.[85] On Christmas Day, Allen scored a new season high with 32 points made as a starter while making 8/17 three-pointers in a loss to theDallas Mavericks. On January 5, 2024, Allen scored 31 points with a new career-high 9-of-14 three-pointers made in a 113–97 win over theMiami Heat. The three-pointers made that game tied a franchise record previously set multiple times between former Suns playersQuentin Richardson,Channing Frye,Aron Baynes,Cameron Johnson, andLandry Shamet.[86] He later tied his three-point record for a single game eleven days later; that game led to him only scoring 27 points that time, but he was a key contributor to a historic game where the Suns had a 22-point fourth-quarter comeback and 32-8 late game comeback stretch to upset theSacramento Kings and win 119–117 at home.[87] On February 8, Allen broke his career high in assists by the end of the first half; he later finished with a career-high 14 assists in a 129–115 win over theUtah Jazz.[88] On March 7, Allen put up 28 points on eight three-pointers made, with 21 points coming in the first quarter which set a career high for points in a quarter, in a 120–113 win over theToronto Raptors.[89] On March 20, Allen matched his season-high of 32 points with his third game of scoring 9 three-pointers made in a single game this season in a 115–102 win over thePhiladelphia 76ers.[90]
By the end of his first season with the Suns, Allen led the NBA in three-point shooting percentage with a 46.1% rating that season.[91] He became the second Suns player behindCraig Hodges (and first player to be with the team throughout an entire season) to lead the NBA in three-point field goal shooting percentages in a season.[92] On April 15, 2024, Allen signed a four-year, $70 million extension with Suns.[93]
On February 7, 2025, Allen had 21 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in a 135-127 overtime win over the Utah Jazz. In the final 4.4 seconds of regulation, Allen scored 6 points on 2 3-pointers, including a buzzer-beater that tied the game at 122 going into overtime.[94]
On November 10, 2025, Allen put up a career-high 42 points on 10-of-15 three-point shooting in a 121–98 win over theNew Orleans Pelicans. His 10 three-pointers made set a Suns franchise record for the most three-pointers made in a game.[95][96]
Allen began datingMorgan Reid while both were students at Duke. Reid was a player on theDuke women's soccer team, and has since turned professional, playing in theNWSL for both theNorth Carolina Courage and theOrlando Pride, before retiring in 2022 due to a severe hip issue. The couple got engaged in February 2022 and married on July 23, 2022.[97][98] In October 2024, Allen and his wife welcomed a baby girl.[99]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Utah | 38 | 2 | 11.0 | .376 | .323 | .750 | .6 | .7 | .2 | .2 | 5.6 |
| 2019–20 | Memphis | 38 | 0 | 18.9 | .466 | .404 | .867 | 2.2 | 1.4 | .3 | .1 | 8.7 |
| 2020–21 | Memphis | 50 | 38 | 25.2 | .418 | .391 | .868 | 3.2 | 2.2 | .9 | .2 | 10.6 |
| 2021–22 | Milwaukee | 66 | 61 | 27.3 | .448 | .409 | .865 | 3.4 | 1.5 | .7 | .3 | 11.1 |
| 2022–23 | Milwaukee | 72 | 70 | 27.4 | .440 | .399 | .905 | 3.3 | 2.3 | .9 | .2 | 10.4 |
| 2023–24 | Phoenix | 75 | 74 | 33.5 | .499 | .461* | .878 | 3.9 | 3.0 | .9 | .6 | 13.5 |
| 2024–25 | Phoenix | 64 | 7 | 24.1 | .448 | .426 | .816 | 3.0 | 2.1 | .8 | .3 | 10.6 |
| Career | 403 | 252 | 25.4 | .451 | .414 | .857 | 3.0 | 2.0 | .7 | .3 | 10.5 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Utah | 2 | 0 | 7.0 | .286 | .000 | .714 | .5 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 4.5 |
| 2021 | Memphis | 5 | 0 | 23.2 | .364 | .381 | .000 | 2.6 | .2 | .4 | .2 | 6.4 |
| 2022 | Milwaukee | 12 | 5 | 25.4 | .451 | .396 | .636 | 2.9 | 1.3 | .7 | .3 | 8.3 |
| 2023 | Milwaukee | 5 | 5 | 29.9 | .463 | .483 | .857 | 2.4 | 1.8 | .4 | .0 | 11.6 |
| 2024 | Phoenix | 2 | 2 | 21.3 | .200 | .200 | 1.000 | 4.0 | 1.0 | .5 | .0 | 3.5 |
| Career | 26 | 12 | 24.1 | .423 | .396 | .733 | 2.7 | 1.0 | .5 | .2 | 7.9 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Duke | 35 | 0 | 9.2 | .425 | .346 | .849 | 1.0 | .4 | .3 | .1 | 4.4 |
| 2015–16 | Duke | 36 | 35 | 36.6 | .466 | .417 | .837 | 4.6 | 3.5 | 1.3 | .1 | 21.6 |
| 2016–17 | Duke | 34 | 25 | 29.6 | .395 | .365 | .811 | 3.7 | 3.5 | .8 | .1 | 14.5 |
| 2017–18 | Duke | 37 | 37 | 35.6 | .418 | .370 | .850 | 3.3 | 4.6 | 1.7 | .1 | 15.5 |
| Career | 142 | 97 | 27.9 | .430 | .380 | .834 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 1.0 | .1 | 14.1 | |
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