Allen playedcollege basketball for theConnecticut Huskies for three seasons, before he was selected with the fifth overall pick in the1996 NBA draft, and developed into a prolific scorer for theMilwaukee Bucks, featuring alongsideGlenn Robinson andSam Cassell as the team achieved playoff success. In 2003, he was traded to theSeattle SuperSonics, where he solidified his reputation as a scorer, breaking several league records forthree-point andfree throw shooting. Allen was later traded to theBoston Celtics, where he formed a "Big Three" withKevin Garnett andPaul Pierce; the team won an NBA championship in2008. After five seasons with the Celtics, he played with theMiami Heat for two seasons, reaching theNBA Finals both times and winning the title in2013; his clutch three-pointer to force overtime in game 6 of the 2013 Finals is regarded as one of the most iconic and memorable plays in NBA history. Allen retired on November 1, 2016, after playing for four different teams.
During his NBA career, Allen acted in some films, such as his role as basketball prodigy Jesus Shuttlesworth inSpike Lee's basketball dramaHe Got Game (1998). Allen's performance as Shuttlesworth was praised by critics, and the name was borrowed as Allen's basketball nickname.[1][2][3]
Early life
The third of five children, Allen was born atCastle Air Force Base nearMerced, California, the son of Walter Sr. and Flora Allen.[4] Amilitary child, he spent time growing up inSaxmundham,Suffolk,England, inAltus, Oklahoma, atEdwards Air Force Base[4] in California, and in Germany.[5] After years of traveling and frequent moves, his family settled inDalzell, South Carolina, for four years, where he would attend high school. When he first arrived, the young Allen was often the odd-man-out, picked on by other kids for the accent acquired during his formative years in Britain. Allen's athletic gifts and work ethic allowed him to excel in sports. When a growth spurt left him with a natural advantage in basketball, he decided to dedicate his free time to becoming the best basketball player he possibly could.[6]
Fueled by his desire to become the top player on his military base, Allen practiced at length daily, so long as it did not interfere with his studies.[6] By the age of fifteen, he was playing forHillcrest High School's varsity team, and would eventually lead them to their first state championship. Allen scored 25 points and notched 12 rebounds in a blowout victory for Hillcrest Wildcats.[7] At Hillcrest, he was teammates with futureMajor League Baseball playerTerrell Wade.[8] He drew much attention from college recruiters, especially from theUniversity of Kentucky, but ultimately accepted an offer from theUniversity of Connecticut.[7]
College career
Allen attended the University of Connecticut from 1993 to 1996.[9]
As a freshman with theHuskies in 1993–94, Allen came off the bench in 34 games he played, averaging 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 21.6 minutes per game. He was subsequently named to theBig East All-Freshman Team.[9]
As a sophomore in 1994–95, Allen played 32 games with 31 starts, averaging 21.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals in 32.8 minutes per game. He was named first-teamAll-Big East.[9]
As a junior in 1995–96, Allen started all 35 games and averaged 23.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals in 34.7 minutes per game. He was named theBig East Player of the Year and earned first-team All-Big East.[9] The Huskies won their third consecutive Big East Conference regular season title and played in their third consecutive NCAA Tournament.[10]
Allen declared for the1996 NBA draft. As of 2018, his 1,922 point total ranked fifth all-time, his 19.0 career average was fourth, his 44.8 three-point field goal percentage was first, and the 818 points he scored as a junior was the third-highest season total in UConn history.[11]
In January 2001, Allen was named honorary captain of the 25-member UConn All-Century Basketball Team.[10] In February 2007, he was an inaugural inductee in the UConn men's basketball "Huskies of Honor" recognition program.[12] In March 2019, his number 34 jersey was retired by UConn.[13]
Allen was drafted by theMinnesota Timberwolves with the fifth pick of the1996 NBA draft. Immediately after his selection, Allen andAndrew Lang were traded to theMilwaukee Bucks for the rights to fourth pickStephon Marbury.[15] On July 24, 1996, Allen signed a 3-year, $6.2 million contract with the Bucks.[16] Allen made his NBA debut on November 1, 1996, where he started and played 28 minutes and scored 13 points in a win against fellow rookieAllen Iverson and thePhiladelphia 76ers.[17] On January 12, 1997, Allen put in one of his strongest efforts of the season in a win against theGolden State Warriors, contributing 22 points, 6 assists, 3 steals and a new career high of 9 rebounds. In February 1997, Allen competed in theSlam Dunk Contest duringAll-Star Weekend, where he finished fourth.[18] Continuing his strong rookie season, on March 25, 1997, Allen scored a new career high of 32 points in a loss to thePhoenix Suns. Allen was named to theNBA All-Rookie Second Team.[19]
In the 1997–98 season, Allen played and started all 82 games for the Bucks. In the season opener, he put up 29 points, including 6 three-pointers in a win against the 76ers. On December 20, 1997, Allen set a new career high of 35 points against theNew York Knicks. On the brink of missing the playoffs for the second straight year, on April 18, 1998, the last game of the regular season, Allen tallied a 40-point double-double with 10 rebounds.[20]
1999–2003: building his legacy
On February 10, 1999, following the1998–99 NBA lockout, Allen signed a six-year, $70.9 million extension with the Bucks, making him the highest paid player in franchise history at that point.[21] The 1998–99 season saw Allen make his first playoff appearance, with the Bucks earning the seventh seed. There they were swept by theIndiana Pacers in the first round despite Allen averaging 22.3 points per game.[22] The following season, on January 20, 2000, Allen recorded a career-high 13 assists in a loss to theSeattle SuperSonics. On February 3, 2000, Allen scored 36 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in a 102–99 win against theUtah Jazz.[23] A month later, Allen played in his first All-Star Game, where he had 14 points in 17 minutes.[24] During the 1999–2000 season, Allen led the Bucks in scoring during the regular and post-season.
In July 2005, Allen signed a five-year, $85 million contract with the SuperSonics.[32]
On March 12, 2006, Allen became the 97th player in NBA history to score 15,000 points. On April 7, 2006, Allen moved into second place on the NBA's list of all-time 3-point field goals made, trailing onlyReggie Miller. On April 19, 2006, Allen brokeDennis Scott's ten-year-old NBA record for 3-point field goals made in a season in a game against theDenver Nuggets. The record was broken byStephen Curry.[33]
In the2006–07 regular season, Allen averaged a career-high 26.4 points per game while adding 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. On January 12, 2007, he scored a career-high 54 points against theUtah Jazz in a 122–114 overtime win, the second most in Sonics history.[34] Shortly after, he had ankle surgery on both ankles and missed the remainder of the 2006–07 season.
On November 4, 2007, Allen passed 17,000 points for his career with his first of two3-pointers in overtime in a 98–95 victory against theToronto Raptors, in which he sank the game winning 3-pointer with three seconds remaining in overtime.[37]
Allen in 2008
On February 13, 2008, Allen was named as the replacement for injuredEastAll-StarCaron Butler of theWashington Wizards, who was out with a left hip flexor strain, for the2008 NBA All-Star Game inNew Orleans. WhileLeBron James was given theAll-Star MVP Award, many analysts, including theTNT commentators of the game, felt it should have gone to Allen, who scored 14 points in a stretch of 2 minutes and 30 seconds in the fourth quarter to seal the win for the East team.
On March 28, 2008, Allen was honored as the 3rd best of the 20 greatest players in franchise history duringMilwaukee's40th Anniversary Team Celebration, but could not attend the festivities because of theCeltics' game against theNew Orleans Hornets. TheBoston Celtics finished 66–16, and were the #1 seed in the2008 NBA Playoffs. The Celtics struggled in the first two rounds of the playoffs, losing every single away game, but maintaining an undefeated playoff record at home. The Celtics had defeated the #8 seededAtlanta Hawks 4–3 and then defeated the #4 seededCleveland Cavaliers 4–3 as well. They advanced to the2008 NBA Finals after a 4–2 Conference finals series win over theDetroit Pistons.[38][39][40]
On June 12, 2008, Allen would play all 48 minutes and contribute greatly with 19 points and 9 rebounds in what would become the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, with the Celtics coming back from a 24-point deficit at one point in the second quarter and a deficit as large as 20 in the third. In that game, Allen would make the game clinching layup with 16.4 seconds remaining to give the Celtics a 5-point lead and put the game away.
On June 17, 2008, in the series-endingGame 6 of theNBA Finals, Allen tied an NBA Finals record with seventhree-pointers in the Celtics' 131–92 victory over theLos Angeles Lakers.[41] With the victory, Allen secured his first NBA championship.
Allen in 2009
On February 5, 2009, Allen was named as the All-Star replacement forOrlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson. This marked Allen's ninth time on the All-Star team and the second straight year he had made it alongside teammatesKevin Garnett andPaul Pierce.
On February 22, 2009, with his streak ending at 72, Allen broke the Celtics franchise record in consecutive free throws made previously set byLarry Bird (71).
In the first round of the 2009 playoffs against theChicago Bulls, game one proved to be tough for Allen. He ended up shooting 1–11 from the field, and the Celtics lost by two. In game 2 however, Allen nailed the game winning three-pointer at the end of regulation with two seconds left to cap off an impressive 30 point night.[42] In Game 6, despite a Boston loss, Allen managed to score 51 points. Boston ended up winning the series in 7 Games. He reunited with former teammate and co-captain of theSeattle SuperSonics,Rashard Lewis in the conference semifinals, that time as opponents, however. After 4 games and a 2–2 series tie, his highest scoring game was a 22-point performance in a Game 2 victory.[43] The Celtics went on to lose in seven games as they failed to defend their title.
2009–2012: finals upset and 3-point record
On December 10, 2009, Allen scored 18 points to reach the 20,000 point total for his career.
On June 6, 2010, in Game 2 of the2010 NBA Finals in a 103–94 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers, Allen set a then record for most three-pointers made in an NBA Finals game on 8–11 shooting to tie the series 1–1. He brokeMichael Jordan's record of six three-pointers in one half by hitting seven in the first half and had tiedScottie Pippen andKenny Smith's record for most three-pointers in one game in the NBA Finals by half time.[44] Allen also became the first player in NBA history to have two separate games of scoring at least seven three-pointers in theNBA Finals. The Celtics would win two of three games in Boston, before losing the last two games and the series in Los Angeles.[45]
After becoming a free agent on July 1, 2010, Allen re-signed a two-year deal with the Boston Celtics on July 7 worth $20 million.[46]
During a game against theLos Angeles Lakers on February 10, 2011, Allen became the all-time NBA leader in total three-pointers made (2,562), surpassingReggie Miller's record of 2,560. The 35-year-old shooting guard finished the game with 20 points but the Celtics eventually lost 92–86.[47] In the2010–11 NBA season Allen was named to his tenth All-Star game alongside teammatesRajon Rondo,Paul Pierce andKevin Garnett. Also during All-Star Weekend, Allen competed in theThree-Point Shootout, but lost toJames Jones of theMiami Heat.[48]
During the2011–12 NBA season, Allen was privately frustrated with trade rumors in February, issues with teammate Rajon Rondo, and an ankle injury that ultimately required surgery in June 2012 to remove bone spurs.[49] The Celtics lost in seven games to the Miami Heat in the 2012 Eastern Conference finals.[49]
Miami Heat (2012–2014)
2012–2013: second championship
Allen's initial plan in the summer of 2012 was to stay with the Boston Celtics. He was reportedly seeking a three-year, $24 million contract whereas the Celtics were offering a two-year, $12 million deal. Further internal discord with a bench role and a Rondo-focused approach led to Allen rejecting the Celtics and instead choosing to sign a two-year, $6 million deal with the Miami Heat.[50] The Heat were limited to theirmid-level exception amount of slightly more than $3 million per season.[49]
During Allen's first season with the Miami Heat, he averaged 10.9 points per game and made 88.6% of his free throws while playing an average of 25.8 minutes per game.[51] On April 25, 2013, while playing Milwaukee in Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs, Allen made his 322nd career three-pointer in the playoffs, which broke Reggie Miller's record for most three-pointers made in NBA playoff history.[52] Allen returned to his favorite #34 jersey upon joining the Heat.[36]
Allen in 2014
In Game 6 of theNBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Allen played 41 minutes in Game 6 off the bench 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. As the Heat trailed by three points, Allen made a game-tying 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter to force overtime.[53] With the Heat leading 101–100, Allen stole the ball fromManu Ginóbili under the Spurs' basket and drew a foul with 1.9 seconds remaining in the overtime period. Allen made both ensuing free throws to put Miami up 103–100.[54][55] Having rallied from a 10-point deficit at the end of the third quarter, the Heat won in overtime 103–100 over theSan Antonio Spurs and forced a seventh game in the series.[56] In Game 7, which the Heat won 95–88 to win itssecond consecutive championship, Allen played 20 minutes off the bench. Although he made none of 4 field goal attempts and had 3 turnovers, Allen recorded 4 defensive rebounds and 4 assists.[57]
2013–2014: final playing year
On June 29, 2013, Allen picked up his $3.23 million player option to stay with the Heat through the2013–14 NBA season.[58] During the regular season, Allen played in 73 games, starting 9 of them, averaging 9.6 points and shooting 37 percent from three-point range. In the playoffs, Allen scored 19 points on 4–7 three-point shooting in game 4 of the conference semifinals against theBrooklyn Nets. Then in Game 3 against theIndiana Pacers in an Eastern Conference finals rematch, Allen hit four 3-point shots in the fourth quarter and put them up 2–1 in the series. The Heat won the series in six games to advance to the NBA Finals for the fourth straight year and Allen's second. The Heat faced the Spurs again in the2014 NBA Finals, but they lost the series in five games.
Retirement
Allen became a free agent in the 2014 off-season, and after much anticipation of a return at some point during the 2014–15 season, he announced his decision to sit out the season and focus on 2015–16.[59] However, he did not end up joining a team. In July 2016, Allen began mulling a comeback, and admitted he was "intrigued" by the possibility of competing for another championship.[60] The following month, Allen had talks with theBoston Celtics and theMilwaukee Bucks regarding a possible return,[61] but ultimately decided to officially retire on November 1, 2016.[62] In September 2018, Allen was inducted into theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.[63] In February 2019, Allen played in theNBA All-Star Celebrity Game.[64] In October 2021, Allen was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to theNBA's 75th Anniversary Team.[65] He was also named in the top 75 players byThe Athletic.[66]
Acting career
In 1998, Allen co-starred alongsideDenzel Washington in theSpike Lee filmHe Got Game as high school basketball phenomenon Jesus Shuttlesworth.Roger Ebert praised his performance and said Allen "is that rarity: an athlete who can act,"[67] whileNew York magazine described him as "graceful and fast in the basketball scenes" while giving "a somberly effective minimalist performance."[68] His role as Jesus Shuttlesworth earned him that name as a nickname from teammates and fans.[69] Allen also appeared as Marcus Blake in the 2001 filmHarvard Man. In 2015, Allen co-starred alongsideKyrie Irving,Baron Davis andJ. B. Smoove as Walt in the fourth episode of "Uncle Drew", a series ofPepsi Max advertisements written and directed by Irving.[70]
Personal life
Allen married singer/actressShannon Walker Williams on August 16, 2008, after having dated since 2004. They have four children together.[71]
Allen served as NBA Spokesperson for the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA program[74] and was selected as NBA Spokesman for theThurgood Marshall College Fund.[74] He also started the "Ray of Hope" Foundation to assist charities in several communities.[74]
Former President Obama appointed Allen to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.[75] Allen is a longtime supporter of the Holocaust Memorial Museum and has brought teammates and friends to the museum on frequent visits.[76] In August 2017, he penned a first-person article for "The Players' Tribune", entitledWhy I Went to Auschwitz.[77]
On November 21, 2017, Allen said in a court filing that he was the victim of "catfishing" by a man who posed online as several different women. In an emergency motion, Allen was responding to a claim made by the man, Bryant Coleman, that he was being stalked by Allen.[78]
Allen's autobiography,From the Outside, was released on March 27, 2018.[79]
On July 18, 2021, Allen suffered injuries in a seriousbicycle crash, and he credited hisbicycle helmet with effectively saving his life.[80]
On August 20, 2021, Allen accepted a position as director of boys' and girls' basketball and boys' varsity basketball head coach atGulliver Preparatory School.[81]
In the spring of 2023, Allen received a bachelor's degree in General Studies from the University of Connecticut.[82]