Grindfather: Tony Allen

"The player I always had the most trouble with individually was Tony Allen. Always" - Kobe Bryant on Tony Allen

PROFILE

Position: Shooting Guard, Small Forward

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Draft: 25th overall pick - 2004 (BOS)

College: Butler County Community College, Oklahoma State

Tony Allen was one of the most freakish man-to-man defender in the league. He's known for locking down superstars like Kobe Bryant and Jamal Crawford to name a few. He holds the reputation for being the best perimeter defender of the last decade to never win a Defensive Player of the Year Award.

A NASTY START

Allen played 77 games in his rookie year. His production was not that impressive. The Celtics were able to make the Playoffs but were defeated in 7 games against the Indiana Pacers.

Allen's Rookie Season Average

6.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.0 APG, 47% fg%

The following season, the Celtics fell short after only winning 33 games. The team's roster seems very promising with Pierce, Ricky Davis and Szczerbiak. Allen's numbers were able to improve.

2006 Season Average

7.2 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 47% fg%

In 2007, an incident happened that changed his career, Allen tore his ACL after a dunk. Before this incident, Allen was a flashy, gritty and strong player. Besides his defense, he was known for his dunks and shooting touch.

Allen missed the entire 2007 NBA Season.

2007 Season Average

11.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 51% fg%

(played only 33 games)

REVENGE SEASON

After he recovered from his injury, Allen played 75 games the following season. The Celtics were able to boost their roster after adding superstar power forward Kevin Garnett and the league's best 3-point shooter Ray Allen. The Celtics finished with a whopping 66-16 record. With Allen back in the roster, the Celtics led the league in Defensive Rating (98.9).

2008 Season Average

6.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 43% fg%

The Celtics marched their way to the Playoffs and snapped every team. Allen's numbers who decline as he was given limited minutes.

2008 NBA Playoffs Average

First Round: 1.8 PPG, 0.3 RPG

Second Round: 0.3 PPG, 0.3 APG

Conference Finals: 0.0 PPG, 0.0 APG

CHAMPS!

The Celtics faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. Allen's numbers were not really impressive but he was able to put up a monstrous defensive performance during the Finals.

Watch: Tony Allen's Game 5 defensive performance

(via Nobody Touches Jordan)

Allen only played only a total of 19 minutes (3 games) in the NBA Finals. He held Kobe Bryant to limited shots and was forced to swing the ball everytime guarded by Allen.

The Celtics (4-2) won the 2008 NBA Finals.

DEFENSE! DEFENSE!

Allen continued to showcase his defensive performance. The Celtics would also continue to stay on top. Allen's numbers stayed average but his defensive performance was undoubtedly a force to deal with.

2009 Season Average

7.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 48% fg%

2009 NBA Playoffs Average

First Round: 0.3 PPG, 1.3 RPG

Second Round: 1.8 PPG, 0.5 SPG

2010 Season Average

6.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 51% fg%

2010 NBA Playoffs Average

First Round: 6.4 PPG, 1.6 SPG

Second Round: 8.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG

Conference Finals: 3.0 PPG, 1.3 RPG

In the 2010 Playoffs, Tony Allen would give opposing players a reason to worry. During the second round, he held LeBron James to 44% FG% and 26% 3pt% the entire series. LeBron's worst shooting performance was on Game 6.

Watch: Tony Allen's defense against LeBron James (2010 ECSF - Game 6)

In the Finals, the Boston Celtics are once again back in the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Tony Allen would again disrupt Kobe Bryant but the Celtics fell short and lost in a nail-biting Game 7.

Despite the loss, Allen would again give Kobe the taste of his defense.

Watch: Tony Allen's Game 1 defense against Kobe Bryant

Watch: Tony Allen's Game 2 defense against Kobe Bryant

Watch: Tony Allen's Game 3 defense against Kobe Bryant

(via NBA Defense)

GRINDFATHER TO GRIZZ NATION

Tony Allen decided to sign with the Memphis Grizzlies in the summer of 2010. While with the Grizzlies he helped establish the team's famous nickname "Grit and Grind".

Along with Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Mike Conley, they're able to form the rough and gritty team in the Western Conference.

2011 Season Average

8.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 51% fg%

Allen's defensive performance would soar in the Playoffs. As he would become the Grizzlies' main man in the perimeter defense.

2011 NBA Playoffs Average

First Round: 9.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.3 SPG

Second Round: 8.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.6 SPG

Despite the loss against the OKC Thunder, Tony Allen gave Durant a dose of his pesky defense — especially in Game 6.

Watch: Tony Allen's defense against Kevin Durant (2011 WCSF - Game 6)

(via Nobody Touches Jordan)

In 2012, the Grizzlies were the seventh best defensive team in the league. They're able to make the Playoffs and Tony Allen would once again display a defensive performance.

2012 Season Average

9.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 47% fg%

2012 NBA Playoffs Average

First Round: 6.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.3 SPG

After a disappointing first round exit, the Grizzlies won 56 games in 2013 and would become the second best defensive team in the league. Tony Allen's numbers were still impressive.

2013 Season Average

8.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 44% fg%

In the Playoffs, they're able to defeat the Clippers in their rematch and would slaughter other teams defensively. Allen would become one of the top contributors of the Grizzlies, his defense obviously helped the team moved forward.

2013 NBA Playoffs Average

Second Round: 10 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.5 SPG

Conference Finals: 8.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.3 SPG

The San Antonio Spurs were too much for the Grizzlies to handle, they were swept out of the Western Conference Finals after Tony Parker dropped 37 points.

In 2014, majority of the Grizzlies' top contributors were above 30 years of age.

Mike Miller: 33 years old

Tayshaun Prince: 33 years old

Zach Randolph: 32 years old

Tony Allen: 32 years old

Marc Gasol: 29 years old

But just like the saying goes "age is just a number". The Grizzlies won 50 games and was the seventh best defensive team in the league. At the age of 32, Allen's numbers were still beneficial for the team.

2014 Season Average

9.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.6 SPG

*led the Grizzlies in Steals per game

Tony Allen would put up high numbers in the Playoffs but the Grizzlies weren't able to go against the "fast pace" style of play of the OKC Thunder.

2014 NBA Playoffs Average

First Round: 12.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG

The Grizzlies would win 55 games in 2015. Allen's numbers were still impressive, the team added another aging superstar — Vince Carter, 38.

2015 Season Average

8.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.0 SPG

*led the Grizzlies in Steals per game

In the Playoffs, the Grizzlies were still a team to beat but they can't seem to go along with the new generation's style of play. Their age plays a major factor of holding them back.

2015 NBA Playoffs Average

First Round: 5.6 PPG, 2.4 SPG

Second Round: 7.6 PPG, 2.4 SPG

In 2016, the Grizzlies finished the season with a 42-40 record. With more than five aging players, the Grizzlies were slowly regressing. Tony Allen's numbers were still good for a defender.

2016 Season Average

8.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.7 SPG

*led the Grizzlies in Steals per game

The Grizzlies were swept by the much younger San Antonio Spurs in the Playoffs.

2016 NBA Playoffs Average

First Round: 7.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.3 SPG

THE DECLINE

In 2017, Tony Allen would suffer a devastating injury. He missed the entire 2017 NBA Playoffs but he was able to play 71 games in the regular season

2017 Season Average

9.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.6 SPG

*led the Grizzlies in Steals per game

During the summer, Allen signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. In 2018, he was traded to Chicago Bulls and was later on waived.

OVERALL

Tony Allen's name would go down to the history of basketball as one of the best perimeter defender. The moment Kobe said that he struggled when facing T.A., that's the time you know that his defense was uncanny. His recovery from ACL was a proof that he has the hunger to play and the desire to win. Whatever Marcus Smart or Pat Beverley is doing right now, Tony Allen did it first — did it better. His gritty and fierce defense showed us that even if your name is Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant or LeBron James there is a Tony Allen that would take you to school defensively.

AWARDS

2008 NBA Champion

3x NBA All-Defensive First Team

3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team

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