90. Ray Allen
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One of the greatest pure shooters in NBA history, Ray Allen, has often times been forgotten by the main stream NBA fan of today. He had solo career success than went on to become part of the big 3 and win an NBA title in Boston.
One of the greatest players in University of Connecticut history, Allen set a school record with 115 three pointers made in 1996. His 1,922 points put him 3rd on the Huskies all-time scoring list. Allen went pro after just 3 seasons at Uconn with career averages of 19 points and 6 rebounds in 101 career games.
The Minnesota Timberwolves chose Allen with the 5th overall pick in 1996 than promptly traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks for Stephon Marbury. Allen started 81 of 82 games for the Bucks his rookie season and had a solid rookie season with 13 points and 4 rebounds.
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The Bucks is probably where Allen will be most remembered because he helped turn a struggle franchise around and make them a threat in the Eastern conference. The Bucks made the playoffs in 1999, their first since 1991 and their first winning record since than too. Allen finally made the all-star team in 2000, which would be the first of nine thus far in his career.
The 2001 season would be a special one for the Bucks, they won 52 games which was the most since 1987 and won a playoff series for the first time since 1989. They eventually ended up losing in the Eastern finals in 7 games to the Allen Iverson lead Sixers.
The Bucks had hoped the build on their stellar season but ended up collapsing down the stretch. They made some bad moves such as trading Glenn Robinson to Atlanta and the team fell apart. The following season the Bucks continued to struggle and traded Allen to the Seattle Supersonics for Gary Payton.
Seattle brought new opportunities for Allen who seen his points per game average increase with each season in Seattle. In 2004 the Sonics made an improbably run to the playoffs by winning the Northwest division and beating the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the playoffs. The season was probably Ray Allen’s finest.
With rumors flying that the Sonics were looking for a way out of Seattle and with the team going no where the Sonics dealt Allen to the Boston Celtics for a package which included Jeff Green. Allen had come off his highest scoring average of 26 a game with the Sonics the year before and being paired with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce he knew his scoring would drop and he was fine with that. His scoring did drop but his success was unparallel in his career.
Boston went on to 66 games the first year of the big three and eventually won the franchises 18th NBA title. The second year in Boston was not so good as Garnett got hurt and the team lost in the second round. In 2010 the Celtics limped into the playoffs only to suddenly come a live and make a run to the NBA finals where they lost in the closing seconds to their archrivals the Los Angeles Lakers.
Allen is a likely hall of famer having appeared in 1,022 career games and averaging 20 points and 4 rebounds and assists per game. He is also a 9 time all-star. He recently re-signed with the Boston Celtics.
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