Grizzlies to retire Tony Allen’s number in March

Grizzlies to retire Tony Allen’s number in March

The Memphis Grizzlies announced Tuesday that they are expected to retire Tony Allen‘s No. 9 on March 15 following their game against the Miami Heat.

Allen, who retired after 14 seasons following the 2017-18 campaign with the Pelicans, is one of the most gifted defenders in Grizzlies history. He played seven seasons with the “Grit & Grind” Grizzlies, averaging 8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 25.1 minutes per game. For his career, he averaged 8.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals on 47.5 percent shooting and 52.9 percent true-shooting.

The 42-year-old finished top-5 in Defensive Player of the Year voting twice and made the All-Defensive team in all but one season with Memphis; the only year he missed it was in 2013-14, when he played just 55 games. There was never an assignment that Allen wouldn’t relish taking, suffocating players on-ball with his fierce tenacity and bulldog mentality.

Allen will become the third player to have his number retired by the organization, joining big men Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, his teammates during the Grit and Grind era.

Memphis may have never won a title with Allen–losing in the first round four times, the Western Conference Semis twice and the WCF once–but they were never an easy out. They would grit-and-grind teams away, hence the nickname.

Allen ranks second in franchise history in steals (796)–trailing only Mike Conley–while ranking 6th in games played (462), 9th in offensive rebounds (741) and 2-point field goals (1597) and 10th in blocks (217).

Congratulations on a storied career, Tony–a well-deserved honor!

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